“The Prince of—the young Prince Keiki,” she gasped.
“The young Prince Keiki!” he repeated, incredulously.
“Yes, yes; they have discovered his secrets—they will arrest him for treason and—”
He almost shouted.
“His secrets! The cause! Oh, all the gods!”
“You can save him. There may be time. They will take him and cast him into a dungeon and kill him!”
“I must set off at once,” excitedly he muttered. “What could have happened in my absence?”
Her shivering, trembling presence recalled him. He was distracted at the thought of leaving her. He could think of nothing else. He tried to see her white face in the darkness, but could only trace the pale outlines. Suddenly he took it in his hands.
“Fuji-wara,” he whispered, in a voice of mingled love and agony. “How can I leave you? How can I do so? And yet you would not have me act the part of a coward, the false traitor. You would be the first to bid me go.”
“Go, go!” she cried, releasing herself from his hands feverishly.