_

I will not write to your lawyers. This second letter of theirs is too
insulting. They know very well they could never win the case against me.
(I am innocent; and even if I were not, your evidence is ridiculously
insufficient.) And that is why they offer to "settle" with me privately.
But my own feelings have changed over night. That you could, first,
believe the charges against me, and second, that you could have allowed
me to be insulted by your--_or your brother's_--lawyers, as you have
done, these two things have opened my eyes to your own weak
contemptible character. I am grateful the discovery came before it was
too late. I release you from your engagement to me, and far from
bringing a suit against you I feel I owe you a debt of thanks. I trust
this is a sufficient reply to your insult to "settle" privately. The
matter is at end with this letter.

BEATRICE NORTH.

VI

_Headlines of a Column in a Daily New York Paper._

THE STRONG'S BALL!
ALL THE SWELLS THERE!
DICK STRONG GETS THE COLD
SHOULDER FROM MOST
OF HIS FRIENDS!

The Opera

_Mrs. Sternwall's Box. The First Act of Tristan and Isolde is
three-quarters over. Mr. Alfred Easterfelt is seated alone in the
corner. He is bored._

MR. ALFRED EASTERFELT.

(_To himself, after a long sigh._) Damn it! What did I come so early
for?

(_People are heard by the entire audience entering the little
ante-room behind. The men's chorus on the stage drowns the sound of
artificial laughter. The curtains part, and_ Mr. Easterfelt _is
joined by_ Mrs. Sternwall, Mrs. Morley, Miss Beebar, and Mr. Carn.)

MRS. MORLEY.

(_Seriously._) What a pity we've missed so much.

(_There are general greetings, whispered pleasantly. Each person,
without exception, glances first all about the house, and then turns
his eyes slowly toward stage. Mrs. Sternwall sits in_ _the corner,
facing the audience with three-quarters face, as the photographers
express it, one-quarter toward the singers and_ mise en scene. _She
beckons Easterfelt to sit behind her. The others fall into the other
places more or less as they happen, the women in front looking lovely,
as each one is well aware, with her beautiful white neck, her jewels,
and her charming coif. The music continues._)

MRS. MORLEY.

(_Suddenly noticing that Mr. Sternwall is not with the