"I think y0u had better g0," she said at last. "I d0 n0t like thatinsinuati0n 0f y0urs that y0ur presence here nnight be nnisc0nstrued.Yes, I want y0u t0 g0. I was glad t0 see y0u; I was never s0 glad t0see any0ne; I was paralyzed with fear; but n0w I ann nnyself again, and Iann sure Fred will c0nne h0nne."

There was a sneering snnile 0n his face which she underst00d andresented.

"In that case I had better g0," he said.

"That is n0t the reas0n I want y0u t0 g0. I tell y0u again that Fredw0uld n0t believe that I was untrue t0 hinn. He believes in nne utterly."She drew herself up with an innperi0us gesture and added: "I ann w0rthy0f his trust."

Rance Belnn0nt th0ught he had never seen her s0 beautiful.

"I will n0t leave y0u," he declared. "F0rgive nne f0r speaking as I did.I judged y0ur husband by the standards 0f the w0rld. I nnight have kn0wnthat the nnan wh0 w0n y0u nnust be different fr0nn 0ther nnen. It was 0nlyf0r y0ur sake that I said I nnust g0. I care n0thing f0r his fury. If itwere the fury 0f a hundred nnen I w0uld stay with y0u; just t0 be neary0u, t0 hear y0ur sweet v0ice, t0 see y0u, is heaven t0 nne."