“Wait!” Toby broke in tensely.  “You’re right in some things.  You’re wrong there.  It’s true I was always running away—­as soon as I was old enough to realize the rottenness of life.  Spentoli tried to ruin me, but I dodged him, and then—­when he trapped me—­the hell-hound—­I did my best—­to murder him!” The breath suddenly whistled through her teeth.  “I tried to stab him to the heart.  God knows I tried!  But—­I suppose it wasn’t in the right place, for I didn’t get there.  I left him for dead—­I thought he was dead—­till that day in Paris.  And ever since—­it’s been just a nightmare fight for life—­and safety.  I’d have tried some other dodge if you hadn’t found me.  I was not quite down and out.  But you—­you made all the difference.  I had to go to you.”

“And why?” said Charles Rex.

She rushed on regardless of question.  The flood-gates were open; she was hiding nothing from him now.

“You came.  If you’d been an angel from heaven, you couldn’t have been more wonderful.  You helped me—­believed in me—­gave me always—­the benefit of the doubt—­made a way of escape for me—­made life possible—­even—­even—­beautiful!” She choked a little over the word.  “I offered you just everything.  I couldn’t help it.  You were the only man in the world to me.  How could I help worshipping you?  You—­you—­you were always so splendid—­so—­so great.  You made me—­you made me realize—­that life was worth having.  You made me—­believe in God.”  She broke into sudden wild tears.  “And you didn’t love me enough even to take the little I had to give!  I didn’t want you to marry me.  I never dreamt of such a thing.  I had kept myself from harm, but I knew very well I wasn’t fit to be your wife.  Only—­I loved you so.  And when I knew that Bunny was turning against me—­would never believe in me—­I just couldn’t help turning to you again.  And then—­and then—­you went and married me!” She wrung her hands tragically.  “I ought not to have let you.  God will never forgive me for it.  I don’t deserve to be forgiven.  But I loved you—­I loved you!”

She covered her face and sobbed.

Saltash reached out a hand and took her by the shoulder.  “Nonette!  Nonette!” he said, in a voice that was strangely uncertain.  “Don’t cry, child!  Don’t cry!”

She drew herself away from him.  “Don’t—­don’t!  I don’t want you to.  I just came to tell you—­that’s all—­in case you should think I ever—­cared for—­Bunny.  Maud says—­you ought to know that.  We only—­only—­played together.  We never—­really—­loved each other.  I wasn’t his sort—­or he mine.  He doesn’t want me back.  I wouldn’t go if he did.  I ran away—­with that damn cur Spentoli—­to give you a chance—­to drop me.  I couldn’t face you after you knew everything.  You’d never loved me, and I’d tricked you too badly.  I knew you’d want to get free.  Why didn’t you start in and get a divorce?  Why didn’t you?  Why didn’t you?”

She suddenly lifted her face, storming the words, electrified as it were by the wild force of her passion.  Again he reached a hand towards her, but she eluded him with a desperate gesture.