"Tell him what? I beg pardon!"
"Tell him about Mr. Clyde's escape and--everything that has gone before."
"Oh, yes, certainly. He will be interested."
"And tell him--about my message."
"You wish him to know?" I asked, in a matter-of-fact manner.
"Yes, I wish him to know,--but I don't want to be the one to tell him."
"You think it will hurt him?" I asked, determined to draw her out, since she had given me the opening. I realized that to women emotions are facts, and that impressions, attitudes and relations are quite as substantial as any of the more material things of which the law takes notice. It might be that the key to Gene's mysteriousness lay in emotions rather than in facts.
She lifted her eyes with something of an effort, but I saw that she had determined to treat me with frankness.
"It probably will hurt him," she said, "but it will be salutary."
"In the long run, yes. But--poor fellow!"