“Langdon,” said Barnes, quietly, “the position was easier for you than it was for me. I was forced to listen—”
“You might have saved me from confiding in you,” broke in Langdon through half-closed lips.
“Saved you?” answered Barnes. “Don’t you think I would have saved myself that, if it had been possible?”
“It must have seemed like a good joke to you,” said Langdon.
Barnes caught his breath.
“No,” he answered slowly, “it wasn’t much of a joke.”
He hesitated and then went on,
“Perhaps when I’m done, you can see just how much of a joke it was.”
Langdon stepped forward.
“You don’t mean—”