ked slowly, like
machinery that wanted oiling through long disuse. Then suddenly he
seemed to understand.

The blood rushed to his face in a passionate flood. He took a step
forward and gripped her arm.

"Where are you going? Answer me."

She hardly knew his voice, and his eyes were like a stranger's, as she
shrank back from him with a low cry of fear.

"Where are you going?" But there was no need for her to answer; he knew
without a word being spoken.

He stood back from her, his hand falling from her arm as if it had grown
nerveless, and for a moment there was absolute silence. Then the Beggar
Man laughed, such a mirthless, heart-broken laugh that Faith cried out.
She dropped the little suitcase she carried and ran to him.

"Nicholas ... Nicholas ... Oh, don't look at me like that!" She laid her
hand on his sleeve, but he struck it down in blind fury. At that moment
he was beside himself with rage and bitterness and sorrow for the
tragedy that had come into his life.

And she seemed to realize that his thoughts were not only of her and the
irrevocable step she had planned to take, and her frightened face
whitened as she instinctively gasped her friend's name.

"Peg!"... Forrester turned away. He put his hand over his eyes for a
moment, trying desperately to control himself, but his voice was thick
as he answered mechanically:

"She died--in hospital--half an hour ago."

There was a tragic silence, then Faith stumbled backwards, catching at
the balusters to save herself from falling. Her face was frozen with
horror. She stared at her husband with fascinated eyes.

Then he seemed to awaken again to the desperate situation still
confronting him; he caught her by both shoulders, shaking her savagely
in his rage and despair.

"You were going--with Digby.... My God! I'll kill him--I'll----"

He broke off as the silence of the night outside was pierced by the
shrill sound of a man's whistle.

For an instant neither of them moved. Then slowly, as if with
difficulty, Forrester released her and turned towards the door.

Faith felt as if she were turned to stone. Then suddenly she rushed
after him; she fell on her knees, catching at his hand.

"No--no ... I beg you ... no ... no.... Oh, if you ever loved me...."

He looked down at her upturned face, and his own writhed in desperate
pain.

"If--I--ever--loved--you!" he echoed. Then he stooped, wrenched himself
free of her, flung open the door and was gone o