Alix stood aside to allow her to pass through
the door. They heard her go up the stairs, heavily, hurriedly.
"Alix!" he whispered, holding out his hands.
She did not move.
"I went up to the house to see you," he hurried on. "They told me
you were here. I--"
Her gesture checked the eager words.
"You snake!" She fairly hissed the word.
He drew back, speechless. She came a few steps nearer.
"You snake!" she repeated, her eyes blazing.
"Wha--What do you mean?" he gasped, a fiery red rushing to his
face.
"Would you have died for the Ritter girl?"
A bomb exploding at his feet could not have produced a greater shock.
His mouth fell open; the colour swiftly receded, leaving his face
a sickly white.
"Who the hell--" he began blankly.
"Be good enough to remember where you are," cried Alix, lowering
her voice as she glanced over her shoulder. "I can say all I have
to say to you in a very few words, Mr. Thane. Don't interrupt me.
I have been a fool,--a stupid fool. We need not go into that. Thank
heaven, I happen to be made of a little stronger stuff than others
who have come under your influence. You would have MARRIED me,--yes,
I believe that,--because it would have been the only way. I have
the complete history of your betrayal of the Ritter girl. I know
how your leg was injured. I know that you were kicked out of the
American Ambulance and advised to leave France.
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