Tales of Terror and Mystery

           "MightItroubleyoutowalkoutside,Marshall?"saidhe.(ImaymentionthatmyownnameisMarshallKing.)

           Heclosedthedoorbehindme,andthen,foraninstant,Iheardhimtalkinginalowvoiceofconcentratedpassiontohiswife.Thisgrossbreachofhospitalityhadevidentlyhituponhistenderestpoint.Iamnoeavesdropper,soIwalkedoutontothelawn.PresentlyIheardahurriedstepbehindme,andtherewasthelady,herfacepalewithexcitement,andhereyesredwithtears.

           "Myhusbandhasaskedmetoapologizetoyou,Mr.MarshallKing,"saidshe,standingwithdowncasteyesbeforeme.

           "Pleasedonotsayanotherword,Mrs.King."

           Herdarkeyessuddenlyblazedoutatme.

           "Youfool!"shehissed,withfranticvehemence,andturningonherheelsweptbacktothehouse.

           Theinsultwassooutrageous,soinsufferable,thatIcouldonlystandstaringafterherinbewilderment.Iwasstilltherewhenmyhostjoinedme.Hewashischeery,chubbyselfoncemore.

           "Ihopethatmywifehasapologizedforherfoolishremarks,"saidhe.

           "Oh,yes—yes,certainly!"

           Heputhishandthroughmyarmandwalkedwithmeupanddownthelawn.

           "Youmustnottakeitseriously,"saidhe."Itwouldgrievemeinexpressiblyifyoucurtailedyourvisitbyonehour.Thefactis—thereisnoreasonwhythereshouldbeanyconcealmentbetweenrelatives—thatmypoordearwifeisincrediblyjealous.Shehatesthatanyone—maleorfemale—shouldforaninstantcomebetweenus.Heridealisadesertislandandaneternaltete-a-tete.