He laughed, not harshly, but comfortably, as a man does who is sure of himself. "Yes, there is something there still. I count on that. There is a common knowledge, unshared by any one but you and me. He would have it so. I was ready to tell him everything, but he wouldn't hear me. It was honourable of him. I admired him for it; but it left me sharing something with you." She stared at him, as if he had insulted her in the street. "What can you mean? How could he want to hear from you what he knew already from me?" Urquhart went pale. Grey patches showed on his cheeks and spread like dry places in the sand. "You told him?" "Everything. Two nights before you went." He fell silent. His eyes left her face. Power seemed to leave him. "That tears it," he said. "That does for me." He was so utterly disconcerted that she could have pitied him. "So that's why he didn't want to hear me! No wonder. But--why didn't he tell me that he knew it? I taunted him with not knowing." He turned towards her; his eyes were bright with fever. "If you know, perhaps you'll tell me." Lucy said proudly, "I believe I know. He didn't want to change your thoughts of me." He received that in silence. Then he said, "By George, he's a better man than I am." Lucy said, "Yes, he is." Her head was very fixed, her neck very stiff. She was really angry, and Urquhart had sense enough to see it. She got up to leave him, really angry, but unwilling to appear so. "You must forget all this," she said, "and get well. Then you will do wonderful things." He said, "I've been a blackguard; but I meant something better." "Oh, I am sure you did," she said warmly. "I won't see Macartney, if he doesn't mind. Tell him from me that he's a better man than I am." "He won't believe you," said Lucy. "Oh, yes, he will," Urquhart held. "Good-bye. Love to Lancelot." That melted her. "Don't give us up. We are all your friends now." He wouldn't have it. "No. I am a neck-or-nothing man. It can't be. There's no cake in the cupboard. I've eaten it. Send Vera in if you see her about. Good-bye." She left him. * * * * * She went through the hall, with a word to Vera, who was writing letters there. "He asked for you." Vera looked up at her. "He's excited, I suppose?" "No, not now," said Lucy. Then she went into the sitting-room and saw the party at tea on the balcony. James paused in his careful occupations, and focussed her with his eyeglass. She went quickly to the table. "Oh, let me do it, let me." And then she sighed deeply. "Hulloa," said James, knowing very well. "What's up?" She poured the tea. "Only that I'm glad to be here." Glances were exchanged, quick but reassuring. Lancelot said, "There's a ripping cake. Mr. Urquhart would like some, I bet you." Lucy said, "He can't have any cake just yet." Upon which remark she avoided James's eye, and eyeglass, with great care. But on a swift afterthought she stooped and kissed Lancelot. EPILOGUE