Her face was ghastly white, and her full bosom rose and fell with the violence of her inward emotions.
"If you doubt, I am ready to swear it," he cried, sinking to her feet once more, bowing his head as a subject might to his sovereign.
"No, no," she cried suddenly. "Rise up, August. Heaven help me and you if this is a deception. I can do no other way than to believe."
He uttered a glad cry and pressed her hands to his lips, covering it with kisses.
She sat like one in a dream, unresisting, feeling a portion of bliss, yet filled with a vague alarm that was far from pleasant.
"And now I shall not fear to brave the world, and proclaim and prove my innocence," he cried boldly, coming to his feet.
She regarded him with a faint, fluttering heart, the faintest impress of a smile on her beautiful face.
Was it possible that happiness was in store for her in the near future?
Even while these thoughts filtered through her brain he spoke again.
"Poor Iris, she will no longer suffer."
"Your sister?"