He glanced at the poise of the haughty head just below his own. Was it mock virtue? He felt thoroughly justified in believing it so.

They had reached a corner. Patricia stopped.

“You’ll let me go here, won’t you? You’ll not follow me or try to find out anything, will you? Say you won’t, please, please! It has all been a dreadful mistake—how dreadful I didn’t know until—until just now. I must go—alone, you understand—alone——”

“But it is getting dark, you——”

“No, no! It doesn’t matter. I’m not afraid. How can I be—now? Please let me go—alone. Good-by!”

And in a moment she had vanished in the cross street.


CHAPTER VII

Mortimer Crabb watched the retreating figure.