teeth.

Cynthia shivered away from him, back against the pile of silken
cushions behind her.

"Don't hurt me, Jimmy; don't hurt me," she whimpered.

He took her by the shoulders and shook her. "_Is it true--is it true?_"

For a moment he thought she was going to refuse to answer; then
suddenly she dragged herself free. She started up, and stood facing
him pantingly.

"_Yes_," she said defiantly. "_Yes, it is true_."

And then the silence fell again, long and unbroken.

It seemed an eternity to Jimmy Challoner; an eternity during which he
stood there like a man in a dream, staring at her flushed face.

The world had surely come crashing about him in ruins; for the moment,
at least, he was blind and deaf to everything.

When at last he could find his voice--

"It was all--a lie then--about your--husband!--a lie--to--to get rid of
me."

"If you like to put it that way."