Charlie sprang to the door, shut it hastily after her, and turned the
key.

"Now!" he said, and, wheeling, marched straight back to Fisher and
halted before him. "You want an explanation. You shall have one. You
gave my show away this afternoon. You made her imagine that in taking me
for an ordinary--or perhaps I should say a rather extraordinary--fool
she had done me an injustice. She came in her sweetness and told me she
was sorry. And I--forgot myself, and said things that made her cry. That
is the whole matter."

"What did you say to her?" demanded Fisher.

"I'm not going to tell you."

"You shall tell me!" said Fisher.

He took a step forward, all the hidden force in him risen to the
surface.

Charlie faced him for a second with his head flung defiantly back, then,
as Fisher laid a powerful hand on his shoulder, he stuck his hands in
his pockets and smiled a little.

"No, old chap," he said. "I'll apologise to you, if you like. But you
haven't any right to ask for more."

"I have a right to know why what you said upset her," Fisher said.