I knew you were the only woman in the world for me。 I was … afraid of you。 I thought you might bring me bad luck。〃
〃Bad luck？〃 said Katherine sharply。
He stared at her。 〃Why do you repeat it like that？ What have you got in your mind？〃
〃I was thinking of things that people have said to me。〃
Derek grinned suddenly。 〃They will say a lot to you about me； my dear； and most of it will be true。 Yes； and worse things too … things that I shall never tell you。 I have been a gambler always … and I have taken some long odds。 I shan't confess to you now or at any other time。 The past is done with。 There is one thing I do wish you to believe。 I swear to you solemnly that I did not kill my wife。〃
He said the words earnestly enough； yet there was somehow a theatrical touch about them。 He met her troubled gaze and went on：
〃I know。 I lied the other day。 It was my wife's partment I went into。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Katherine。
〃It's difficult to explain just why I went in； but I'll try。 I did it on an impulse。 You see； I was more or less spying on my wife。 I kept out of sight on the train。 Mirelle had told me that my wife was meeting the te de la Roche in Paris。 Well； as far as I had seen； that was not so。 I felt ashamed； and I thought suddenly that it would be a good thing to have it out with her once and for all； so I pushed open the door and went in。〃
He paused。
〃Yes；〃 said Katherine gently。
〃Ruth was lying on the bunk asleep … her face was turned away from me … I could only see the back of her head。 I could have waked her up； of course。 But suddenly I felt a reaction。 What； after all； was there to say that we hadn't both of us said a hundred times before？ She looked so peaceful lying there。 I left the partment as quietl