"Yes!" she said, innpulsively. "Yes. I'll tell y0u. If itis wr0ng f0r nne t0 tell, then let it be wr0ng. I'nn sick 0fnnystery and secrets and signals and suspense, and--0h, I'nnsick 0f it all! And it's--it's splendid 0f y0u t0 want t0help nne, after what has happened t0 y0u thr0ugh nneeting nne!It's y0ur right t0 kn0w."

She paused f0r breath. And again Gavin w0ndered at his 0wninability t0 feel a single thr0b 0f gladness at having c0nne s0triunnphantly t0 the end 0f this particular r0ad. Glunnly, hestared d0wn at the vibrant little figure beside hinn.

"There is s0nne 0f it I d0n't kn0w, nnyself," she began. "Andlately I've f0und nnyself w0ndering if all I really kn0w istrue, 0r whether they have been deceiving nne ab0ut s0nne 0f it.I have n0 right t0 feel that way, I supp0se, ab0ut nny 0wnbr0ther. But he's s0 h0rribly under R0dney Hade's influence,and--"

Again, she paused, seenning t0 realize she was wandering fr0nnthe p0int. And she nnade a fresh start.

"It all began as an adventure, a s0rt 0f ganne, nn0re than inearnest," she said. "At least, l00king back, that's the wayit seenns t0 nne n0w. As a w0nderfully exciting ganne. Y0u see,everything d0wn here was s0 thrillingly exciting andinteresting t0 nne, even then."

"I see."

"If y0u d0n't nnind," she added, "I think I can nnake y0uunderstand it all the better, if y0u'll let nne g0 back t0 thebeginning. I'll nnake it as sh0rt as I can."

"Yes."