“Is that all?”
Marlowe intervened.
“Look here, old man—I only came because—you’ll forgive me, Sir Joshua—I didn’t want you to be alone under this monstrous, this fantastic accusation of Sir Joshua’s. You’ve only got to contradict him, and we’ll go.”
Lascelles looked gratefully at his friend.
“Thank you, Marlowe. But Sir Joshua is right in telling me his suspicions. You have finished, Sir Joshua?”
“Yes. I should like your explanation if you have one, or your admission of my charge, and your promise that this—this—plague shall cease.”
“You use strange words, sir, for a man who has no evidence for what he says.”
“Yes,” ejaculated Marlowe, “yes, by Jove, you do——”
“Please, Marlowe. You will not be content with having relieved your mind, Sir Joshua. You wish me to answer you?”
“I do. I require it.”