"Yes."
"And it was shortly after that that the telephone bell rang—the call from Chalons?"
"Very shortly after," Peggy replied.
She seemed to be extremely interested in this conversation between herself and Sir Robert Fyffe—interested in it as if she were playing some game of which the issue would not matter. At this period of the famous cross-examination she seemed to be perfectly bright and unconcerned.
"And you went to answer it?" Sir Robert went on.
"Yes," she said.
Sir Robert clutched the bands of his gown and looked at her with the very keenest scrutiny.
"And will you tell my lord and the jury what happened?" he said.
"While I was speaking—I had my back to the door—I suddenly heard Mr. Collingwood's voice behind me."
Sir Robert started. "You were surprised—startled?" he said in an eager voice.