"Oh, my darling! Can you doubt it? And you?" He looked at her hopefully.
"And I?" she repeated in a pretty mocking tone, "and I?" With a laugh, she bent and picked up the flower. "I take the rose and I give you—"
"Yourself!" cried the enraptured lover, and the next moment he was clasping her to his breast. "Oh, Diana, dearest! Will you really be my wife?"
"Yes," she said softly, and kissed him.
For a few moments the emotions of both overcame them too much to permit further speech; then Diana sat down and made Lucian sit beside her.
"Lucian," she said in a firm voice, "I love you, and I shall be your wife—when you find out who killed my poor father!"
"It is impossible!" he cried in dismay.
"No. We must prosecute the search. I have no right to be happy while the wretch who killed him is still at large. We have failed hitherto, but we may succeed yet! and when we succeed I shall marry you."
"My darling!" cried Lucian in ecstasy; and then in a more subdued tone: "I'll do all I can to find out the truth. But, after all, from what point can I begin afresh?"
"From the point of Mrs. Vrain," said Diana unexpectedly.