Baroni bent his head.
"That was why. I could not speak. But I did all that lay in my power to prevent this marriage of yours."
"You did." A wan little smile tilted the corners of her mouth at the remembrance.
"Afterwards—your happiness was on the knees of the gods!"
"No," said Diana suddenly. "No. It was in my own hands. Had I believed in Max we should have been happy still. . . . But I failed him."
A long silence followed. At last she rose, holding out her hands.
"Thank you," she said simply. "Thank you for showing me the letter."
Baroni stooped his head and carried her hands to his lips.
"My dear, we make our mistakes and then we pay. It is always so in life. Love"—and the odd, clouded voice shook a little—"Love brings—great happiness—and great pain. Yet we would not be without it."