PAGE 14
A Debt Of Honour
by
Another instant and his lips would have pressed her own. He held her fast, so fast that she felt almost suffocated. It was the most hideous moment of her life. And still she could neither move nor protest. It seemed as if, body and soul, she was his prisoner.
But suddenly, unexpectedly, he paused. His arms slackened and fell abruptly from her; so abruptly that she tottered, feeling vaguely for support. She saw his face change as he turned sharply away. And instinctively, notwithstanding the darkness that blinded her, she knew the cause. She put her hand over her eyes and strove to recover herself.
XI
WITHOUT DEFENCE
When Hope looked up, the silence had become unbearable. She saw Baring standing quite motionless near the window by which he had entered. He was not looking at her, and she felt suddenly, crushingly, that she had become less than nothing in his sight, not so much as a thing, to be ignored.
Hyde, quite calm and self-possessed, still stood close to her. But he had turned his back upon her to face the intruder. And she felt herself to be curiously apart from them both, almost like a spectator at a play.
It was Hyde who at last broke the silence when it had begun to torture her nerves beyond endurance.
“Perhaps this rencontre is not as unfortunate as it looks at first sight,” he remarked complacently. “It will save me the trouble of seeking an interview with you to explain what you are now in a position to see for yourself. I believe a second choice is considered a woman’s privilege. Miss Carteret, as you observe, has just availed herself of this. And I am afraid that in consequence you will have to abdicate in my favour.”
Baring heard him out in complete silence. As Hyde ended, he moved quietly forward into the room. Hope felt him drawing nearer, but she could not face him. His very quietness was terrible to her, and she was desperately conscious that she had no weapon of defence.
She had not thought that he would so much as notice her, but she was wrong. He passed by Hyde without a glance, and reached her.
“What am I to understand?” he said.
She started violently at the sound of his voice. She knew that Hyde had turned towards her again, but she looked at neither of them. She was trembling so that she could scarcely stand. Her very lips felt cold, and she could not utter a word.
After a brief pause Baring spoke again: “Can’t you answer me?”
There was no anger in his voice, but there was also no kindness. She knew that he was watching her with a piercing scrutiny, and she dared not raise her eyes. She shook her head at last, as he waited for her reply.
“Are you willing for me to take an explanation from Mr. Hyde?” he asked; and his tone rang suddenly hard. “Has he the right to explain?”
“Of course I have the right,” said Hyde easily.
“Tell him so, Hope!”
Baring bent towards the girl.
“If he has the right,” he said, his voice quiet but very insistent, “look me in the face–and tell me so!”
She made a convulsive effort and looked up at him.
“Yes,” she said in a whisper. “He has the right.”
Baring straightened himself abruptly, almost as if he had received a blow in the face.
He stood for a second silent. Then:
“Where is your brother?” he asked.
Hope hesitated, and at once Hyde answered for her.
“He isn’t back yet. He stopped at the club.”
“That,” said Baring sternly, “is a lie.”
He laid his hand suddenly upon Hope’s shoulder.
“Surely you can tell me the truth at least!” he said.
Something in his tone pierced the wild panic at her heart. She looked up at him again, meeting the mastery of his eyes.
“He is in his room,” she said. “Mr. Hyde didn’t know.”
Hyde laughed, and at the sound the hand on Hope’s shoulder closed like a vice, till she bit her lip with the effort to endure the pain. Baring saw it, and instantly set her free.