"Need it be a lie?" said Richard Hartley. "Can't you truly believe what you've said?"
She shook her head slowly.
"I'll try," said she, "but—my golden spell is broken, and I can't mend it alone. I'm sorry."
He turned with a little sigh to leave her, but Miss Benham followed him towards the door of the drawing-room.
"You're a good friend, Richard," she said, when she had come near. "You're a good friend to him."
"He deserves good friends," said the man stoutly. "And besides," said he, "we're brothers in arms nowadays. We've enlisted together to fight for the same cause."
The girl fell back with a little cry. "Do you mean," she said, after a moment, "do you mean that you are working with him—to find Arthur?"
Hartley nodded.
"But," said she stammering, "but, Richard——"
The man checked her. "Oh, I know what I'm doing," said he. "My eyes are open. I know that I'm not—well, in the running. I work for no reward except a desire to help you and Ste. Marie. That's all. It pleases me to be useful."