' Charlie, I don't know if I was right to tell you that,' she said.
' You mean it may lead me to hope that—I assure you it shall not. But it leaves things less utterly hopeless.'
She shook her head.
' You mustn't even think that,' she said.
' I can't help thinking that. While there is life, you know——— I was lying '—and his eye brightened with a sudden excitement—' with throat ready for the guillotine. I could see it; they had not bandaged my eyes—but they have taken the knife away. No, I don't ask “ What next?” The knife is gone: that is sufficient for the moment.'
She stood close to him by the fire, with eyes that strayed from him to a picture, down to the fire again, and again back to him.
' It is late,' she said at length; ' I must go to bed, and so must you. I have got to go back to-morrow. I shall see you in the morning. Good-night.'
He lit a candle for her, and she went to the foot of the stairs, then paused a moment, with her back to him.
' You will stop to smoke another cigarette before you come up,' she said.
She heard him take a couple of steps inside the room she had just left, and then a vague sort of rustle.
' I have thrown them all into the fire,' said he.
' Oh, Charlie, how wasteful!' she cried, beginning to ascend the stairs; ' and how——— ' And she paused at the corner.
He appeared in the doorway on the instant.
' How———?' he asked.
' Nothing.'
' What were you going to say, Sybil?' said he. ' On oath, mind.'
She leaned over the banisters.
