“Where did you get it?”
“If I told you, you would scarcely believe me.”
“Where?” she insisted.
“I bought it; that’s all.”
She drew a deep breath and bit her lip.
“I have thought of you as a brave man capable of real nobleness. I have believed you to be true and honest. If you fail me I have no hope. And if you mean me harm, for the sake of the living God tell me so.” She spoke with intense but carefully restrained passion until the last few words.
“Don’t take it like that,” I replied, firmly and calmly, although moved to the core by her appeal. “I will tell you something. I am not what I may have seemed to you. I am no peasant and no brigand, as you seem to fear. Who and what I am, and why here, I cannot tell you yet; but, believe this, I will serve you and save you from this trouble. If you wish it, I will take any oath you like on that. But my word is my word, and you may trust it.”
She listened intently, marking every word, and when I finished she bent forward and gazed searchingly right into my eyes. Then she drew a deep, long breath, as of relief, and smiled.
“Thank God, I feel I can trust you. I will not question you again, Burgwan.”
“Then the best thing you can do is to show it by getting some breakfast.”