"I'll do anything you wish, only love me, dearest," she sobbed. "I am yours, body and soul, all that I am and all that I have. You can do with it as you please! All I ask is to be loved—loved—loved—and that you never leave me!"
But even as she spoke, her mind was made up. She would reserve at least half her fortune secretly. When they were married she could persuade him to be reasonable.
"All right, then it's settled, but it must be everything with me or nothing. I won't shake hands with my friend and make love to his wife. You must cease to be his wife now."
"But how—what do you mean?" she asked, white with sudden fear.
"Leave your husband, your palaces, your millions and join me to-morrow night on the Limited for New York. Bring only a change of clothes in a single trunk and a hand-bag. My money must be sufficient. I'll wire for passage on an outgoing steamer. We'll spend two years in Europe and return to America when we please. Are you ready?"
"Oh, Jim, dear," she faltered—"you know that would be madness!"
"Certainly it's madness, the madness of a great love! Come, why do you hesitate?"
The lines of her body relaxed and she began to softly sob. The man waited in silence for her to speak.
"I've done you harm enough, dearest," she said at last. "I can't do this."
"And your thought is only of me, Nan?" he asked with piercing intensity.