"But what does this mean? This puzzles me."
He put up his hand to his forehead as if to push away a weight. He was standing up, and the pallor of his face frightened me.
"I do not understand," he said. "I had put you on a pedestal—are you going to prove yourself common clay after all? but it is impossible. Who is the other man?"
Then I told him.
He uttered a sharp exclamation, then turned on his heel and walked away to the window. He stood there looking out, and I looked at him as his figure was silhouetted against the sky.
After a time he turned sharply round and came back to me and sat down. He did not sit close to me as he had done before, but he spoke quietly, as if he were trying to keep himself in control.
"This is very sudden and terrible," he said; "very inexplicable too. I suppose you will explain?"
"I will," I said. "I knew you were coming to-night; I was cowardly enough to wish that you would not come, but I will explain."
"You are engaged to the man I used to see you talking to at 17 Graham Square?"
"Yes," I said; "do not speak against him."