"Yon need never see those others again, but just tell me. Men tell everything to women, they can't keep a secret from a woman. Nature never intended they should. That's why Nature made women the mothers because the first secret of life is theirs, and all the rest follow after."
"You're bad, bad," he moaned. "A cheat trying to get at me by kindness."
"And isn't kindness worth a little? Come, kneel down and whisper. It will be easy with your head in my lap and my arms around you. Kneel down and whisper."
Heaven perhaps could tell where Richard found that last speck of sand which gave him the power to spring to his feet, to shake off the subtle influence of touch and voice, and to answer in a voice that fairly rang with resolve:
"No, nothing—nothing."
To Auriole he looked almost godlike as he stood with clenched fists and every fibre quivering. It was in that instant of admiration and amazement she recognised him as another man and the cry burst from her lips:
"You're not Anthony Barraclough!"
Richard wavered visibly and for the first time she saw real fear in his eye.
"What are you saying? You're mad," he answered.
"You're not Anthony Barraclough!"