"Of course, you
were right, Miss Halley. I am very, very grateful to you for telling
me. I realize what courage it must have called for. Believe me, I
shall always remember--"
He broke off, staring across the room at his wife's portrait. Then:
"If only I had known," he added.
Irvin exhibited greater composure than Margaret had ventured to
anticipate. She was confirmed in her opinion that he should be told
the truth.
"I would have told you long ago," she said, "if I had thought that any
good could result from my doing so. Frankly, I had hoped to cure Rita
of the habit, and I believe I might have succeeded in time."
"There has been no mention of drugs in connection with the case," said
Monte Irvin, speaking monotonously. "In the Press, I mean."
"Hitherto there has not," she replied. "But there is a hint of it in
one of this evening's papers, and I determined to give you the exact
facts so far as they are known to me before some garbled account came
to your ears."
"Thank you," he said, "thank you. I had felt for a long time that I
was getting out of touch with Rita, that she had other confidants.
Have you any idea who they were, Miss Halley?"
He raised his eyes, looking at her pathetically. Margaret hesitated,
then:
"Well," she replied, "I am afraid Nina knew.
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