he replied. It was rather a peculiar retort, especially as he laid a
faint accent on the 'you.' Evidently he wished to have his revenge for
what she had said to him at dinner.

'I smoke even in bed,' said Marion, regarding him steadily. I was at a
loss to understand why she told this deliberate falsehood.

'So do I,' said William calmly.

'I smoke in the bath,' continued Marion.

'By Jove, so do I,' said William, looking at her with a new interest.
'But don't you find it rather awkward when you're washing your back?'

Marion looked rather scandalized, as though she considered William's
remark in bad taste. But she had only herself to blame after all. She
was silent and rather moody after that, until the episode of the
photograph occurred. We were assembled in the drawing-room, and I
suddenly noticed that a photo of Marion which stands on the mantelpiece
had been removed from its frame.

'Why, Marion, what has become of your photo?' I inquired.

There was, after all, nothing unusual in its disappearance. It was one
that she did not like and she had often threatened to remove it. What
was my astonishment now to see her spring to her feet and, going white
with suppressed anger, exclaim, 'Who has dared to take it? It is a
piece of unwarrantable impertinence. Who has _dared_, I say?'

I saw William looking at her in surprise--it was, indeed, something