"I'm not well, I tell you. I don't want your help. Let me alone."
He passed through the French window on to the terrace. The sky had clouded over, and a drizzle had begun to fall.
Viviette felt curiously frightened, but she put on an air of bravado as she came down the gallery.
"Have you all been rehearsing this little comedy?"
No mirthful response lit either face. She read condemnation in both pairs of eyes. For the first time in her life she felt daunted, humiliated. She knew nothing more beyond the fact that in deliberate coquetry she had pitted brother against brother, and that something cruel and tragical had happened for which she was being judged. Neither spoke. She summoned her outer dignity, tossed her pretty head, and went out by the end door which Austin in cold politeness held open for her. Then she mounted to her bedroom, and, throwing herself on her bed, burst into a passion of meaningless weeping.
Katherine handed Austin the pistol which she had taken from Dick's hand.
"Now you'll believe what I told you."
"I believe it," said Austin gravely.
"That duel was not all play-acting."
"That," said he, "was absurd. Dick Has been drinking. It was a silly farce. Viviette egged him on until he seemed to take it seriously."