'But you were perfectly well aware that morally it was mine. It was nothing to you; it was all the world to me. I believe that you refused to let me have it precisely because you knew that your refusal might entail my ruin; and so your cup of revenge might be filled to the full. Under those circumstances I hold that I was justified in using any and every means to save myself from being utterly undone by the whim of a revengeful woman.' 'I meant to let you have it.' 'That was not the impression you left upon my mind last night.' 'You took me unawares--I had to think things over.' 'Then if it was your intention that I should have it you cannot but be pleased to find that my action has kept abreast of your intention.' Miss Bewicke was silent. She was drawing imaginary pictures with her finger-tip on the table by which she was standing, looking down as she did so. His desire was to get away; it was not an interview which he wished to have prolonged. But his departure was postponed. 'Why do you say I am revengeful?' 'You know better than I.' 'Do you think I wish to be revenged on you because once you pretended to love me, and now you keep up that pretence no longer?' 'It was no pretence.' 'I am glad to hear that, because, Guy, I love you still.' She looked up at him in such a way that she seemed to compel him to meet her eyes. He shivered. 'I wish you wouldn't say such things.' 'Why? Because they're true? I like to tell the truth. I have always loved you, and I always shall, though I shall never be your wife.' 'I thought you said you were engaged to Dumville.' 'So I am. And I daresay that perhaps one day I shall marry him. I don't know quite why. But it certainly isn't because I love him. I have never pretended to. Ask him; he's frankness itself; he'll confess. Although, as you have only told me, I am a woman with ill-regulated passions and irresponsible tendencies, I'm a woman with only one love in her life, and you are he. Good-night, and good-bye.' Now that she had formally dismissed him he felt that it was difficult to go. He fidgeted instead. 'I know you think that I have behaved meanly.' 'Not at all. I suppose you have acted according to your lights.' 'I'm not so sure of that. But, the truth is, I was desperate.' 'Indeed? Is that so? Like the man with the twelve starving children, who steals the bottle of whisky. I know. If I were you I wouldn't trouble to explain. This sort of situation is not improved by explanation. I think you had better pocket your booty and go.' 'As for the ruby'--he was holding it out on the palm of his open hand--'I will give you another for it a dozen times as good as this.' For the first time she fired up. 'You dare to do anything of the kind--you dare! Do you think I am to be bought and sold?' 'I simply don't wish you to suffer from my action.' 'Do you think that your giving me one piece of stone in exchange for another piece of stone will prevent my suffering? Guy, please, go.'