"When you didn't arrive home that night, he called up the taxi company and they traced you to the church door. Knowing your religious proclivities," they smiled tremulously at each other, "I interviewed several of the priests and finally found the one to whom you had confessed." "That must have been horrible!" Claire interrupted with forced levity. A growing fear was in her eyes. "What did he tell you?" She sat up in bed. A deep flush suddenly replaced her former pallor. Her agonized embarrassment did not escape Alexis. He broke in quickly, "Nothing at all, of course. Secrecy of the confessional and all that, you know." She collapsed upon the pillows. Disregarding her obvious agitation, Alexis went on quietly. "He merely told me that you seemed ill. That perhaps you had fainted in the street and been taken to some hospital. I thought it an excellent suggestion, and after calling up about four or five hospitals and describing you and your clothes (you can thank Ito for that--he knew what you had on to the last detail), we finally succeeded in discovering you here. That is all." Releasing her hand, which he had held in his all this time, he patted it gently. She looked up into his face with grateful eyes. "Oh Alexis, how good of you to take so much trouble for me. How can I ever thank you?" "It wasn't good of me, and you know it. I've been a brute all along. But if you want to please me you must take care of yourself. As soon as you are able to leave the hospital and go back to the apartment you must take one of these sisters home with you and keep her as long as necessary. But I will consult the doctor about that," he added with a business-like air, which contrasted oddly with his usual lack of responsibility. Claire sat up suddenly and clasped his arm. "That won't be necessary at all. Please don't consult the doctor about me. I'm perfectly well, only a little tired and not quite myself since----since you went to the sanitarium. Now that you are all right, I shall pick up quickly and--and Alexis," she continued bravely, "whenever you want the separation you can have it, of course!" She spoke in a low voice so that the nun might not hear. He flushed painfully. "We won't think about that now, Claire. I want you to get well before we decide upon anything. Who knows, we may change our minds?" he added with a weak desire to please her. She winced. When she replied her voice was still low, but almost hard. "Please don't try to deceive me, Alexis. I know you too well. You are sorry for me now. But you don't love me any more than you did a week ago. I am willing to go back to your mother if you desire it. You are my husband and I must obey you. But I beg of you not to pretend--that is more than I can bear!" With a stifled sob she fell back upon the pillow. Torn with shame and pity, Alexis started to speak, but before he could say a word, the sister rose from her seat in the window and approached the bed.