'Mr. Malkin has been to America, and he declared that he had met you in the streets of Boston—and that you refused to admit you were yourself.'
Peak laughed still more buoyantly. His mood was eager to seize on any point that afforded subject for jest.
'Malkin seems to have come across my Doppelganger. One mustn't pretend to certainty in anything, but I am disposed to think I never was in Boston.'
'He was of course mistaken.'
Marcella's voice had an indistinctness very unlike her ordinary tone. As a rule she spoke with that clearness and decision which corresponds to qualities of mind not commonly found in women. But confidence seemed to have utterly deserted her; she had lost her individuality, and was weakly feminine.
'I have been here since last Christmas,' said Godwin, after a pause.
'Yes. I know.'
Their eyes met.
'No doubt your friends have told you as much as they know of me?'
'Yes—they have spoken of you.'