She went pale: it was evident that it had never struck her that I might guess at the truth.

“Why do you say that?” she asked sharply.

“Because I am certain Stanley has enemies and wants help.”

“Enemies!” she said, with an attempt to laugh “why should he have enemies? What do you mean?”

“All that I have said. Cannot you trust me? If your husband is in hiding for some unknown reason I should not betray him.”

“I have promised to say nothing,” she said blankly. “I cannot break my promise.”

“Why does he not return to you?”

“There is a reason—he never can. We must live apart in future.”

“Why?”

She shrugged her shoulders, and after a few moments of hesitation replied—