“Yes, I do,” said Selden brusquely.
He had had no intention of speaking those words, of making that admission, of permitting it to become in the slightest degree a personal matter, but some force stronger than himself drove them to his lips. And he was strangely glad that they were uttered.
She was looking at him with luminous eyes, her parted lips trembling a little....
“Very well,” she said, softly. “I agree,” and she touched his hand lightly with her fingers. “That is finished.”
CHAPTER XVIII
REVELATIONS
“I COULD be very angry with you if I wished,” said Madame Ghita, presently, “at certain things your attitude has seemed to imply. It is true that I had never promised to give up the prince; but you have appeared to think that I would consent to share him.”
Selden was conscious that his cheeks were crimson.
“Madame,” he stammered, “madame....”
“I am not angry,” she said sadly; “only I regret that you do not know me better. Perhaps if you did, you would not have thought that of me.”
“Yes, I was a brute,” agreed Selden humbly, still hot with shame and contrition. “Can you forgive me?”