"The--er--humiliating situation in which we find ourselves,
gentlemen,--the reluctant witnesses of--er--what we trust is only
a temporary disagreement between our charming hostess and
the--er--gentleman whom she recognized under the highest title to
our consideration,--is distressing to us all, and would seem to amply
justify that gentleman's claims to a personal satisfaction, which I
know we would all delight to give. But that situation rests upon the
supposition that our gathering here was of a purely social or festive
nature! It may be," continued the colonel with a blandly reflective
air, "that the spectacle of these decanters and glasses, and the nectar
furnished us by our Hebe-like hostess" (he lifted a glass of whiskey and
water to his lips while he bowed to Mrs. Brant gracefully), "has led
the gentleman to such a deduction. But when I suggest to him that our
meeting was of a business, or private nature, it strikes me that the
question of intrusion may be fairly divided between him and ourselves.
We may be even justified, in view of that privacy, in asking him if
his--er--entrance to this house was--er--coincident with his appearance
among us."

"With my front door in possession of strangers," said Clarence, more in
reply to a sudden contemptuous glance from his wife than Starbottle's
insinuation, "I entered the house through the window."

"Of my boudoir, where another intruder once broke his neck," interrupted
his wife with a mocking laugh.

"Where I once helped this lady to regain possession of her house when
it was held by another party of illegal trespassers, who, however, were
content to call themselves 'jumpers,' and did not claim the privacy of
gentlemen."