The Washington herald., 1912-11-03
CHAPTER x-centinued.

why did 1! I don't know" she re
piled, help,essly. Il thought it va
foolish-saw they had made up lynn
story to my husband, thinking to serv'
me, and didn't want to give then
away"
Sir Robert made an inarticulat'
sound expressive of bottomless soon.
You lied to your husband because
you did not want to give your good
natured friends away~ he summed up
with curl of his straight lip. Il.
that really your reason. Mrs. Ad'
maston~
'Yes; and I loathed myself for it.
cried Peggy, with sudden giving wa,
to emotion.
1T was possibly the first time you
had deceived your husband?" suggested
her tormentor. sarcastically.
After a short pause the answer came
"a faint 'Yes"
Sir Robert was an adept at playing
with human emotions, and he saw that
in few minutes the girl would break
down. He was not ready for the eli
max yet; SO he turned to a different
line of questioning and his voice
dropped back to its matter-of- fact
level Peggy instantly noticed the
change and rapidly recovered her men,
tai balance. -s.
Now, you arrived at the hotel under
the impression that your visit to Paris
the rAe,,lt nf arrtdPnf 2" he
questioned.
Yes"
You supped in your room with Mr..
Yes" Her answers came almost
eagerly in her relief that the strain
was over.
AT what time did you sup
About 10 or Io:IS o'clock"
And what did you do after supper!
l suppose you finished about II
Well, what did you do!" he re-
peated. The table was not cleared un-
bed. That is so. isn't it? How did
yee,o you spend the time between II and
We were talking and part Of the
time | was singing" answered Peggy.
No doubt you told the waiter not
to clear away. so that you might not
be dissurbed?' he suggested.
q really forget Peggy replied.
AT any rate, you were not dis
turbed?"
NO"
And spent a very charming even
ing?"
YES" smiled Peggy.
"Unspoiled," he went on. sternly,
'by any idea that your presence there
was due to a deliberate and successful
device to give your companions the
Slip"
The girls figure stiffened pereeptibly.
ITO have had any such idea would
have been an insult to Mr.. Colling-
wood" she replied. coldly.
always assuming that Mr.. Colling-
wood made his plans without your
knowledge" added Sir Robert, mean
ingly. Peggy ignored the implied ac-
cusation.
q do not believe" she said in the
same cold voice. that Mr.. Collingwood
made the plans you suggest"
And nothing will shake your faith
in Mr. Collingwood?" added Sir Rob-
ert. with heavy irony.
Peggy looked squarely into his eyes.
my faith in him." she said. in a
voice that trembled slightly. SIS not
likely to be shaken by the hired evil
dence of detectives, railway porters, or
hotel servants"
There was a general sitting up all
over the court, and the president
frowned his disapproval
you must not talk like that. Mrs.
Admission" he admonished. gently.
Sir Robert returned to the attack
unruff1ed
"When did it first seem to you that
your visit to Paris was not due to an
accident?' he inquired.
Peggy hesitated a moment and then
repfied: "My maid limited to me while
she was doing my hair before she went
to bed"
you have told US you were annoyed.
but not seriously" he continued, "at
missing the train at Boulogne: and I
suppose I may saw the same at finding
yourself in Paris?"
THAT is So"
Did Mr.. Collingwood seem very Sc
riously disturbed at the turn of
events"
Peggy caught the note in his voice.
and one of her dazzling smiles lit up
her face.
well. he didn't seem inoonsolable."
she bubbled, and the court room
laughed with her Even Sir Robert
smiled and had not quite ironed his
lips out into the usual severe line when
be, asked:
"And l suppose you would as soon
find yourself stranded in Paris with
M1 cons"o0d .msd as with Ps.sH any 1seh.x 0ns
ously. @He is a charming companion"
Again there was a laugh. and this
time Sir Robert permitted himself the
luxury of full. friendly smile
Perhaps l may be allowed to say
the same of his companion" he sug-