"We're cut off," he repeated, looking at her almost stupidly, as if the situation was beyond him.
Collingwood said nothing for a little time. At last he spoke. "I didn't think of that," he said. "Can he have had us----"
He plunged his hands into the pockets of his dinner-jacket and bent his head, thinking deeply. Then he looked up at Peggy. "Peggy," he said at length, "rumour--he has been ridiculed into action--the crash has come."
The girl held out both hands towards him as if warding off a blow. "Go, go!" she cried; "please go! I sha'n't speak another word to you to-night. Go at once!"
"I can't leave you now, Peggy. I just worship you."
"I shall ring for my maid," she said, and moved towards the bell-push.
"No, don't do that. Don't be cruel, Peggy!" he said, in a voice instinct with agonised pleading. "Don't be cruel, Peggy! No, no! Don't ring!"
"I shall," she said firmly, and stretched out her hand.
"Peggy, trust me. I love you better than anything in the world--better than myself. For you I will sacrifice wealth, honour."
"I'll do anything to win you. Everything I have done has been to win you--to have you for my own. You know it is true. Peggy, before God, I believed that you loved me too. Don't judge me harshly--oh, don't do that!"
Peggy put out her hand and pressed the bell-push.
"I must be alone," she said in a dull, muffled voice.
He saw that it was useless, that he had failed, that the plans of months had all miscarried, that everything was over for him as far as she was concerned. Undisciplined as his nature was, baffled and disowned as he felt, he nevertheless showed himself rather fine in that moment. He made an almost superhuman effort at self-control--and succeeded.
"All right, Peggy dear," he said. "Don't be afraid. Everything will come right. Good night." With one last lingering look at her he left the room, closing the door which led into his own.
Peggy sank down upon the sofa almost over-mastered by her rising hysteria, limp and half unconscious.
She lay there breathing hurriedly, and with her eyes closed, when the corridor door opened and Pauline came rapidly into the room.
"No, madame! I was so anxious about you I could not sleep."
"Oh, my head is bursting!" the girl cried; "there is a pain like the thrust of a sword in my head."