Grace.  Oh, you need not make any exception.  I had a good deal of trouble to induce you to come and see us.  You were very coy.

Charteris (fondly, taking her hand).  With you, dearest, the coyness was sheer coquetry.  I loved you from the first, and fled only that you might pursue.  But come! let us talk about something really interesting. (Takes her in his arms.) Do you love me better than anyone else in the world?

Grace.  I don’t think you like to be loved too much.

Charteris.  That depends on who the person is.  You (pressing her to his heart) cannot love me too much:  you cannot love me half enough.  I reproach you every day for your coldness—­your—­ (Violent double knock heard without.  They start and listen, still in one another’s arms, hardly daring to breathe.) Who the deuce is calling at this hour?

Grace.  I can’t imagine. (They listen guiltily.  The door of the flat is opened without.  They hastily get away from one another.)

A woman’s voice outside.  Is Mr. Charteris here?

Charteris (springing up).  Julia!  The devil! (Stands at the left of the sofa with his hands on it, bending forward with his eyes fixed on the door.)

Grace (rising also).  What can she want?

The voice.  Never mind:  I will announce myself. (A beautiful, dark, tragic looking woman, in mantle and bonnet, appears at the door, raging furiously.) Oh, this is charming.  I have interrupted a pretty tete-a-tete.  Oh, you villain! (She comes straight at Grace.  Charteris runs across behind the sofa and stops her.  She struggles furiously with him.  Grace preserves her self possession, but retreats quietly to the piano.  Julia, finding Charteris too strong for her, gives up her attempt to get at Grace, but strikes him in the face as she frees herself.)

Charteris (shocked).  Oh, Julia, Julia!  This is too bad.

Julia.  Is it, indeed, too bad?  What are you doing up here with that woman?  You scoundrel!  But now listen to me; Leonard:  you have driven me to desperation; and I don’t care what I do, or who hears me.  I’ll not bear it.  She shall not have my place with you—­

Charteris.  Sh-sh!

Julia.  No, no:  I don’t care:  I will expose her true character before everybody.  You belong to me:  you have no right to be here; and she knows it.

Charteris.  I think you had better let me take you home, Julia.

Julia.  I will not.  I am not going home:  I am going to stay here—­here—­until I have made you give her up.

Charteris.  My dear, you must be reasonable.  You really cannot stay in Mrs. Tranfield’s house if she objects.  She can ring the bell and have us both put out.