Diane dragged herself up on to her elbow.
“I don’t understand. You’ve not changed?” Then, as he made no answer: “Hugh, you’re frightening me! What do you mean? What has Catherine been saying to you?”
Her voice rose excitedly. A patch of feverish colour appeared on either cheek. Old Virginie sprung up from her chair by the fire, alarmed.
“You excite madame!”
Hugh turned to leave the room.
“We’ll discuss this another time, Diane,” he said.
Diane moved her head fretfully.
“No. Now—now! Don’t go! Hugh!”
Her voice rose almost to a scream and simultaneously the nurse came hurrying in from the adjoining room. She threw one glance at the patient, huddled flushed and excited against the pillows, then without more ado she marched up to Hugh and, taking him by the shoulders with her small, capable hands, she pushed him out of the room.
“Do you want to kill your wife?” she demanded in a low voice of concentrated anger. “If so, you’re going the right way about it.”