MICH. (_stares helplessly at him_). How did you know?
ANDR. I've suspected for some time past----
MICH. You were wrong. There was nothing to suspect. It was a chance, an accident--there was no intention to deceive. What made you guess?
ANDR. When Withycombe brought the telegram to me I guessed something was wrong. I heard you go out in the middle of the night. I followed you down to the beach; I saw you put off; I waited for you to come back. I was on the top of the cliff just above you when you landed with her. I saw you come on here, and I watched her take the road to the station, and saw her come back to her home as if she had come in by the early morning train.
ANDR. Nothing. Don't I owe everything I am and everything I have in this world to you? I shall never breathe a word of what I know to a living soul.
MICH. Thank you, Andrew. Thank you. And you'll be sure above all that she is safe----
ANDR. As safe as if I were in the grave. You go your way, just the same as if I didn't know.
MICH. (_breaking down_). I was harsh and cruel to Rose. I punished her more than she deserved. I was a hard, self-righteous priest! I hadn't been tempted myself then. Send for her to come home again! Comfort her and give her the best place in your heart. Write at once. Let her come back to-morrow! Oh, what weak, wretched Pharisees we are! What masks of holiness we wear! What whited sepulchres we are! Send for her! Make up to her for all she has suffered! Let me ask her pardon! Oh, Andrew, have pity on me! Forgive me, forgive me!
(_Bending his head in tears. ANDREW steals out of the room. A long pause. AUDRIE appears at window in the same place as in Act I., looks in, sees him, taps the window, he goes up to it._)
AUDR. Let me in. Quickly. I want to speak to you.
(_He goes to door, opens it; a moment later she enters._)
AUDR. Why didn't you take my warning? Why didn't you beat me, drive me, hound me away from you as I told you?
AUDR. Say you'll forgive me before I tell you! No, don't forgive me!
MICH. I don't understand you. Is anything discovered?
AUDR. What does that matter? Oh, don't hate me. If you say one unkind word to me I shall kill myself. Read the letter which came here to me just now.