She hated him for reverting to this point. Holding fast to what she still had to say, the actress picked up a broken thread. "You said there was another reason why you left New York so suddenly." Charter expected now to learn if any one were listening. He was cold with the thought of the interview being weighed in the balances of a third mind. "You've made a big point of my going away," he essayed. "The other reason is not a pretty matter, and doubtless you will call any repugnance of mine an affectation----" "Repugnance--what do you mean?" she asked savagely, yet she was afraid, afraid of his cool tongue. "I never lied to you." "That may be true. I'm not curious for evidence to the contrary. The day before I left for the West, a friend told me that you and I were being watched; that all our movements were known. I didn't believe it; could not see the sense--until it was proved that same night by the devious walk we took.... You doubtless remember the face of that young night-bird whom we once laughed about. We thought it just one of those coincidences which frequently occur--a certain face bobbing up everywhere for a number of days. I assured myself that night that you knew nothing of this remarkable outside interest in our affairs." Selma Cross, with swift stealth, disappeared into the apartment-hall and closed the outer door; then returned, facing him. Her yellow eyes were wide open, filled with a misty, tortured look. To Charter the place and the woman had become haggard with emptiness. He missed the occasional click of the elevator in the outer-hall, for it had seemed to keep him in touch with the world's activities. The old carnal magnetism of Selma Cross stirred not a tissue in him now; the odor of her garments which once roused him, was forbidding. He had not the strength to believe that the door had been shut for any other reason than to prevent Skylark from hearing. The actress had not minded how their voices carried, so long as _he_ was being arraigned.... The air was devitalized. It was as if they were dying of heart-break--without a sound.... It had been so wonderful--this thought of finding his mate after the æons, his completion--a woman beautiful with soul-age and spiritual light.... Selma Cross was speaking. Charter stirred from his great trouble. She was changed, no longer the clever mistress of a dramatic hour.... Each was so burdened with a personal tragedy that pity for the other was slow to warm between them. "Do you mean that old Villiers paid the night-bird to watch us--to learn where we went, and possibly what we said?" she was saying hoarsely. Selma Cross felt already that her cad was exploded.