She faced him.
“I’m so glad,” she murmured. “You can’t imagine——”
“I want to thank you for saving my life,” he said again.
She began to cry; her body shook; she hid her face.
“But——” he stammered awkwardly.
“It wasn’t I who saved your life,” she said, sobbing passionately. “I wasn’t beautiful enough. Only Kitty could have done it. Only a beautiful woman could have kept that man——”
“I know all about it, my dear girl,” Cecil silenced her disavowal. Something moved him to take her hand. She smiled sadly, not resisting. “You must excuse me,” she murmured. “I’m not myself to-night.... It’s because of the excitement.... Anyhow, I’m glad you haven’t taken any ‘loot’ this time.”
“But I have,” he protested. (He was surprised to find his voice trembling.)
“What?”
“This.” He pressed her hand tenderly.