He had had no time in which to collect his thoughts. He made no attempt to answer. His hand struck the back of a chair and he moved it toward her. “Won’t you sit down?” he faltered. She pushed the chair impatiently away. “Oh, don’t!” she cried. “Don’t waste time. Of course I won’t sit down. Did you think I had come to make a formal call? Bob! Bob, please answer my questions! Tell me everything, just as it was, where and how you found him that night. And if-- Oh, everything!” He understood now. She, too, had heard the rumor, the story to which Foster Townsend had referred. In all probability every one had heard it by this time. But what did she believe concerning him--and his part in the affair? That was what he must know. “I see,” he said, slowly. “Of course--yes.... Well, what do you want me to tell?” “Bob! Why must I say it again? I want you to tell me just what happened that night after you left the hall. They are saying--I have heard-- Oh, I _know_ it isn’t true! I want you to tell me it isn’t.” “I can’t tell that until I know what you have heard.” “I have heard--I heard it this morning--that you and Seymour were seen together down here somewhere on the lower road, hours after the hall was closed and locked. You were seen here together--some one saw you, I don’t know who. That is the story. Bob--” “Wait a minute. It isn’t the whole story, is it?” “No, it is not. Bob, they say--they say you and he were--disagreeing--quarreling--” “Fighting, perhaps?” “Bob! Why-- Do you think it is a _joke_? Don’t you realize--” “Hush, Esther! Certainly I realize. I realize quite as plainly as you can what else they will be saying soon--may be saying now, for all I know. What do you expect me to do about it?” “Do! I want you to deny it all, of course. Speak out plainly and say it is all a lie.” “Suppose it isn’t all a lie? As a matter of fact, most of it, so far, is true. Covell and I were together down on this road at two o’clock that morning. We did meet and we did quarrel.... There, there, Esther--” She had turned pale. He stepped toward her, but she drew back. “No, don’t,” she gasped. He came no nearer. She was silent, for a moment, looking at him. Then, with a sharp catch of the breath, she leaned forward. “Go on!” she said quickly. “Why don’t you go on? Tell me the rest.” He shook his head. “I can’t tell any more,” he answered. “But you must tell _me_. Don’t you see you must?” “No, I don’t. I have not told any one else as much as that. I did not mean to tell anything.” “But you must tell. And they know--every one knows--or guesses. Some one saw you here. Oh, Bob!” with a desperate stamp of the foot, “can’t you _see_ what this may mean? They will begin to think--to say--”