It saddens me." "I know I ought not to reproach you," he hastened to assure her.

"I have no right to do so; but somehow you have of late grown so sphinx-like that you are not the Gabrielle I used to know." "Why not ?" And she laughed, a strange, hollow laugh.

"Explain yourself." "In the days gone by, before I went abroad, you were not so particular about our meetings being clandestine.

You did not care who saw us or what people might say." "I was a girl then.

I have now learnt wisdom, and the truth of the modern religion which holds that the only sin is that of being found out." "But why are you so secret in all your actions ?" he demanded.