It was a choice to tell all--to tell as much as she herself knew--or nothing.

So she told nothing.

She could not say that she had been forced by a sudden breakdown of her brother's health to leave Loango while Jack Meredith's fate was still wrapped in doubt.

She could not tell Lady Cantourne that all her world was in Africa--that she was counting the days until she could go back thither.
She could not lift for a second the veil that hid the aching, restless anxiety in her heart, the life-absorbing desire to know whether Guy Oscard had reached the Plateau in time.

Her heart was so sore that she could not even speak of Jack Meredith's danger.
"How strange," said Lady Cantourne, "to think that you are actually living in Loango, and that you are the last person who has spoken to Jack Meredith! There are two people in this house to-night who would like to ask you questions from now till morning, but neither of them will do it.