"You've got in touch with him, have you?" Knight broke into the rushing torrent of her words as a man might take a plunge into a cataract.
"Why not?" she answered. "I didn't seek him out. It was he who sought me."
"You don't know how to speak the truth, Madalena! You said you found me through Lady Annesley-Seton hearing from Mrs. Waldo, whereas you wrote to Paul Van Vreck."
"You do me injustice—always! I did hear from Constance. Then I—merely ventured to write and ask Mr. Van Vreck if he kept up communication with you, and——"
"You said in your letter to him that you knew where I was, and gave him to understand that we were in touch with each other, or he would have let out nothing."
"He has written and told you this!" She spoke breathlessly, as if in fear.
"Ah, you give yourself away! No, I haven't heard from Van Vreck since I saw him in New York, and thought I convinced him that my working days for him were over. I simply guessed—knowing you—what you would do."
"I may have mentioned Texas," Madalena admitted. "I supposed he knew where you were. I couldn't have told him, because I didn't know. But he wrote and suggested I should use my influence with you to reconsider your decision. Those were his words."
"How much has he paid you for coming here?"
"Nothing. As if I would take money for coming to you!"