And clenching his hands behind his back to keep himself from throwing his arms around her, he began in a low voice:
"Roma, you have broken your promise to me."
"I don't care," she interrupted. "I would break ten thousand promises. I deceived you. I confess it. I pretended to be reconciled to your will, and I was not reconciled. I wanted you to see me strip myself of all I had, that you might have no answer and excuse. Well, you have seen me do it, and now ... what are you going to do now?"
"Roma," he began again, trembling all over, "there have been two men in me all this time, and one of them has been trying to protect you from the world and from yourself, while the other ... the other has been wanting you to despise all his objections, and trample them under your feet.... If I could only believe that you know all you are doing, all the risk you are running, and the fate you are willing to share ... but no, it is impossible."
"David," she cried, "you love me! If you didn't love me, I should know it now—at this moment. But I am braver than you are...."
"Let me go. I cannot answer for myself."
"I am braver than you are, for I have not only stripped myself of all my possessions, and of all my friends ... I have even compromised myself again and again, and been daring and audacious, and rude to everybody for your sake.... I, a woman ... while you, a man ... you are afraid ... yes, afraid ... you are a coward—that's it, a coward!... No, no, no! What am I saying?... David Leone!"
And with a cry of passion and remorse she flung both arms about his neck.
He had stood, during this fierce struggle of love and pain, holding himself in until his throbbing nerves could bear the strain no longer.
"Come to me, then—come to me," he cried, and at the moment when she threw herself upon him he stretched out his arms to receive her.