"And it's the real cause why I don't go back to England."

"The mischief it is! Why, Dacres, I'll be hanged if you're not using
the very words I myself used a few minutes ago."

"Am I?" said Dacres, gloomily.

"You certainly are; and that makes me think that our affairs are in a
similar complication."

"Oh no; mine is very peculiar."

"Well, there's one thing I should like to ask, and you needn't answer
unless you like."

"Well?"

"Doesn't your difficulty arise from some confounded woman or other?"

"Well--yes."

"By Jove, I knew it! And, old fellow, I'm in the same situation."

[Illustration: "BY JOVE, I KNEW IT!"]

"Oh ho! So you're driven away from England by a woman?"

"Exactly."