Then she knew instantly what was coming, knew what had transformed him. She was consumed with shame, with apprehension--but she could not rise from that paralyzing lounge, could not move one step toward the door. Like a true woman, hypocritically obtuse to the very last, she said: “I haven’t the least idea----” He grabbed at her hands, held them desperately. “You know; you’ve known all along. It’s been a pretty game, hasn’t it? You thought I didn’t see the nods you gave me over the dinner-table, the cunning little winks behind his back.” “I never winked in my life,” she said indignantly. He ignored the disclaimer, and went on calmly: “You’ve stood a good deal more than most girls would have done--a pretty girl like you, too. He’s been a bit of a brute, hasn’t he? Upon my word, I wonder that you have stood it so long.” She made a second frenzied attempt to struggle up from the cushions. She could see that he was slowly edging up, that the red glow on his face was more pronounced, that his eyes were nearer being expressive than they had ever been before. “Don’t be a fool,” he said, pushing her back. “You’re not a fool; you’re a sharp girl--you know which side your bread’s buttered. Edred is going all to pieces; if he doesn’t look out he’ll find himself in the dock again--with Milligan and one or two more. But I was always prudent. I’ve made a nice little pile. I can give you every comfort.” “I don’t know what you mean; on my word of honor I don’t,” she said beseechingly--too utterly staggered to be angry with him. “You don’t know! You _won’t_, you mean. You’re bent on playing a better game. Well! there; I’ll marry you, if you like. No man can make a fairer offer than that.” Then, at last, she jumped up--positively, tangibly afraid of him. She conceived the sudden extravagant idea that he had gone mad. She knew nothing of his antecedents, she recalled a thousand foolish things that he had done and looked and said. She firmly believed him to be subject to attacks of mania. Her eyes expressed her fear. “Do you think I’m off my head?” he demanded bluntly. “You look as if you did.” He rose too, his face becoming inflamed and furious. “You know,” she said gently, “of course you remember--I was married to Edred at St. Antony’s last year. You gave me away.” He looked at her keenly. Then at last he said slowly: “Haven’t you really found out? Do you still believe in that farce? Why have you followed him about all these weeks? Oh! I know. I did it well, didn’t I?” he laughed. “You behind him, I behind you, night after night. I’m a cute chap. When I was in the City the firm always gave me little delicate jobs like that to do. I can ferret out anything. And I can tell you this--she’s beginning to suspect.” “She?”