“I saw you with Mr. Deville the other day,” she remarked at last.

I nodded.

“It is quite true. I did all that I could to avoid him. That was what I promised, you know.”

“Is that the first time you have seen him since we made our arrangement?” she asked.

“The first time,” I answered.

“You have not been with him this afternoon?” she asked, suspiciously.

“Certainly not,” I assured her. “I have only been down to see Mrs. Fortress for a few minutes.”

“He was not there?”

“No.”

She sighed and looked away from me into the fire, and when she spoke her voice was thick with rising sobs.