“There are tons of rock across the tunnel,” he said quietly, after a pause.
“But—you knew it—all the time, didn’t you?” Her accusing voice was a mere whisper.
He nodded. “I knew it—from the first,” he repeated.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I—I dreaded even to think that——” He stopped, biting his lips. “I wanted to keep it from you—as long as possible. I—I thought we might have a chance.”
They stood looking at one another, breathing audibly. He took the candles from her cold, stiff fingers. She allowed her arm to drop heavily to her side, as if it was destitute of life.
“What—what time is it?” she wavered presently.
He was a long time fumbling for his watch. Then he drew it out. Somehow his throat felt very hot and painful as the crawling hands on the dial met his eyes.
“It’s—ten minutes after seven,” he said.
“Ten minutes after seven.” She repeated the words huskily, and, to all appearances, subconsciously. “Then—then we’ve fifty minutes before——”