"I see. I must wait, then, until we reach New Fresno. Never mind, Lieutenant Mallory. You have said enough. I presume you are placing me under guard? Where—in my own quarters? Very well. If you will be kind enough to escort me there!" She laughed brittlely. "But, of course, you will. You couldn't let a traitor out of your sight, could you?"
In throbbing, bitter silence they moved down the corridors to Lady Alice's stateroom. There she spoke for the last time.
"The message that accused me, Lieutenant. Might I be permitted to hear the damning evidence? What did it say?"
There was no harm, thought Mallory miserably, in telling her that. The words were like acid, etched into his brain. He repeated them. She listened intently, frowned—and then a new, curious look stole into her eyes. She sai
