"I suppose," said Malcolm Sage quietly, "he did not happen to mention that he was already married?"
"Married!" She started up, her eyes blazing. "It isn't true, oh! it isn't true," she cried.
"I'm afraid it is," said Malcolm Sage, with feeling in his voice.
With a moan of despair her head fell forward upon the table, and hard dry sobs shook her frail body.
"Miss Blair," said Malcolm Sage presently, when she had somewhat regained her self-control, "my advice to you is to write out a full confession and bring it to me at my office to-morrow morning. It is your only chance: and now you must go to your room."
He rose, assisted her to her feet, and led her to the door, which he closed behind her.
"That I think concludes the enquiry," he said, as he walked over to the fireplace and, leaning against the mantelpiece, he began to fill his pipe. "Unless," he added, turning to Mr. Llewellyn John, "you would like to see Cressit."
The Prime Minister looked across at Sir Lyster and then at Lord
Beamdale. Both shook their heads.
"What we should like, Sage," said Mr. Llewellyn John, "is a little information as to what has been happening."
With great deliberation Malcolm Sage proceeded to light his pipe.
When it was drawing to his entire satisfaction, he turned to Mr.
Llewellyn John and, with the suspicion of a fluttering at the
corners of his mouth, remarked: