"You wanted to know a few minutes ago why I attacked you," began O'Rane. "I'm going to tell you, but I should like to ask one question first. Are you aware that my wife is no longer here?"
"So Stornaway told me—twice," Beresford answered wearily.
"Do you know she's—left me?"
"I'm not surprised. I'm only surprised she ever came back. I don't know why she ever married you."
O'Rane paused to steady himself.
"I believed until recently that she had left me for you," he went on. "Now you can understand, perhaps, why I behaved as I did last night. I can't offer any apology worth having."
As he stopped speaking, he held out his hand almost timidly. Beresford stared at it contemptuously for a moment; then his cheeks flushed, and he took it.
"You can imagine I don't want this to go any further," said O'Rane in a matter-of-fact voice.
Beresford pulled him close to the couch.