My object was not to escape, else I might have lied to her.
"No," I said, "I came alone."
She smiled pityingly upon me, but there was no mistaking the look of relief which passed over her face. The secret was still within the keeping of the battlements and there it would stay.
"You fool; oh, you fool," she said. Her contempt was unbearable.
"Aye, fool indeed," I rejoined bitterly, "ever to hope that you would see and understand. It is true that my presence here indicates that I have been spying upon your movements. It is true that I suspected you. But have my subsequent actions been those of a spy? When you were powerless in my arms a moment ago, did I try to escape? Don't you see that the show of supremacy you now have over me, I have willingly given you? Does not your better judgment tell you that I am speaking the truth?"
"I wish I could believe you," she said; "it would make things easier."
"Do believe me, Solonika," I pleaded. "Palmora did not send me here. I came alone to see you in the summer-house as I promised, and, not finding you there, I followed you to the castle. In the Prince's room I heard you singing and came here without knowing what I was to see."
"I cannot understand you, Dr. Wharton," she said, and I could see that my words were taking effect; "it is not fear of the consequences that makes you say this."
"What consequences?" I asked, wishing to learn what she intended doing with me.
"Of course you know that you can never leave this castle again," she said.