’I am aware that you are an adept with words.  But this is a case in which words only will not serve.’

‘Then what will serve?’

‘I am myself beginning to wonder.’

‘And I.’

’As you so courteously suggest, I believe I am wiser than Lindon.  I do not care for your politics, or for what you call your politics, one fig.  I do not care if you are as other men are, as I am,—­not unspotted from the world!  But I do care if you are leprous.  And I believe you are.’

‘Atherton!’

’Ever since I have known you I have been conscious of there being something about you which I found it difficult to diagnose;—­in an unwholesome sense, something out of the common, non-natural; an atmosphere of your own.  Events, so far as you are concerned, have, during the last few days moved quickly.  They have thrown an uncomfortably lurid light on that peculiarity of yours which I have noticed.  Unless you can explain them to my satisfaction, you will withdraw your pretensions to Miss Lindon’s hand, or I shall place certain facts before that lady, and, if necessary, publish them to the world.’

He grew visibly paler but he smiled—­facially.

’You have your own way of conducting a conversation, Mr Atherton.  —­What are the events to whose rapid transit you are alluding?’

’Who was the individual, practically stark naked, who came out of your house, in such singular fashion, at dead of night?’

’Is that one of the facts with which you propose to tickle the public ear?’

‘Is that the only explanation which you have to offer?’

‘Proceed, for the present, with your indictment.’

’I am not so unobservant as you appear to imagine.  There were features about the episode which struck me forcibly at the time, and which have struck me more forcibly since.  To suggest, as you did yesterday morning, that it was an ordinary case of burglary, or that the man was a lunatic, is an absurdity.

‘Pardon me,—­I did nothing of the kind.’

‘Then what do you suggest?’

’I suggested, and do suggest, nothing.  All the suggestions come from you.’

’You went very much out of your way to beg me to keep the matter quiet.  There is an appearance of suggestion about that.’

’You take a jaundiced view of all my actions, Mr Atherton.  Nothing, to me, could seem more natural.—­However,—­proceed.’

He had his hands behind his back, and rested them on the edge of the table against which he was leaning.  He was undoubtedly ill at ease; but so far I had not made the impression on him, either mentally or morally, which I desired.

‘Who is your Oriental friend?’

‘I do not follow you.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I am certain.  Repeat your question.’

‘Who is your Oriental friend?’

‘I was not aware that I had one.’

‘Do you swear that?’