It was as if she had said, "You were there—you saw him die."
"Yes." Nicky's face expressed a tender relief. If she could talk about it——"But it was only at the last minute."
"I wonder," said she, "why he didn't tell us."
"Well, you know, I think it was because she—the lady——"
He hesitated. He knew what would hurt most; and he shrank almost visibly from mentioning Her.
"Yes—you've forgotten the lady."
She smiled, and he took courage. "There it is. The lady, you see, isn't altogether a lady."
"Oh, Nicky——"
He did not look at her. He seemed to be a partaker in what he felt to be her suffering and Tanqueray's shame.
"Has he known her long?" she said.