'Yes; but there is something more than that, something greater. But I must fight,—I must fight.'
I did not understand the look in his eyes, or the tone of his voice.
'What, to protect yourself against Springfield?' I said.
'To save a woman's soul,' was his reply. 'Would you mind if we didn't talk about it any more just now?' He went on with his dinner as though nothing had happened, and if a stranger had been sitting by, he would have said that Edgecumbe had no interest in the party close by.
'I think I must go and speak to them,' I said; 'it would seem discourteous to be so near, and not speak to people who have shown me so much kindness.'
'Go if you like,' was his answer, 'but don't let them see me. I am going back to the hotel.'
I waited until he had left the room, and then turned towards Sir Thomas
Bolivick's table.
CHAPTER XXIX
CROSS CURRENTS
I received a hearty welcome as I came up, and Sir Thomas tried to persuade me to spend the evening with them, and to accompany them to the theatre. As far as I could judge, however, neither Springfield nor Lorna seconded his proposal. I thought she preferred Springfield's company to my own. They were now sitting over their coffee. Sir Thomas was smoking a huge cigar, while Springfield lit cigarette after cigarette and threw them away before they were half consumed.