‘You shall, and you will!’ said Hilda, with that grand conviction of power she had shown more than once during her life.
‘Only a man who has tried to die is worthy to live in such a case. Do you know what my husband is to you?’
‘I know it better than he. I have known it long.’
‘Not better than he, or than I. We have learnt the secret today.’
‘You know!’ exclaimed Rex in great surprise. ‘Look at those ashes, there upon the floor—they are all I have left of it—and you know! No—you cannot, it is impossible—’
‘We know that you are brothers,’ said Hilda, taking his hand in spite of him. ‘There is no secret any more, between us three—’
‘And you know that I love you, that I love my brother’s wife, and you would have me live?’
‘Yes,’ said Greif, who had not spoken yet. ‘I would have you live, through all our lives, and I would have you two love each other with all your hearts, as I love you both.’
Rex stared at him, and then at Hilda. He raised one hand, and passed it over his eyes.
‘I do not understand,’ he said, in a low voice.