"Here you are at last," said a woman's voice.
He went in quickly and shut the door behind him.
A small woman in shimmering evening dress, with diamonds in her hair, came towards him, and stopped short with a little scream.
It was Madeleine.
He looked at her in silence, standing with his back to the door. The smouldering fire in his eyes seemed to burn her, for she shrank away to the further end of the room. John observed that there was a fire and lamps, and knit his brows.
Some persons are unable to perceive when explanations are useless. Madeleine began one—something about Archie's difficulties, money, etc.; but John cut her short.
"You are not accountable to me for your actions," he said. "Keep your explanations for your husband."
He looked again with perplexity at the fire and the lamps. He knew Archie had gone that morning on three days' leave to Brighton with his father.
"Let me go," she said, whimpering. "I won't stay here to be thought ill of, to have evil imputed to me."
"You will answer one question first," said John.