Why not save time and explain why you have dragged your wife's name into this business ?" Dredlinton, in his peculiar way, was angry.

His speech was a little broken, his eyes glittered.
"Explain?
My God, I will! You are one of those damned frauds, Wingate, who pose as a purist and don't hesitate to make capital out of the harmless differences which sometimes arise between husband and wife.

You sympathise with Lady Dredlinton, eh ?" "I should sympathise with any woman who was your wife," Wingate assured him, his own temper rising.
Dredlinton leaned a little forward.

He spoke with a vicious distinctness.
"You sympathise with her to such an extent that you lure her to your rooms at midnight and send her back when you've--" Dredlinton's courage oozed out before he had finished his speech.

Wingate had swung around towards his companion, and there was something terrifying in his attitude.
"You scoundrel!" he exclaimed.
Dredlinton drew a little farther back and kept his finger upon the bell.
"Look here," he said viciously, "you may as well drop those heroics.