John, John, I've always cared! You thought I didn't, and I know I behaved like a beast, but I never meant to let this awful gulf grow between us!"
"It was my fault. I didn't try to understand. I even made you afraid to turn to me when you were in a mess. But, Helen, believe me, I never meant to lose your trust like that! I would have got you out of it, no matter what it cost me!"
"Oh, no, no, it was all my utter folly! Oh, John, forgive me!"
Sally polished her monocle. "Don't mind me!" she said. North raised his head. "Oh, Sally, do go away!"
"I would if I could. Don't think it's any pleasure to me to watch a couple of born idiots dripping all over one another," said Miss Drew with brutal frankness. "I'm here on a mission. The Superintendent wants to see Helen. Do you think you could pull yourself together, sister?" Helen sighed, still clinging to North's hand. "I never want to set eyes on the Superintendent again."
"I daresay, but you happen to be an important witness. Now that you aren't labouring under the delusion that John's a murderer, the police would like to hear your evidence all over again. Take another swig of sal volatile! Tell me, John: why did you come back from Berlin in such a hurry?"
"It doesn't matter any longer," he said.
Sally opened her eyes at that. "What a lurid thrill! Did you get an anonymous letter about Helen's goings-on?"
"No. Not anonymous."
Helen swallowed some more sal volatile. "Who?" she asked, flushing.