Well, I have fits of rashness sometimes.

“You say he is depressed,” I addressed her firmly. “And I will venture to inform you that I am not in the least surprised.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “And why?”

“After what you said to him that night in the dressing-room. If I had been in Alresca’s place I know that I should be depressed, and very much depressed, too.”

“You mean — ” she faltered.

“Yes,” I said, “I mean that.”

I thought I had gone pretty far, and my heart was beating. I could not justly have protested had she stopped the carriage and deposited