"You and Herrendene behaved shockingly last night," he said lightly. "Where on earth did you go?"
"Is it to you that I must whisper 'je m'accuse'?" she asked smilingly.
"To whom if not to me, Jacqueline?"
"Please—and what exactly then may be your status? Don't answer," she added, flushing scarlet. "I didn't mean to say that. Because I know what is your status with me."
"How do you know?"
"You once made it clear to me, and I decided that your friendship was worth everything to me—whatever you yourself might be."
"Whatever I might be?" he repeated, reddening.
"Yes. You are what you are—what you wrote me you were. I understood you. But—do you notice that it has made any difference in my friendship? Because it has not."
The dull colour deepened over his face. They were standing near the closed door now; she laid one hand on the knob, then ventured to raise her eyes.