"You did?" he said in a voice of doom.
She did the fatal thing; she answered "Yes."
"Ellerdine also says," Admaston continued, "that he and Lady Attwill stayed here last night?"
The ex-diplomatist, who, though he was a perfect fool, was also a thorough gentleman, flushed up and spoke in a voice from which all the fear and bleating noise had gone.
"Of course we did, Admaston," he barked. "Why the devil—don't you believe us?"
But it was of no use; the resolute, ice-cold voice went on.
"And were you all at supper at midnight?"
Peggy broke in. "Why do you ask?" she said—and if ever there was pain and yearning in a human voice it was in hers at that moment.
"Because Collingwood told me that you were," Admaston answered, "and Ellerdine says he didn't have any supper. Lady Attwill corroborates Ellerdine's statement."
"Then why ask me? Don't you believe Colling?" Peggy said with a wail of despair.