"Ah! And what did he tell you?" A note of fierceness sounded in her
voice. She seemed to gather herself together like a cornered animal
preparing to make a wild dash for freedom.

Saltash made her a queer, abrupt bow, and in so doing he blocked the way
before her so that she could only flee by the way she had come. "He told
me nothing that I did not know before," he said, "nothing that your own
eyes had not told me long ago."

"What do you mean?" breathed Toby, pressing her clasped hands tightly to
her breast. Her eyes were still upraised to his; they glittered in the
dimness.

Saltash answered her more gently than was his wont. "I mean that I know
the sort of inferno your life had been--a perpetual struggle against odds
that were always overwhelming you. If it hadn't been so, you would never
have come to me for shelter. Do you think I ever flattered myself that
that was anything but a last resource--the final surrender to
circumstance? If I had failed you--"

"Wait!" Toby broke in tensely. "You're right in some things. You're
wrong there. It's true I was always running away--as soon as I was old
enough to realize the rottenness of life. Spentoli tried to ruin me,
but I dodged him, and then--when he trapped me--the hell-hound--I did my
best--to murder him!" The breath suddenly whistled through her teeth. "I
tried to stab him to the heart. God knows I tried! But--I suppose it
wasn't in the right place, for I didn't get there. I left him for
dead--I thought he was dead--till that day in Paris. And ever since--it's
been just a nightmare fight for life--and safety. I'd have tried some
other dodge if you hadn't found me. I was not quite down and out. But
you--you made all the difference. I had to go to you."

"And why?" said Charles Rex.

She rushed on regardless of question. The flood-gates were open; she was
hiding nothing from him now.

"You came. If you'd been an angel from heaven, you couldn't have been
more wonderful. You helped me--believed in me--gave me always--the
benefit of the doubt--made a way of escape for me--made life
possible--even--even--beautiful!" She choked a little over the word. "I
offered you just everything. I couldn't help it. You were the only man in
the world to me. How could I help worshipping you? You--you--you were
always so splendid--so--so great. You made me--you made me realize--that
life was worth having. You made me--believe in God." She broke into
sudden wild tears. "And you di