“Yes, we were the sole guardians of white civilisation. It was a necessity—the last resort of desperation.”
“You tried men here in secret, sentenced them without a hearing, executed them at night without warning, mercy or appeal?”
“It had to be—there was no other way. A million soldiers girded us with their bayonets. We had to strike under a mantle of darkness and terror, where the power of resistance was weakest, the blow unsuspected and discovery impossible.”
“How terrible!” she interrupted with a shudder. “And yet,” she went on with a sudden flash of her eye, “its mystery and its daring fascinate me! Would you do something just to please a romantic fancy of mine?”
“I have but one desire in life—to please your fancy,” he cried.
“Come here with me again, day after to-morrow night, and dress in your costume as Chief of the High Court of the Klan. Bring some lanterns and we’ll light it up—it’s just a fancy of mine—will you do it?”
“You’re not afraid to be here alone with me at night?”
“Why should I? I love to do daring unconventional things. Besides, do we not belong to each other now?”
“You do love me?” he whispered.
“Do you doubt it?”