She laughed uncertainly—half-angrily.
"Why, Tris, I've just explained——"
"I understood that no one was suspected——"
"I've explained that, too, dear. I thought you would guess when you heard that he had disappeared like that——"
He turned on her almost violently, but even she realized in that moment that he was scarcely conscious of her. His blazing eyes had a sightless look in them that frightened her to her feet.
"I might have known," he stammered, "but I am too big a fool—an idiotic sentimentalist——" He steadied and looked at her straightly with seeing eyes. "Ayeshi must have disappeared to shield me," he said. "It was I who nearly killed your father."
Her face was at first only stupid-looking as though his words had had no meaning—then every trace of colour ebbed from her lips. She wavered, and he sprang to her side, and carried her to the chair which he had just left. An intense, torturing pity swept him. She was so small, so very fragile. He felt himself as something monstrous riding over all her happiness. She clung to him.
"Tris—Tris—please don't say things to frighten me——"
"I've got to. Sooner or later I had to tell you. I didn't mean to be so sudden. But it's true."
She freed herself. There was no strength in her arms, but he had felt her whole body cower and shrink from him and he stood back from her as though she had struck him.