"But, Peggy——"
"It is rather late," the girl returned in the same cold voice; "the time for sympathy is long past. Why did you ask to see me?"
There was a deep note of passion in Collingwood's voice as he answered. "I could not let you think what I could see you were thinking," he said.
Peggy did not appear moved in any way. "You promised," she said, "neither to come nor to ask to see me."
"I could not stay away any longer," he answered; and if ever a man had tears in his voice, Collingwood had then.
"Have you come to tell me that the man Stevens is telling a lie, and that our trip to Paris was only accident?"
"No," the man replied. "Peggy dear, can you ever——"
"Colling! Colling! why did you do it?" she wailed.
His body went back suddenly as if he had received an actual blow in the chest.
"Oh, Peggy—for God's sake!..."