John was silent for a moment. A bewildering thought had taken hold of him. Supposing she were to be there!
Stephen, watching him, read his thoughts, and for a moment lost control of himself.
"Were you thinking about that woman?" he asked sternly.
"What woman?"
"The woman whom we sheltered here, the woman whose shameless picture is on the cover of that book."
John swung round on his heel.
"Stop that, Stephen!" he said menacingly.
"Why should I?" the older man retorted. "Take up that paper, if you want to read a sketch of the life of Louise Maurel. See the play she made her name in—'La Gioconda'!"
"What about it?"
Stephen held the paper out to his brother. John read a few lines and dashed it into a corner of the room.