"Forgive me, but some demon tortures me with suspicion, spite of my confidence in thy love!"
"Ha, dost thou know this Kyd?"
"Only as a pirate! There is meaning in your question," he said, earnestly. "Who is he other than he seems?"
"To keep the secret from thee would be doing injustice to my pride of spirit. I have pledged my father to marry thee; I look upon thee as my husband; I will keep nothing from thee."
"Do you not love me, Kate?"
"If I had never loved till now, I should love thee, Rupert, next to my life. I have told thee the secret of my former love, and thou didst say thou wouldst take the half of my heart if thou couldst get no more!"
"I did, dearest Kate! The intensity of my love is alone my apology for intruding upon the sacredness of an earlier passion! Yet I thought thou hadst forgotten this—"
"I had—I but speak of it now. It is forgotten."
She now seemed to struggle with some powerful emotion, and then said quickly,
"The Kyd—is—is Lester!"