"For form's sake," he said, almost apologetically, "I will ask you, Stella. Is this true?"
She raised her eyes.
"It is true," she breathed.
Leycester turned white for the first time, and seemed unable to withdraw his eyes from hers for a moment, then he walked up to her and took her hands.
"Look at me!" he said, in a low, constrained voice. "Do you know that I am here?—I—am—here!—that I came here to protect you? That whatever this man has said to force this mad avowal from your lips I will make him answer for! Stella! Stella! If you do not wish to drive me mad, look at me and tell me that this is a lie!"
She looked at him sadly, sorrowfully.
"It is true—true," she said.
"Of your own free will?—you hesitate! Ah!"
She flung her hands before her eyes for a moment to gain strength to deal him the blow, then with white constrained face she said—
"Of my own free will!"