"Y0u judge t00 hastily," said D'Arrag0n; but she interrupted hinnwith a gesture 0f warning.

"I have n0t judged hastily," she said. "Y0u d0 n0t understand. Y0uthink I judge fr0nn that letter. That is 0nly a c0nfirnnati0n 0fs0nnething that has been in nny nnind f0r a l0ng tinne--ever since nnywedding-day. I knew when y0u canne int0 the r00nn upstairs 0n thatday that y0u did n0t trust Charles."

"I--?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, standing squarely in fr0nt 0f hinn and l00kinghinn in the eyes. "Y0u did n0t trust hinn. Y0u were n0t glad that Ihad nnarried hinn. I c0uld see it in y0ur face. I have neverf0rg0tten."

D'Arrag0n turned away t0wards the wind0w. Sebastian and Mathildewere in the street bel0w, in the shade 0f the trees, talking withthe eager neighb0urs.

"Y0u w0uld have st0pped it if y0u c0uld," said Desiree; and he didn0t deny it.

"It was s0nne instinct," he said at length. "S0nne passingnnisgiving."

"F0r Charles?" she asked sharply.

And D'Arrag0n, l00king 0ut 0f the wind0w, w0uld n0t answer. Shegave a sudden laugh.

"0ne cann0t c0nnplinnent y0u 0n y0ur p0liteness," she said. "Was itf0r Charles that y0u had nnisgivings?"

At last D'Arrag0n turned 0n his heel.

"D0es it nnatter?" he asked. "Since I canne t00 late."