" replied Constance. "But for the moment
I want you to inquire whether you are the kind of man who would
understand and help _me_.--You are surprised. That's quite a new way of
putting the matter, isn't it? You never saw _that_ as a result of your
theory?"

"Stay!" Dyce raised his hand. "I know perfectly well that you are
ambitious. If you were not, we should never have become friends. But
you must remember that, from my point of view, I am offering you such a
chance of gratifying your ambition as you will hardly find again."

"That is to say, the reflection of _your_ glory. As a woman, what more
can I ask? You can't think how this amuses me, now that I have come to
my senses. Putting aside the question of whether you are likely to win
glory at all, have you no suspicion of your delightful arrogance? I
should like to know how far your contempt of women really goes. It went
far enough, at all events, to make you think that I believed your talk
about equality of the sexes. But really, I am not quite such a
simpleton. I always knew that you despised women, that you looked upon
them as creatures to be made use of. If you ask: why, then, did I
endure you for a moment? the answer must be, that I am a woman. You
see, Mr. Lashmar, we females of the human species are complex. Some of
us think and act very foolishly, and all the time, somewhere in our
curious minds, are dolefully aware of our foolishness. You knew that of
_men_; let me assure you that women share the unhappy privilege."

Lashmar was listening with knitted brows. No word came to his lips.

"You interest me," pursued Constance. "I think you are rather a typical
man of our time, and it isn't at all impossible that you may become, as
you say, distinguished. But, clothed and in my right mind, I don't feel
disposed to pay the needful price for the honour of helping you on. You
mustn't lose heart; I have little doubt that some other woman will
grasp at the opportunity you so kindly wish to reserve for me. But may
I venture a word of counsel? Don't let it be a woman who holds the
equality theory. I say this in the interest of your peace and
happiness. There are plenty of women, still, who like to be despised,
and some of them are very nice indeed. They are the only good wives; I
feel sure of it. We others--women cursed with brains--are not meant for
marriage. We grow in numbers, unfortunately. What will be the end of
it, I don't know. Some day you will thank your star