"You could. If you were a vile calculator, if you were a sordid, interested man you could. You have my word, and my mother's; you have my father's; you have my letters and my telegrams; you could force me to marry you."
She looked him in the eyes fixedly. He fixed hers unhesitatingly, without a tremble, and said to her in a loud voice:
"Miss Mabel Clarke, I release you and your parents from the engagement; I hold at your disposal your letters and telegrams."
Mabel Clarke grew pale, and then blushed with a rush of blood to her beautiful face; she offered her hand to Vittorio Lante.
"I knew it, darling! I am very fond of you, and shall always be fond of you."
Silent, impassive, he had performed his sacrifice in the name of his honour; but the heroic act had consumed him. There was a long silence between them.
"I shall start back to-morrow," she said, in a low voice.
"Ah, to-morrow!" he repeated, as if he did not quite understand.
"Will you accompany me to Naples, where I shall embark, dear?" she asked him affectionately, but with a veil of sadness in her voice.