He paused for a moment, and Dora's clear, low voice took up the narrative.
"I met General Michael," she said, "in London, some months ago. I met him more than once. He knew quite well who I was, and he never told me."
Thus was the first link of the chain riveted. Seymour Michael winced. He never raised his eyes.
Mark Ruthine moved forward again. He did so with a singular rapidity, for he had seen murder flash from beneath Jem Agar's eyebrows. He was standing between them, his left hand gripping Jem's right arm with an undeniable strength. Dora, looking at them, suddenly felt the tears well to her eyes. There was something that melted her heart strangely in the sight of those two men--friends--standing side by side; and at that moment her affection went out towards Mark Ruthine, the friend of Jem, who understood Jem, who knew Jem and loved him, perhaps, a thousandth part as well as she did; an affection which was never withdrawn all through their lives.
It was Ruthine's voice that broke the silence, giving Jem time to master himself.
"It is to his credit," he said, also addressing Dora, "that for very shame he did not dare to tell you that he had sent Agar on a mission which was as unnecessary as it was dangerous. When he sent him he must have known that it was almost a sentence of death."
"As soon as I got back to civilisation," he said, "I wrote to him as arranged, and I enclosed letters to--the three persons who were admitted into the secret. Those letters have, of course, never reached their destination. General Michael will be required to explain that also."
At this moment Arthur Agar gave a strange little cackling laugh, which drew the general attention towards him. He was looking at his half-brother, with a glitter in his usually soft and peaceful eyes.
"There are a good many things which he will have to explain."
"Yes," answered Jem. "That is why we have brought him here."
It fell to Arthur Agar's lot to forge the second link.
"When," he asked Jem, "did he know that you had got back to safety and civilisation?"
The half-brothers turned with one accord towards Seymour Michael, who stood trying to conceal the quiver of his lips.
"He promised," said Arthur Agar, "to tell me at once when he received news of your safety."