“Unless you tell me I shall never know. This visit seems as useless as it is unpleasant. I can’t think what you have to say which wouldn’t be better unsaid.”
“No, I suppose you cannot. I suppose we look at almost everything from a different standpoint. I’ve come to say——”
“You are presuming, Mr. Squire, that I am willing to listen to you.”
“Naturally. You allowed your servant to show me in.”
“I beg your pardon, you’re quite right. But I do wish you’d sit down; it makes me feel so awkward to see you standing up.”
“I saw Marian last night,” Squire said, taking no notice of Maddison’s remark; “I suppose she told you.”
“Yes. The meeting annoyed her very much. It was natural for you to assume that I let you in because I was willing to listen to you. As a matter of fact, it was because I must absolutely refuse to do so. But, unless you refuse to hear me, I’ve just this much to tell you. The lady you mentioned is living under my care, and I will protect her against annoyance. If you have any communication to make I will send you my solicitor’s name and address. Now—you’d better go.”
“Even if she were not my wife, I’ve a right to do all I can to rescue her from a life of sin.”
“Please don’t platitudinize to me.”
Squire reddened with anger and clenched his fists: recourse to brute force suggests itself instinctively to the fighter who is mentally weaker than his opponent.