He stopped and sat down by the window, hiding his face in both hands.
“You have been a long time deciding to be merciful,” she said softly.
“I have not seen much mercy in my life; and I thought—at first—you wouldn't care——”
“You don't think that now.”
She waited a moment for him to speak and then crossed the room and stood beside him.
“Tell me the truth at last,” she whispered. “Think, if you are killed and I not—I should have to go through all my life and never know—never be quite sure——”
He took her hands and clasped them tightly.
“If I am killed—— You see, when I went to South America—— Ah, Martini!”
He broke away with a violent start and threw open the door of the room. Martini was rubbing his boots on the mat.
“Punctual to the m-m-minute, as usual! You're an an-n-nimated chronometer, Martini. Is that the r-r-riding-cloak?”