He caught her hand to his lips.
"Marishka, you know——"
"My first request——"
"There is nothing in the world that I would not do for you. You would think little of me if I did not do my duty."
"And of your duty to me——? Is that nothing?"
Renwick smiled into the darkness. Had he been told six months ago that he would be bandying the interests of England against the plans of a pretty woman he would have laughed the idea to scorn.
"What do you wish me to do, Marishka?" he asked gently.
With a swift impulse, she threw her arms about his neck, whispering in his ear.
"O Hugh, I cannot bear that there should be a difference between us, today, the first of our fiançailles. It will perhaps make no great difference that you should tell what we have heard, for your country, thank the Holy Virgin, is at friendship with mine. If you would but wait until I give you permission."
"And if something happened to me in the meanwhile——?"