Part 18 (1/2)

She went on in her monotonous voice. ”I felt reckless after that and I really was gay and almost happy at dinner last night. The die was cast. I didn't much care for anything. I thought perhaps it was my last night with you--that when I told you I had lost the ruby you would suspect and turn me out of your house, tell maman to take me back to Rouen.

”Then came that awful moment when you said you had to go away and I could not wear it. For a few moments I thought I should scream and tell you everything. But I was both too proud and too much of a coward. Then I knew I should have to rob the safe, and somehow I hated that part more than anything else. I did it just ten minutes before Rex and Polly called for me to motor down here. It had seemed the most horrible thing in the world to be a gambler, but it was worse to be a thief.

”I remembered the combination perfectly. I have that sort of memory: it registers photographically. I had seen you move the combination several times. Perhaps I deliberately registered it. I can't say. I have lived in such a maze of intrigue lately. I can't say. That is all--except that I didn't get the letters and the other things.”

”He had an envelope in one hand. Spaulding has it beyond a doubt.”

CHAPTER XIV

There was silence for a moment and then Price said awkwardly: ”It is a pity you haven't the chain or you could wear the ruby for the rest of the evening.”

She turned her eyes from the window and stared at him. ”I have the chain--” She raised her hand to the tip of her bodice--”but--but--you can't mean--it isn't possible that you can forgive me.”

”I think I have taken very bad care of you. What are you, after all, but a brilliant child? I am thirty-three--”

He suddenly tore off his domino with, a feeling of rage, and thrust his hands into his friendly pockets. He had never made many verbal protestations to her, although the most exacting wife could have found no fault with his love-making. But to-night he felt dumb; he was mortally afraid of appearing high and n.o.ble and magnanimous.

”You see, things always happen during the first years of married life.

Perhaps more happens--I mean in a pettier way--when the man has leisure and can see too much of his wife. In my case--our case--it was the other way--and something almost tragic happened. So I vote we treat it casually, as something that must have been expected sooner or later to disturb our--our--even tenor--and forget it.”

”Forget it?”

”Well, yes. I can if you can.”