"You owe it me," he added presently. "Behold what damaging things I have intrusted to you. You can ruin me by the droop of an eyelash."
"I should have told you at first who I am," she said finally. "I will not betray what you told me in ignorance–"
"But Amaryllis told me this before you came."
"Nevertheless, tell me no more; if I must be a partizan, I shall be a partizan to my husband."
"There is nothing for you here, clinging to this man," he continued persuasively. "This woman brought him a great dowry. She is ambitious and therefore jealous. You will win nothing but mistreatment, and worse, if you stay here for him."
"It is my place," she said.
After a moment's helpless silence, he demanded bitterly:
"Dost thou love that man?"
The truth leaped to her lips with such wilful force that he read the reply on her face, though her eyes were down and by intense resolution she restrained the denial. He was close to her, speaking quickly under the pressure of his earnestness.
"I have sacrificed name, birthright, fortune–even honor–that I might be free to love thee!"