AUDR. No. Is all safe, do you think? MICH. Yes, I believe so. AUDR. Didn't that strange secretary of yours think it curious that you came back on Thursday instead of Saturday? MICH. No. I explained that when Withycombe brought me your telegram I thought it better to return at once in case you had started to come, and had been somehow lost. AUDR. Let us go carefully through it all as it happened, to make sure. To-day is Friday. On Wednesday I telegraphed to Withycombe to be at the landing-place at Saint Decuman's with a boat at six o'clock in the evening to bring me back home from there. MICH. Yes. AUDR. But being a strange creature and quite unaccountable for my actions, I changed my mind, and instead of coming to Saint Decuman's I went up to London, stayed there all day yesterday, and returned by the night mail, reaching home at seven this morning. MICH. Yes. AUDR. Meantime Withycombe has gone to Saint Margaret's with your uncle, stays there Wednesday night and does not get my telegram till his return home yesterday afternoon. He consults my servants, who know nothing of my whereabouts, consults Mr. Gibbard, who advises him to go to Saint Decuman's and see if I am there. He reaches Saint Decuman's last evening. You are surprised when he shows you the telegram--you explain that I am not there, that I have not been there, that you've seen nothing of me. (_Very tenderly._) Dear, I felt so sorry for you when I heard you blundering and stammering through your tale to Withycombe. MICH. Why? AUDR. I knew the pain and shame it caused you to say what wasn't true. I wished I could have told all the lies for you. MICH. No, no. Isn't the truth dear to you? AUDR. Not in comparison with you. Besides, I shall be let off my fibs and little sins very cheaply, much more cheaply than you'll be, great serious person. MICH. You grieve me to the heart when you speak like this---- AUDR. (_penitent_). I won't! I won't! I'll be very good and quite serious. Where were we? Well, you explain to Withycombe that I have never been to Saint Decuman's, and at the same time you also change your mind and return with him last evening instead of staying till Saturday. MICH. You've seen Withycombe and told him you went to London? AUDR. Yes. MICH. He suspects nothing? AUDR. No, I made it all quite clear to him. MICH. And your servants? AUDR. They're used to my absences. They think nothing of it. MICH. Then all is safe. The matter will never be heard of again--except---- AUDR. Except? MICH. In our two hearts, and in the High Court where such cases are tried. (_With an inclination of the head and finger towards heaven._) AUDR. Don't preach, and--don't regret. MICH. I won't--only how strange it all is! AUDR. What?