sure. I'm afraid I smell of tobacco?"

"I don't care if you do!"

This was such an agreeable surprise to Mr. Gallilee, that he got on his
legs again to enjoy it standing up. "How kind! Really now, how kind!" He
approached Mrs. Gallilee confidentially. "And do you know, my dear, it
was one of the most remarkable cigars I ever smoked." Mrs. Gallilee laid
down her pen, and eyed him with an annihilating frown. In the extremity
of his confusion Mr. Gallilee ventured nearer. He felt the sinister
fascination of the serpent in the expression of those awful eyebrows.
"How well you are looking! How amazingly well you are looking this
morning!" He leered at his learned wife, and patted her shoulder!

For the moment, Mrs. Gallilee was petrified. At his time of life, was
this fat and feeble creature approaching her with conjugal endearments?
At that early hour of the day, had his guilty lips tasted his favourite
champagne, foaming in his well-beloved silver mug, over his much-admired
lump of ice? And was _this_ the result?

"Mr. Gallilee!"

"Yes, my dear?"

"Sit down!"

Mr. Gallilee sat down.

"Have you been to the club?"

Mr. Gallilee got up again.

"Sit down!"

Mr. Gallilee sat down. "I was about to say, my dear, that I'll show you
over the club with the greatest pleasure--if that's what you mean."

"If you are not a downright idiot," said Mrs. Gallilee, "understand
this! Either say what you have to say, or--" she lifted her hand, and
let it down on the writing-table with a slap that made the pens ring in
the inkstand--"or, leave the room!"

Mr. Gallilee lifted his hand, and searched in the breast-pocket of his
coat. He pulled out his cigar-case, and put it back in a hurry. He tried
again, and produced a letter. He looked piteously round the room, in
sore need of somebody whom he might appeal to, and ended in appealing to
himself. "What sort of temper will she be in?" he whispered.

"What have you got there?" Mrs. Gallilee asked sharply. "One of the
letters you had this morning?"

Mr. Gallilee looked at her with admiration. "Wonderful woman!" he said.
"Nothing escapes her! Allow me, my dear."

He rose and presented the letter, as if he was presenting a petition.
Mrs. Gallilee snatched it out of his hand. Mr. Gallilee went softly back
to his chair, and breathed a devout ejaculation. "Oh, Lord!"

It was a letter from one of the tradespeople, whom Mrs. Gallilee had
attempted to pacify with a payment "on account.