She was thinking about her exposure of De Trevenac; but, though now it was known that Louis de Trevenac had been proved a spy, had been tried and punished, no explanation had been given as to how he had been caught. Those who tried him had not known, perhaps; only Gerry knew.
“Gerry Hull will tell you,” Ruth replied. “I don’t ask you to take my word about myself anymore; I ask you only, before you accuse me, to send for him.”
“Gerry Hull!” Byrne iterated, approaching her closely again and gazing down hostilely. For an instant he had not been able to disassociate Gerry Hull from himself as a rival for Cynthia Gail. “So he knows all about you, does he?”
“No; he thinks I am Cynthia Gail; but——”
“What?”
“He knows—he must know that, whoever I am, I’m loyal! So send for him, or go and speak to him before you do anything more; that’s all I ask. Oh, I know this has been horrible for you, Mr. Byrne.” For the first time Ruth was losing control of herself. “But do you suppose it’s been easy for me? And do you suppose I’ve done it for myself or for any adventure to see the war or just to come here? I’ve done it to go into Germany! Oh, you won’t stop me now! For if you leave me alone—don’t you see—I may get into Germany tomorrow or this week or anyway before the next big attack can come! What do I count, what do you count, what can the memory of Cynthia Gail count in comparison with what I may do if I can go on into Germany? What——”
“Don’t cry!” Byrne forbade her hoarsely, seizing her shoulder and shaking her almost roughly. “My God, Cynthia,” he begged, “don’t cry.”
He had called her by that name again; and Ruth knew that, not her appeal, but her semblance in her emotion to Cynthia, had overcome him for the moment.
“I’m not going to cry,” Ruth said. “But——”
He stopped her brusquely. He seemed afraid, indeed, to let her go on. “Whether I’ve got to bring you to the army authorities and give you over at once under arrest,” he said coldly, “is up to you. If you agree to go with me quietly—and keep your agreement—I’ll take you along myself.”