“I am glad to be able to give an assurance that ample precautions will be taken for the Princess’s personal safety during the few hours she will remain here. If you will take counsel from me, madam, I would urge you to lose no time in preparing for your departure. We shall decide very quickly. I will now call the guard;” and he left the room.
I turned to Gatrina and impulsively she put both her hands in mine and lifted her face and smiled.
“Good-bye,” she murmured, her lips quivering.
“I wish you could have done as he asked.”
“I wish I could—for your sake; but ...” she shook her head. “You have done so much for me. I can see your hand in all this.”
“Give it up, Gatrina, for my sake,” I cried, passionately, the love in me breaking all bounds. “You would trust yourself to me?”
“Ah, yes, gladly, if I could but be a coward. I should be a happy coward, Bourgwan; but....”
“I cannot lose you. My God, I will not.”
“Please, please be strong enough for us both. I am so weak when I think of you: of all that I am losing. But—I must stay. You know that in your heart. I must be true to my duty. For Heaven’s sake help to save me from my weakness.”
“I cannot lose you,” I cried again.