"If you aren't anything worse, you're just another butterfly trying to throw curves God didn't give her to toss around. Maybe you thought it was all good clean fun — great sport for a pretty girl to play Mata Hari and dip her little fingers into international intrigue—"
"No," she said. "It wasn't like that."
"Then how was it?"
She twisted her hands together between her knees.
"I was planted there last night. That's true." Her voice was light and strained. "But that isn't what I was told. I was told it was just business. That Mr Linnet had hired you to try and spoil a business deal that — that this person I was doing it for was interested in. He said I just had to keep you away from Mr Linnet for a certain time and everything would be all right. I never dreamed it meant any more than that. I still can't believe it."
"Who is this person?" he asked again.
"How can I tell you? I'd be betraying a trust."
"I suppose betraying your country and helping to hide a murderer seems much more noble."
Her clenched hands beat at her temples.
"Please don't — please! I've got to think…"