e said,
and then: "It seems so strange--that you should have come into my
life like this--to open--" She paused.

"To open?" he said.

"All this wonderful world--" she hesitated, and spoke still
more softly--"this world of _love_ to me."

Then suddenly the door clicked and closed. They turned their
heads, and he started violently back. In the shadow of the room
stood a great shadowy figure--silent. They saw the face dimly in
the half-light, with unexpressive dark patches under the penthouse
brows. Every muscle in Raut's body suddenly became tense. When
could the door have opened? What had he heard? Had he heard all?
What had he seen? A tumult of questions.

The new-comer's voice came at last, after a pause that seemed
interminable. "Well?" he said.

"I was afraid I had missed you, Horrocks," said the man at the
window, gripping the window-ledge with his hand. His voice was
unsteady.

The clumsy figure of Horrocks came forward out of the shadow.
He made no answer to Raut's remark. For a moment he stood above
them.

The woman's heart was cold within her. "I told Mr. Raut it
was just possible you might come back," she said, in a voice that
never quivered.

Horrocks, still silent, sat down abruptly in the chair by her
little work-table. His big hands were clenched; one saw now the
fire of his eyes under the shadow of his brows. He was trying to
get his breath. His eyes went from the woman he had trusted to the
friend he had trusted, and then back to the woman.

By this time and for the moment all three half understood one
another. Yet none dared say a word to ease the pent-up things that
choked them.

It was the husband's voice that broke the silence at last.

"You wanted to see me?" he said to Raut.

Raut started as he spoke. "I came to see you," he said,
resolved to lie to the last.

"Yes," said Horrocks.

"You promised," said Raut, "to show me some fine effects of
moonlight and smoke."

"I promised to show you some fine effects of moonlight and
smoke," repeated Horrocks in a colourless voice.

"And I thought I might catch you to-night before you went down
to the works," proceeded Raut, "and come with you."

There was another pause. Did the man mean to take the thing
coolly? Did he after all know? How long had he been in the room?
Yet even at the moment when they heard the door, their attitudes.
. . . Horrocks glanced at the profile of the woman, shadowy pallid
in the half-l