But that hope was now dead within her, and cold. She had but to look at him to see how groundless it had been, how utterly unmoved he was by her distress. He waited patiently--that was all--seeming so very tall, a pillar of righteous strength, distinguished and at ease in his evening clothes: waiting, patient but cold, dispassionate and disdainful. "I am waiting, you see. Might I suggest that we have not all week for our--our mutual differences?" His tone was altogether changed; she would hardly have known it for his voice. Its incisive, clipped accents were like a knife to her sensitiveness.... She summoned the reserve of her strength, stood erect, unsupported, and moved forward without a word. He stood aside, holding the lamp high, and followed her, lighting the way down the hall to the study. Once there, she sank quivering into a chair, while he proceeded gravely to the desk, put down the lamp,--superfluous now, the gas having been lighted,--and after a moment's thought faced her, with a contemptuous smile and lift of his shoulders, thrusting hands deep into his pockets. "Well?" he demanded cuttingly. She made a little motion of her hands, begging for time; and, assenting with a short nod, he took a turn up and down the room, then abstractedly reached up and turned out the gas. "When you are quite composed I should enjoy hearing your statement." "I ... have none to make." "So!"--with his back to the lamp, towering over and oppressing her with the sense of his strength and self-control. "That is very odd, isn't it?" "I have no--no explanation to give that would satisfy you, or myself," she said brokenly. "I--I don't care what you think," with a flicker of defiance. "Believe the worst and--and do what you will--have me arrested----" He laughed sardonically. "Oh, we won't go so far as that, I guess; harsh measures, such as arrest and imprisonment, are so unsatisfactory to all concerned. But I am interested to know why you are here." Her breathing seemed very loud in the pause; she kept her lips tight, fearing to speak lest she lose her mastery of self. And hysteria threatened: the fluttering in her bosom warned her. She must be very careful, very restrained, if she were to avert that crowning misfortune. "I don't think I quite understand you," he continued musingly; "surely you must have anticipated interruption." "I thought you safely out of the way----" "One presumed that." He laughed again, unpleasantly. "But how about Maitland? Didn't you have him in your calculations, or--" He paused, unfeignedly surprised by her expression. And chuckled when he comprehended.