“Why?” I demanded quickly. “I have loved you ever since that first night when we met. Surely you must long ago have detected the secret of my heart.”
“Yes,” she faltered, “I have. But alas! it is too late—too late!”
“Too late?” I exclaimed. “Why?”
She was silent. Her countenance had suddenly blanched to the lips, and I saw that she was trembling from head to foot.
I repeated my question seriously, my eyes fixed upon her.
“Because,” she answered slowly at last in a tremulous voice so low that I could scarce distinguish the fatal words she uttered, “because I am already married!”
“Married!” I gasped, standing rigid. “And your husband! His name!”
“Cannot you guess?” she asked. “The man you have already seen—Herbert Hales.” Her eyes were cast down from me as though in shame, while her pointed chin sank upon her panting breast.