I've wanted you so!"

"Thank God for that." Their lips met and she clung to him, all the
pitiful longings of her days and nights of misery in her caress, the
dependence of helpless womanhood, but greater than that, the fear for
his safety, which took precedence over her own.

He kissed her tenderly, the joy of possession the greater for the
dangers that they ran.

"You're trembling, Marishka. Don't worry."

But she clung to him anew.

"If anything should happen now--that I have you again."

"Dearest! I, too, have suffered with you--but I haven't despaired. I
would never have given you up, you know," he said with a smile.

"I've never wanted you to give me up, Hugh. I've tested you
cruelly--because--because--my pride was hurt----"

"It had to be, Marishka. But you've survived it----"

"My love is greater--greater than anything in the world to me," she
murmured. "Danger has proved it--and yours----"

"It needed nothing. I love you--now and always."

"You forgive?"

He kissed her again and again, and for a long moment they clasped each
other in silence, their lips together, questioning, replying in broken
syllables. To the woman, nothing else mattered. If death came now, she
knew that it would be sweet. And it was Renwick who found his reason
first. Her hands still in his, he led her to the window, where he
scanned the garden anxiously. But there was still no sign of anything
suspicious, nor, in the house, any sound. But Renwick now questioned her
quickly.

"You sent me a note in Vienna?"

"Yes. A warning. I was afraid. I urged you to return to England, but I
hoped----"

"Ah! The note--a forgery!"

"What do you mean?"

"Your note told me to come to Sarajevo--to the Hotel Europa, where you
would communicate with me."

"A forgery! Goritz! Now I understand. He said that you would follow."

"Goritz--the limousine chap! He is here?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since this morning. Hugh! He has laid
plans to kill you--a trap----"

"We shall outwit him----"

"But I am frightened, even now with you here beside me, Hugh. He
is clever--I am no match for him--I wrote you to come--tonight. It
was what he wished. Don't you understand? A trap! You are in
danger--here--now----"

But Renwick did not seem to be greatly disturbed. His mind had cleared
amazingly.

"We shall fight him with his own weapons----"

"I am frightened. Are you sure that no one saw you enter the garden?"

"Positive." And then