Twice Jimmy tried to speak, but no words would come; he felt as if
rough hands were at his throat, choking him, squeezing the life out of
his body, Then suddenly he fell on his knees beside his wife.
"Christine--for God's sake----" He tried to take her in his arms, but
she moved away; shrank back from him as if in terror, hiding her face
and moaning--moaning.
"Christine . . ." There was a sob in Jimmy Challoner's voice now; he
broke out stammeringly. "Don't believe it--it's all lies. I'd give my
soul to undo it--if only you'd never seen it. I swear to you on my
word of honour that I'll never see her again. I'll do any mortal
thing, anything in the wide world, if only you'll look at me--if you'll
forgive me---- Oh, for God's sake, say you forgive me----"
Her hands fell from her face; for a moment her eyes sought his.
"Then--then it _is_ true!" she said faintly.
"Yes. I can't tell you a lie about it--it _is_ true. I _did--did_
love her. I was--engaged to her; but it's all over. I swear to you
that it's all over and done with. I'll never see her again--I'll be so
good to you." She hardly seemed to hear.
"Then you never really loved me?" she asked after a moment. "It wasn't
because--because you loved me?"
"N-no." He got to his feet again; he strode up and down the room
agitatedly.
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