“Ah, but—but what will they do to you?” she cried, and I saw a sudden fear leap into her eyes.
I drew a deep breath ere I replied. “Madam,” I made answer, “imprisonment is no heavy matter for me.”
“Imprisonment?” she cried quickly, drawing a few paces nearer and gazing full into my face. “But you are sure that is all?”
I met her glance as bravely as I could. She must not guess the truth. “Quite sure,” I answered quietly.
Yet still for a moment longer her eyes clung to mine. Then a little sob escaped her lips.
“After all,” she muttered, her head drooping—two scarlet spots appearing in her cheeks,—“when the truth is known, it may be that they will set you free.”
“Yes, madam,” I answered somewhat sadly, “I think that they will set me free.”
She turned away to hide some sudden emotion. When next she faced me her proud face was so softened that I stared at her in dumb surprise.
“Mr. Cassilis,” she said in a trembling voice—and I saw that there were tears in her eyes that she made no effort to conceal—“do you remember what once you said to me—here in this very room—that you would one day repay me with tenfold interest? I think that you have already repaid—and I—no words of mine can speak my sorrow—or my shame!”
“Madam, madam,” I cried hoarsely, finding at length my voice, “what is this? I will not hear!”