“WHAT!” he thundered.
“Pearce told the truth—except that no one ever climbed in my window. That's false. No one could climb in. It's too small.... But I did whisper—to someone.”
Kells had to moisten his lips to speak. “Who?”
“I'll never tell you.”
“Who?... I'll kill him!”
“No—no. I won't tell. I won't let you kill another man on my account.”
“I'll choke it out of you.”
“You can't. There's no use to threaten me, or hurt me, either.”
Kells seemed dazed. “Whisper! For hours! In the dark!... But, Joan, what for? Why such a risk?”
Joan shook her head.