'Oh, well--' he began. But the door was already closed.

'Sheila!' he called in a burst of anger.

'Well, Arthur?'

'You have taken my latchkey.'

Sheila came hastily in again. 'Your latchkey?'

'I am going out.'

'"Going out!"--you will not be so mad, so criminal; and after
your promise!'

He stood up. 'It is useless to argue. If I do not go out, I shall
certainly go mad. As for criminal--why, that's a woman's word.
Who on earth is to know me?'

'It is of no consequence, then, that the servants are already
gossiping about this impossible Dr Ferguson; that you are certain
to be seen either going or returning; that Alice is bound to
discover that you are well enough to go out, and yet not even
enough to say good-night to your own daughter--oh, it's
monstrous, it's a frantic, a heartless thing to do !' Her voice
vaguely suggested tears.

Lawford eyed her coldly and stubbornly--thinking of the empty
room he would leave awaiting his return, its lamp burning, its