Then Jeanne spoke, in a whisper but quite clearly.
"It is the end. You have done all that a man could do. I thank you—I thank you; and you, too, Seth. A woman never had truer friends."
She stretched out a hand to Seth, who caught it almost roughly and pressed his lips to it.
There was pressure upon the door, and the cracking of the wood.
"There's quick death for the first man who crosses this threshold," Seth muttered as he went to the door.
"Richard! Richard!"
"Jeanne!"
Barrington's head was lowered as he whispered her name. It seemed as though failure had made him ashamed.
"I know your secret, dear, I know it and am glad," she whispered. "I thank God that I am loved by such a man. I would rather be where I am at this moment, by your side, than in the place of any other woman in the world, however free she may be. Richard, kiss me."
"Jeanne! Jeanne!" he cried as he caught her in his arms. "I love you! I love you! God, send a miracle to help us."