Trix went on, in a level hard voice: 'He thinks Mr. Trent found the money. It was three thousand pounds--it might have been four. I don't know why Mr. Fricker only took three when he might have had four.' For an instant Airey glanced at Peggy's face. 'But whether it was three or four, it couldn't have been Peggy's own money. I've asked Peggy whose it was. I've asked Mr. Trent whether it was his. I can't get any answer out of either of them. They both seem to think there's no need to answer me. They both seem to think that I've been such a--such a---- Oh, what shall I do?' She dropped suddenly into a chair and hid her face in her hands. At last Airey Newton advanced slowly towards her. 'Come, come, Mrs. Trevalla,' he began. Trix raised her face to his. 'So, as I had no other friend--no other friend I could trust--and they wouldn't help me, I was coming to you. You won't forsake me? You'll tell me the truth?' Her voice rose strong again for a minute. 'This is terribly hard to bear,' she said, 'because I'd come to think it was all right, and that I hadn't been a wretched dupe. And now I have! And my own dear friends have done it too! First my enemies, then my friends!' Tommy Trent cleared his throat, and looked shamefully indifferent; but for no apparent reason he stood up. Peggy sallied suddenly from her entrenchments, ran to Trix, and fell on her knees beside her. 'Trix, dear Trix!' she murmured. 'Yes, I daresay you loved me, but it's too hard, Peggy.' Trix's voice was hard and unforgiving still. Was the position desperate? So far as Fortune's caprice went, so it seemed. Among the three the secret was gone beyond recall. Not falsehood the most thorough nor pretence the most artistic could save it. The fine scheme of keeping Trix in the dark now and telling her at some future moment--some future moment of idyllic peace--was hopelessly gone. Now in the stress of the thing, in the face of the turmoil of her spirit, she must be told. It was from this that Tommy Trent had shrunk--from this no less than from the injury to his plighted word. At the idea of this Peggy had cowered even more than from any superstitious awe of the same obligation binding her. But Airey Newton did not appear frightened nor at a loss. His air was gentle but quite decided, his manner quiet but confident. A calm happiness seemed to be about him. There was subtle amusement in his glance at his two friends; the same thing was not absent from his eyes when they turned to Trix, although it was dominated by something tenderer. Above all, he seemed to know what to do. Tommy watched him with surprised admiration. The gladdest of smiles broke out suddenly on Peggy's face. She darted from Trix to him and stood by him, saying just 'Airey!' He took her hand for a moment and patted it. 'It's all right,' said he. Trix's drooping head was raised again; her eyes too were on him now. 'All right?' she echoed in wondering tones.