"Suspense is not measured by hours, Mr. Bastable."
"I would lessen it if I could; but at any rate I can assure you my own suspense will not be less than yours," I said earnestly.
She let her eyes fall. Whether she guessed something of the feeling that lay behind my words I could not tell. But after a pause which was embarrassing to us both, she lifted her head and looked frankly into my eyes.
"I know I have your sympathy--as a friend, Mr. Bastable," she said simply, with a stress on the word.
"It is as a friend I speak. And because of that friendship I ask you not to take any step in regard to this monstrous proposal of your marriage with von Felsen until I have had time to see the result of this effort of mine."
"I will never take any step at all about it unless there is no other alternative, and not even then without telling you. I give you that promise freely."
"It is a bargain, and I can ask no more than that."
"Tell me again about Chalice," she said. I repeated all that had passed and we discussed the position fully. "I have never quite understood Chalice," she said slowly. "You think she does not care for the Prince?"
"If so, would she be willing to give him up to secure even such a first appearance as is offered to her?"
"That is incomprehensible to me."