would
have believed it all the same."

"I should have believed it all the same," she said. "Do you know, John,
I should think myself and the whole world all mad together rather than
believe that you were not true and honest." A second later she laughed
and blushed divinely. "As if there were any need of saying that!" she
cried, and then and there she gave me the first kiss I had not had to
pray for.

She had endured the whole strange position until then with the pluck
and steadfastness of a man, but there she broke down and cried a little,
realizing all the perils which had beset her father, and his strange
escape from it.

"We will take the money ourselves," she said, when she had recovered
from this natural emotion. "There shall be no further danger of the poor
darling being trapped by those wicked Austrians if we can help it."

And there I saw an inspiration, and hailed it with delight, and took
immediate advantage of it.

"My darling," I said, "we can't travel together by ourselves, and
Lady Rollinson, I am afraid, is hardly likely to consent to be my
fellow-traveller for some time to come."

"I hadn't thought of that," she answered. "Of course we can't travel
together. But will you go alone, or shall I? I could take my maid, and I
am used to travelling."

"Let us go together, my dear," I urged her. "Let us never be parted
again. Let us give no more chances to well-meaning but foolish old
ladies to divide us."

She put me aside, and found a host of reasons; but though I am not
strong in argument, I managed to combat and confute them all, and she
said "Yes" at last. And so I not only turned burglar in her cause,
but won my wife by it; for within five days we were married by special
license.

Thus this queer story comes to an end, or, rather, like all the stories
I have read and heard, glides off into a new one. Everybody knows the
history of the last glorious war for Italian independence. I was in the
thick of it, I thank Heaven, and so was the Count Rossano, and so was
good old Hinge; and while we marched and fought, my dear Violet took
her share; for there was no ministering hand in the camp hospitals more
constant or more tender, no voice and face better loved and known than
hers. We are old folks now, and have lived to prove each other as only
married people can; but the greatest pride I have is that at this hour
she is no more assured of the righteousness of my intent than she was at
the instant whe