She ran into the house and up the stairs and shut herself in the library, breathless, panic-stricken. He was going to confess! How awful! How awful! How could she ever go through with it? Why, why, hadn't she spoken at once and got it over? She sat quite still until she had ceased trembling and her heart no longer pounded and affected her breathing. Then she set her teeth and went downstairs. CHAPTER XII I Mortimer was walking up and down the hall. "Come in here," he said. He entered the drawing-room, and Alexina followed like a culprit led to the bar. Nevertheless, it crossed her mind that he wanted the moral support of a mantelpiece. She almost stumbled into a chair. Mortimer did not avail himself of the chimneypiece toward which he had unconsciously gravitated, but walked back and forth. Two electric lights hidden under lamp shades were burning, but the large room was rather somber. Alexina composed herself once more with a violent effort and asked in a crisp tone: "Well? What is this mystery? Are you in love with some one else? Been, making love--" "Alexina!" He confronted her with stricken eyes. "You know that I am literally incapable of such a thing. But of course you were jesting." "Of course. But something is so manifestly wrong with you, and ... well ... of course you would be justified." "Not in my own eyes. Besides, I shall never give up the hope of winning you back again. I live for that ... although now! ... that is the whole trouble.... How am I going to say it?" "Well, let me help you out. You took the bonds." "You've been to the bank! I wanted to tell you first ... the day you came back.... I couldn't...." "There is only one thing I am really curious about. How did you get in? Of course you knew where I kept the key, but--" "I--" His voice was so lifeless that if dead men could speak it must be in the same flat faint tones. "I had the old power of attorney." "But I revoked it." "I mean the instrument--the paper. You did not ask for it. I did not think of it either.... I trusted to the keeper taking it on its face value, not looking it up. He didn't. You see--" He gave a dreadful sort of laugh. "I am well known and have a good reputation." "Why didn't you cable and ask me to lend you the money?" "There wasn't time. Besides, you might have refused. I was desperate--" "I don't want to hear the particulars. I am not in the least curious. What I must talk to you about--" "I must tell you the whole thing. I can't go about with it any longer. Then, perhaps, you will understand." His voice was still flat and as he continued to walk he seemed to draw half-paralyzed legs after him. Alexina set her lips and stared at the floor. He meant to talk. No getting out of it.