'You must have been very miserable?' she concluded.
'Worse than that. I was rather happy. Happy, but afraid. A week ago I should have fled to the ends of the earth sooner than tell you. I couldn't have borne to be found out.'
'I know, I know,' she cried, in quick understanding. 'I felt that at——' She stopped in embarrassment. Airey's nod saved her the rest.
'But now I can talk of it. I don't mind now. I'm free.' He broke into open laughter. 'I've spent a thousand pounds to-day. It sounds too deliciously impossible.'
She gave a passing smile; she had not seen the thing done, and hardly appreciated it. Her mind flew back to herself again.
'And you bought Mr. Fricker off? You ransomed me?'
'You were angry with Tommy, you were angry with Peggy'—he turned his chair round suddenly and rested his hands on the back of it—'are you angry with me?'
She made a gesture of petulant protest. 'It leaves me a helpless fool again,' she murmured.
'It was the price of my liberty more than of yours. I had a right—a right—to pay it. Won't you come to the soul shop too? I've been there now; I can show you the way. There was my life—and yours. What was I to do?'
'You meant to deceive me?'