proof that
Trampy was married; he would give the name, the date; he would compel
Trampy to admit it. But he was not sure enough yet to accuse him openly:
Lily would have seen nothing in it but a ridiculous jealousy and would
never have forgiven him.

Then Jimmy was worried: people came to him for this, for that, for the
thousand details of the stage.

Lily, on her side, left the theater. That day, she was accompanied by
Maud, who fixed her with her glass eye, while the other was engaged in
watching the flies. Of course, Trampy was prowling round the theater to
see her part of the way home; for he, too, had decided to carry things
with a high hand. And he set to work at a quicker pace than ever.

He had none of Jimmy's scruples; he was not afraid of exaggerating: far
from it. Lily always left him under the impression of a glimpse of
paradise. This time, however, she failed to smile when Trampy vowed that
she was "the sweetest little thing that one could lay eyes on, by Jove!"
For a long time, but especially since that morning, she had been burning
to put a question to him. Possibly she had no intention of marrying him,
but she wouldn't allow him to make a fool of her; and she interrupted him
in his compliments to ask if what they said was true.

"Who says so? It's a lie!" Trampy hastened to answer.

"I mean your marriage," replied Lily.

"I thought as much," said Trampy.

"Tell me the truth," persisted Lily innocently, looking him straight in
the eyes.

"If I was married, Lily, would I want to marry you?"

"Of course not," said Lily, already shaken.

"Who's been talking to you about that?" asked Trampy. "Your Pa, eh? And
Jimmy: I'll bet that Jimmy ...?"

"Jimmy too."

"If I don't box that fellow's ears!" shouted Trampy. "Can't you see that
he's jealous? Why? He didn't even give you my bouquets! He handed them to
your Ma! And so I've been married, eh? Whereabouts? In America, I'll
wager?"

"Yes, somewhere on the Western Tour."

"Of course," said Trampy. "That's what I've heard myself. Still, it seems
to me that, if I had a wife, I ought to be the first to know it; don't you
think so, Lily?"

This was proof positive. Lily could find nothing to answer.

"Come and have a drink, Lily?"

"They're waiting for me at home," said Lily.

Trampy went into the bar alone, in a desperate state of love which made
him call for a port and another, by Jove! Then he sat down at a table in a
corner, lit a cigar and ex