HOTCHKISS [to Edith] Of course I'll go if you wish me to. But Cecil's objection to go through with it was so entirely on public grounds — EDITH [with quick suspicion] His objection? SYKES. Sinjon: you have no right to say that. I expressly said that I'm ready to go through with it. EDITH. Cecil: do you mean to say that you have been raising difficulties about our marriage? SYKES. I raise no difficulty. But I do beg you to be careful what you say about people. You must remember, my dear, that when we are married I shall be responsible for everything you say. Only last week you said on a public platform that Slattox and Chinnery were scoundrels. They could have got a thousand pounds damages apiece from me for that if we'd been married at the time. EDITH [austerely] I never said

