Look here, Morris, it just comes to this: If this exceedingly attractive young lady had made love to you, or had induced you to make love to her, so that you ran away with her, or anything else, of course you would have behaved badly and cruelly to me, but at least your conduct would be natural, and to be explained.

We all know that men do this kind of thing, and women too, for the matter of that, under the influence of passion--and are often very sorry for it afterwards.

But she didn't do this; she took you on your weak side, which she understood thoroughly--probably because it was her own weak side--and out-Heroded Herod, or, rather, out-mysticised the mystic, finishing up with some spiritual marriage, which, if it is anything at all, is impious.

What right have we to make bargains for the Beyond, about which we know nothing ?" "She did know something," said Morris, with a sullen conviction.
"You think she did because you were reduced to a state of mind in which, if she had told you that the sun goes round the earth, you would quite readily have believed her.

My dearest Morris, that way madness lies.
Perhaps you understand now what I have been driving at, and the best proof of the absurdity of the whole thing is that I, stupid as I am, from my intimate knowledge of your character since childhood, was able to predict that something of this sort would certainly happen to you.
You will admit that is a little odd, won't you ?" "Yes, it's odd; or, perhaps, it shows that you have more of the inner sight than you know.