"Where are you going?" But there was no need for her to answer; he knew without a word being spoken. He stood back from her, his hand falling from her arm as if it had grown nerveless, and for a moment there was absolute silence. Then the Beggar Man laughed, such a mirthless, heart-broken laugh that Faith cried out. She dropped the little suitcase she carried and ran to him. "Nicholas ... Nicholas ... Oh, don't look at me like that!" She laid her hand on his sleeve, but he struck it down in blind fury. At that moment he was beside himself with rage and bitterness and sorrow for the tragedy that had come into his life. And she seemed to realize that his thoughts were not only of her and the irrevocable step she had planned to take, and her frightened face whitened as she instinctively gasped her friend's name. "Peg!"... Forrester turned away. He put his hand over his eyes for a moment, trying desperately to control himself, but his voice was thick as he answered mechanically: "She died--in hospital--half an hour ago." There was a tragic silence, then Faith stumbled backwards, catching at the balusters to save herself from falling. Her face was frozen with horror. She stared at her husband with fascinated eyes. Then he seemed to awaken again to the desperate situation still confronting him; he caught her by both shoulders, shaking her savagely in his rage and despair. "You were going--with Digby.... My God! I'll kill him--I'll----" He broke off as the silence of the night outside was pierced by the shrill sound of a man's whistle. For an instant neither of them moved. Then slowly, as if with difficulty, Forrester released her and turned towards the door. Faith felt as if she were turned to stone. Then suddenly she rushed after him; she fell on her knees, catching at his hand. "No--no ... I beg you ... no ... no.... Oh, if you ever loved me...." He looked down at her upturned face, and his own writhed in desperate pain. "If--I--ever--loved--you!" he echoed. Then he stooped, wrenched himself free of her, flung open the door and was gone out into the night. * * * * * Faith never knew how the hours of that dreadful night passed away. When daylight came she found herself in her own room, sitting on the side of the bed, staring down at the floor. She felt incapable of thought or action; mind and body seemed frozen with a great horror. Last night seemed like some terrible madness. She was sure she must have been mad. Forrester had not come home, she knew, for her ears had been strained all night for the sound of his step. When the maid brought early tea she cried out when she saw Faith. "Oh, ma'am! What has happened? Miss Fraser's not in her room, nor the master...." Faith tried to answer, but no words would come, and, touched by the white suffering of her face, the maid tried to persuade her to lie down.