‘I didn’t.  Go on, and be quick.’

’I suspected Sibyl from the moment you told me about her husband and Mr Redgrave.  You did, too, Harvey.’

‘Leave her aside.’

’But it was because of her.  I saw she was getting to dislike me, and I thought she knew Mr. Redgrave was doing his best for me, and that she was jealous, and would prevent him —­ do you understand?  He was my friend, nothing else; but she would never believe that.  And a few days before my recital he seemed to lose interest, and I thought it was her doing.  Can you understand how I felt?  Not jealousy, for I never even liked him.  I was living only for the hope of a success.  Do you believe me, Harvey?’ ‘Easily enough.’

Thereupon she related truly, without omission, the train of circumstances that brought her to Wimbledon on the fatal night, and all that happened until she fled away into the darkness.

’It would be silly to say I oughtn’t to have gone there.  Of course, I knew all I was risking; but I felt I could give my life to detect that woman and have her in my power.

’It’s just that I don’t understand.  If it had been ordinary jealousy —­ why, of course ——­’

’Men never can understand why women hate each other.  She thought herself so superior to me, and showed it in every look and word; and all the time I knew she was a wicked hypocrite.’

‘How did you know that?’ Rolfe broke in vehemently, staring into her white face as a ray from the street illumined it.

‘Oh, I can’t tell you!’ she replied, in a moaning, quivering voice.  ’I knew it —­ I knew it —­ something told me.  But I don’t ask you to believe that.  Only about myself —­ can you believe about myself?’

He replied mechanically, ‘Yes.’  Alma, with a sigh as much of hopelessness as of relief, lay back and said no more.

At Notting Hill Gate they waited for a train.  Alma wandered about the platform, her head bent, silent and heeding nothing.  In the railway carriage she closed her eyes, and Harvey had to draw her attention when it was time to alight.  On entering the house she went at once upstairs.  Harvey loitered about below, and presently sat down in the study, leaving the door ajar.

He was trying to persuade himself that nothing of much moment had come to pass.  A doubt troubled him; most likely it would trouble him for the rest of his life; but he must heed it as little as possible.  What other course was open to a sensible man?  To rave and swear in the high tragic style would avail nothing, one way or the other; and the fact was —­ whatever its explanation —­ that he felt no prompting to such violence.  Two years had passed; the man was dead; Alma had changed greatly, and was looking to new life in new conditions.  His worst uneasiness arose from the hysteria which had so alarmingly declared itself this evening.  He thought of Bennet Frothingham, and at length rose from his chair, meaning to go upstairs.  But just then a step sounded in the hall; his door was pushed open, and Alma showed herself.