"This is a singularly unprofitable discussion," he interrupted. "You chose to go your own road, but if I remember rightly I made it clear to you two years ago that I would not tolerate either your debts or your indiscretions. Six months ago I requested you to keep Ernest Fletcher at arm's length. You have been almost continuously in his company ever since."
"I liked him. I didn't love him!"
"You can hardly have expected the world to know that."
"But you knew it!"
He looked at her with narrowed eyes. "I knew that Fletcher had a peculiar fascination for women."
"Yes! That's true, and I did feel that fascination. But love - ! Oh, no, no, no!" She turned away in some agitation, and walked rather blindly towards the window. With her back to the room, she said after a moment: "Why did you come down here today? You suspected I was - mixed up in this, didn't you?"
"Yes," he said. "I did."
"I wonder you came, then," she said bitterly.
He did not answer at once, but presently he said in a gentler voice: "That's silly, Helen. Whatever our differences we are man and wife, and if there's trouble brewing we're both in it. I hope, however, that it'll blow over. Try not to worry about it - and don't say more than you need if Superintendent Hannasyde questions you any further."
"No. I'll be very careful," she replied.