"Please—leave this whole trouble entirely to me. I absolutely forbid you to confess or say a word about it to anybody. Especially the reporters—please be very careful with them. They will come flocking around, never fear. I've telephoned my uncle and he's coming down to-day. He will probably attend to all the legal details for me, and we couldn't have a better man. So there's nothing for you to do but go home quietly and wait and be brave. And—I forgive you for everything, and I love you." He took her again in his arms and kissed her. As he released her, still protesting against the course he had outlined for her, Delaney opened the door, coughing discreetly. Dudley watched her walk slowly away from him down the corridor toward the outer air, and he knew that for the time being he could rely upon her to be silent. Though for how long—
