"
"I have not."
"You were not making love to her there, then, when I came up behind
you? When you were so excited that you didn't hear me? when you were
moving toward her--trembling all over? _I_ felt your arm!"
Pete's eyes dropped, then lifted as though under a great weight.
"And you say you're not a liar!"
"I _am_ a liar, though not in the way you mean. We are all liars.
We have caught that little blind girl in a trap. We have lied to her,
all three of us--Bella and I, and you, Hugh--you have lied most of
all."
"She loves me," Hugh panted. "She knows me. She understands me."
"Yes," Pete answered, trembling. "I've seen that. I've kept quiet.
Bella and I have given you your happiness. Now you thank me by
striking me and calling me a liar and a cheat!"
Hugh, even in the midst of his bitter and suspicious rage, felt the
justice of the reproach. He paused, looked about, then came close,
put a hand on each of his brother's shoulders, searching the white,
young face with his wild eyes.
"I must have Sylvie," he groaned. "Pete, I must. You don't know; you
can't know--" He dropped his grizzled head against Pete's neck, and
his breath caught. "You don't know what I felt when I saw you there,
when I thought--Tell me the truth, Pete.
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