these advantages in my favor, do you actually suppose I can fail
to make _my_ way of thinking _his_ way of thinking? You must have
forgotten your own married life! Suppose we go on to the second
of your two obstacles. I hope it will be better worth considering
than the first."

"The second obstacle will not disappoint you," I answered;
"I am the obstacle, this time."

"You refuse to help me?"

"Positively."

"Perhaps reflection may alter your resolution?"

"Reflection will do nothing of the kind."

"You are rude, sir!"

"In speaking to you, madam, I have no alternative but to speak
plainly."

She rose. Her shifting eyes, for once, looked at me steadily.

"What sort of enemy have I made of you?" she asked. "A passive
enemy who is content with refusing to help me? Or an active enemy
who will write to my husband?"

"It depends entirely," I told her, "on what your husband does.
If he questions me about you, I shall tell him the truth."