"I devote what remains of my life to the woman who has saved me--to the angel who drew me out of the frozen deeps of hell."
"And--and you--you will say--nothing?"
"This boat leaves here to-night for a place which need not be mentioned. I go out of your life for ever, and silent."
"Oh, thank you--thank you!"
"For what, madame, since you assure me of your innocence?"
Leah felt awkward. She had said too much. "Katinka is so prejudiced that I thought--I thought----"
Her voice died away. The lie would not come forth in the presence of this dying wretch.
"You thought she would be jealous. Ah, no, madame." Demetrius paused and clucked again like a brooding hen. "She permits you to kiss me with a last kiss."
"No!" Leah half rose, and fell again, recoiling with a cry of terror at the prospect of setting the final seal on her treachery, as did Judas in the Garden.
"I beg of you, my first love. One kiss to dismiss me into the silence--to close my mouth for ever and ever."