MICH. Perhaps I was wrong in urging her to confess. ANDR. It isn't much good thinking that now, is it? MICH. No, except to ask you to forgive me, and to say that you don't cherish any ill-feeling against me on that account. ANDR. I forgive you, and I don't cherish any ill-feeling against you on that or any account. MICH. I may trust you entirely, Andrew? ANDR. If you doubt it--try me. MICH. Try you? ANDR. Didn't I tell you to ask me any question you like? MICH. (_alarmed_). What do you mean? (_Pause, looks at ANDREW._) Enough. I trust you absolutely--(_looks at him_)--in everything. ANDR. You may. (_Is again going._) MICH. No, Andrew, nothing has occurred--I was afraid--it seemed so strange--this telegram business. What are you thinking about me? ANDR. Take care, sir. Don't betray yourself to anybody but me. MICH. Betray myself? ANDR. You're a worse bungler at lying than I was. Don't look like that, or other people will guess. Don't give way. You're safe. Nobody but me suspects anything. Your character is quite safe--her character is quite safe. They're both in my keeping. MICH. (_stares helplessly at him_). How did you know? ANDR. I've suspected for some time past---- MICH. You were wrong. There was nothing to suspect. It was a chance, an accident--there was no intention to deceive. What made you guess? ANDR. When Withycombe brought the telegram to me I guessed something was wrong. I heard you go out in the middle of the night. I followed you down to the beach; I saw you put off; I waited for you to come back. I was on the top of the cliff just above you when you landed with her. I saw you come on here, and I watched her take the road to the station, and saw her come back to her home as if she had come in by the early morning train. MICH. What are you going to do? ANDR. Nothing. Don't I owe everything I am and everything I have in this world to you? I shall never breathe a word of what I know to a living soul. MICH. Thank you, Andrew. Thank you. And you'll be sure above all that she is safe---- ANDR. As safe as if I were in the grave. You go your way, just the same as if I didn't know. MICH. Andrew. ANDR. (_comes back_). Sir---- MICH. (_breaking down_). I was harsh and cruel to Rose. I punished her more than she deserved. I was a hard, self-righteous priest! I hadn't been tempted myself then. Send for her to come home again! Comfort her and give her the best place in your heart. Write at once. Let her come back to-morrow! Oh, what weak, wretched Pharisees we are! What masks of holiness we wear! What whited sepulchres we are! Send for her! Make up to her for all she has suffered! Let me ask her pardon! Oh, Andrew, have pity on me! Forgive me, forgive me! (_Bending his head in tears. ANDREW steals out of the room. A long pause. AUDRIE appears at window in the same place as in Act I., looks in, sees him, taps the window, he goes up to it._) AUDR. Let me in. Quickly. I want to speak to you.