in, with
mounting anger and astonishment:

"Of course we've got the right and the reason to question both of
you! You might just as well come off your high horse; you've behaved
very badly, Jelnik! To induce Sophy to scuttle off in the middle of
the night, without a word to anybody, and go wild-goose-chasing with
you, was an unworthy action. I wouldn't have believed it of you,
Jelnik; I thought you had more common sense--not to speak of Sophy
herself. Gad, I'd like to shake the pair of you!" And he stamped his
feet.

"Doctor Richard Geddes," said Mr. Jelnik, in dangerously low and
honeyed tones, "I find you insufferable. You have the instincts and
the manners of a navvy."

"Mr. Jelnik!" cried The Author. "Mr. Jelnik, honor me, please, by
considering my instincts and manners infinitely worse than Doctor
Geddes's. I, Mr. Jelnik, at this instant feel within me the
instincts of a cave man and I hone for the thigh-bone of an aurochs
to prove it to you. Do you know what I think of you, Mr. Jelnik? I
consider you a man without conscience and without scruples, sir!"

"My faith! The man even talks like a serial!" said Mr. Jelnik,
weariedly. "My dear, good sir, while we're by way of indulging in
personalities permit me to inform you that you annoy me by existing.
As to your behavior to Miss Smith--"

"_My_ behavior to Miss Smith?" shrieked The Author, stamping with
fury, "_my_ behavior to Miss Smith? You had better set about
explaining _your_ behavior to Miss Smith! You're a rascal, Mr.
Jelnik!"

"You, my dear sir, are worse: you're an ass," said Mr. Jelnik, and
fetched a sigh of tiredness. "Would to heaven somebody would fetch
you a halter!"

"Jelnik," choked Doctor Geddes, "a man who behaves as you're
behaving to-night runs the risk of getting himself shot. You're my
own cousin, but--"

Mr. Jelnik turned at bay.

"Doctor Geddes," said he, in a razor-edged voice, "it is no light
affliction to be kin to the Hyndses!--What do you want me to
explain? I have already told you it was necessary for Miss Smith and
me to attend to a matter that is none of your business. In return,
you hold us up like brigands. Would it make a dent in your armor of
righteous meddling, if I were to remind you that you are seriously
annoying Miss Smith?"

"Not a dent!" roared the doctor. "And if it annoys Sophy to be asked
a straight question by those who have her interest at heart, let her
be annoyed and take shame to herself!"

Alicia be