But she was a woman who left a man no solace except that to be found in brandy-and-water.

For eight years they had been man and wife; and sometimes--I grieve to say it--he had been driven almost to hope that she would commit a married woman's last sin, and leave him.

In his misery, any mode of escape would have been welcome to him.

Had his energy been sufficient he would have taken his scene-painting capabilities off to Australia,--or to the farthest shifting of scenes known on the world's stage.

But he was an easy, listless, self-indulgent man; and at any moment, let his misery be as keen as might be, a little dinner, a few soft words, and a glass of brandy-and-water would bring him round.