“Do you know what I thought you were going to say?”
“No, indeed.”
“Dare I tell you?”
“You can trust me.”
Her pale lips parted. Her great eyes shone. Another instant, and she had told me that which I would have given all but life itself to know. But in that tick of time a quick step came behind me, and the light went out of the sweet face upturned to mine.
“I cannot! I must not! Here is—that man!”
Senhor Santos was all smiles and rings of pale-blue smoke.
“You will be cut off, friend Cole,” said he. “The fire is spreading.”
“Let it spread!” I cried, gazing my very soul into the young girl's eyes. “We have not finished our conversation.
“We have!” said she, with sudden decision. “Go—go—for my sake—for your own sake—go at once!”