He stared at her unbelieving, but her eyes met his calmly, eagerly, and in their depths he saw only pity.
“Would I not have heard this dreadful thing, Madame? Aurora would have told me.”
“She might have told you if she had known.”
“She did not know?”
“They want to save her the pain. They always have. That is one reason why she is stopping here with me. Don’t you understand?”
DeLaunay showed other signs of inquietude and was now pacing the rug nervously.
“It is incredible!” he was saying, “incredible! I cannot—no——” And he stopped before her. “No, I will not believe it!”
Patricia clasped her hands over her knees and was looking very gravely into the fire. She had the air of a person who is mourning the loss of a very dear friend.
“How do you know this?” he asked again, anxiously.
“From Mrs. North a week ago, when she let Aurora come to me. But it is no secret now, as it has been in the newspapers. I have kept them from Aurora. She is so happy here with you—I hadn’t the heart to do anything to destroy her pleasure.”