"You knew I loved you all my life."
"But it was so very long, so very long; you might have forgotten or changed. No, it was because the night he came to our hotel, the Emperor told me that you cared for me still. 'That is why I brought you here, mademoiselle,' he said. 'What he gives once, he gives for ever, this Allard of ours.' And so I ventured."
Allard looked out across the flower-draped arches to the ball-room beyond. Stately, self-contained, Stanief was moving down the floor between the parting throngs of guests, the gently glad Iría at his side. From his seat Adrian leaned forward to watch them, his keen, dark young face softened to a great content.
"When we do wrong, sometimes we are allowed to make our payment, if we try," he said dreamily. "But how can we pay our debt of unearned happiness, Theodora?"
Smiling, she drew nearer.
"You have the man's justice, John; now learn the woman's art of graciousness. Unquestioningly let us accept our gifts."
He turned to her, flushing, and took her hands.
"It is that! Thank you, Theo. The account is closed; the rest—commences."