From another room near by there came the sound of Tommy's humming and the cheery pop of a withdrawn cork.
Stella spoke at last, in a whisper, and as she spoke the strain went out of her attitude and she drooped against the wood-work of the window as if spent.

"Yes; but I know--too late." The words reached him though he scarcely felt that they were intended to do so.

He suffered them to go into silence; the time for speech was past.
The seconds throbbed away between them.

Stella did not move or speak again, and at last Monck turned from her.

He picked up the broken fan, and with a curious reverence he laid it out of sight among some books on the table.
Then he stood immovable as granite and waited.
There came the sound of Tommy's footsteps, and in a moment the door was flung open.