THE HOUSE OF OFFENSE On his way to the oaken door that was for ever double-barred, in that small hall which led to the apartments of Amaryllis' corps of artists, Philadelphus met Salome, the actress.

He would have passed her without a word, but the woman, armed with the nettle of a small triumph over the man who held her in contempt, could not forbear piercing him as he passed.
"Hieing away to excite your disappointment further ?" she said.

"Has the forlorn lady convinced you, yet, that she is indeed your wife ?" "Had I that two hundred talents, I would confess her!" he declared.
"Cruel obstacle! But that two hundred talents is locked away safely, out of your reach.

Why do you not run away with this pretty creature ?" Philadelphus glowered at her.
"I have been known to make way with those who stood in my way," he declared.
"I sleep with my door locked," she answered, "and I ever face you.

I need never be afraid, therefore." For a moment he was silent, while she sensed that overweening hate and menace which charged the air about him.
"It is not all as it should be," he said finally.