“Yes,” said Brettison, with a sigh of relief, “for Heaven’s sake, officers, take him away.”
They bore him instantly toward the boat, just as Myra uttered a low sigh and fainted dead away.
It was some minutes before she came to again, to find Stratton kneeling by her side holding her hand, while the others stood a little aloof.
For a few moments there was a wild and wondering look in her eyes, but it was softened directly by her tears, as she whispered:
“I don’t quite grasp it all, Malcolm. Only tell me that is it true—that you really love me, dear?”
“As true as that I can hold your hand in mine, clear from all stain, and that you are free—my love, my wife.”
“But,” cried the admiral in the further explanations which ensued, “do I understand, my lad, that you all along took this man for Dale?”
“Of course.”
“But you had surely seen him at my house?”
“I saw from a distance the man arrested on the wedding morn, but he was surrounded by the crowd, and I never caught his face.”