me--about the boy?"

"Yes--yes; why shouldn't I? You're so credulous--the temptation is
irresistible."

"Ah, it would be too easy to find out--"

"Don't try, then! Go on as if nothing had happened. I have been
lying to you," she declared with vehemence.

"Do you give me your word of honour?" he rejoined.

"A liar's? I haven't any! Take the logic of the facts instead. What
reason have you to believe any good of me? And what reason have I to
do any to you? Why on earth should I betray my family for your
benefit? Ah, don't let yourself be deceived to the end!" She
sparkled up at him, her eyes suffused with mockery; but on the
lashes he saw a tear.

He shook his head sadly. "I should first have to find a reason for
your deceiving me."

"Why, I gave it to you long ago. I wanted to punish you--and now
I've punished you enough."

"Yes, you've punished me enough," he conceded.

The tear gathered and fell down her thin cheek. "It's you who are
punishing me now. I tell you I'm false to the core. Look back and
see what I've done to you!"

He stood silent, with his eyes fixed on the ground. Then he took one
of her hands and raised it to his lips.

"You poor, good woman!" he said gravely.

Her hand trembled as she drew it away. "You're going to
her--straight from here?"

"Yes--straight from here."

"To tell her everything--to renounce your hope?"

"That is what it amounts to, I suppose."

She watched him cross the room and lay his hand on the door.

"Ah, you poor, good man!" she said with a sob.

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