a bit carried off my feet by the situation. I'll be more careful
hereafter. Untie this damned rope, will you?"

Stonor slowly shook his head. "I think we're both better off with a
little distance between us."

Imbrie repented of his honeyed tones. His lip curled back. But he made
an effort to control himself. "Aren't you afraid your spotless
reputation will suffer?" he asked, sneering.

"Not a bit!" said Stonor promptly.

Imbrie was taken aback. "Well--can I speak to my wife for a minute?" he
asked sullenly.

Stonor observed, wincing, how he loved to bring out the word "wife."
"That's up to her," he answered. "I'll put it to her."

Returning to Clare, he said: "He wants to speak to you."

She shrank involuntarily. "What should I do, Martin?"

"I see nothing to be gained by it," said Stonor quickly.

"But if, as you say, in a way he's sick, perhaps I ought----"

"He's not too sick to have a devil in him. Leave him alone!"

She shook her head. She was gaining in firmness. "It won't hurt me to
hear what he has to say. It may throw some light on the situation."

"I doubt it," said Stonor. "His object is to raise as much dust as
possible. But go ahead. If he's insulting, leave him instantly. And
don't let him know what I suspect him of."

She went, and Stonor walked up and down in the grass in a fever until
she returned. She was with Imbrie some little time. Stonor could not
guess of what they talked. Clare's white composed face, and Imbrie's
invariable grin, told him nothing.

The instant she came towards him he burst out: "He didn't annoy you?"

She shook her head. "No, he seemed quite anxious to please. He
apologized for what he said before."

Stonor said, blushing and scowling: "Perhaps you do not care to tell me
what you----"

"Certainly!" she said, with a quick look. "Don't be silly, Martin. It
was just what you might expect. Nothing important. He asked me dozens of
questions as to what we did down the river."

"You did not tell him?"

"How could I? Apparently he is greatly puzzled by my condition. He seems
not fully to believe, or at least he pretends not to believe, that I
cannot remember. He tried to work on my feelings to get you to liberate
him. And of course he was most anxious to know what he was wanted for. I
told him I could not interfere in your affairs, that's all."

Stonor nodded.

"Martin," she said, with the withdrawn look that he had marked before,
"I cannot remember anything,