“Oh, no, Mr. Carr!”

“I am afraid yes, mademoiselle. I am⁠—a common felon⁠ ⁠… a highwayman!” He bit the words out, not looking at her.

“But I knew that,” she said softly.

“You knew it?”

“Why, yes! I remember when you told Aunt Betty.”

“You believed me?”

“You see,” she apologised, “I always wondered why you were masked.”

“And yet you permitted me to stay⁠—”