to go to England and claim the estates. At last he
decided, unknown to me, to go. I escaped and followed him. I tried
my best to persuade him, but failed. I came back here ill--to die--to
die!"

"And Adrea?"

"Adrea? She knew nothing! How could she?"

"Do you know who Adrea was?"

She seemed surprised that anything else could, for a moment, occupy
his mind after the story to which he had listened; but she struggled
to answer him. "She was Count Hirsfeld's daughter! He never spoke to
me of her mother! It was in Constantinople. I am afraid----"

He bowed his head. "I understand," he said simply. The colour had
suddenly flooded into his cheeks, and there was a mist before his
eyes. Even in that supreme moment, when her senses were failing and
her eyes were growing dim, she saw and understood.

"I wanted to be kind to her always," she faltered. "We would have
adopted her, but she would not stay here. She was unhappy, and I
helped her to escape. I had my reasons!"

He had already guessed at them, and he held out his hand. He did not
wish to hear any more. There was a moment's silence. She was looking
at him with dim, wistful eyes.

"You--you are very like your father!" she said, painfully. "Will you
kiss me?"

He stooped down and kissed the pale, trembling lips, and held
her hands tightly. Her breath was coming fast, and she spoke with
difficulty.

"Thank God they brought you here instead of the doctor! I can die--at
peace now! But you--you are in danger! You must escape from here!
You must not lose a minute! Oh, you do not know! you do not know! The
Count is cruel--bitterly cruel! He will not come to me although I die.
He will not forgive, although I have suffered agonies! He is my father
but he will not forgive me. And you--you are in danger if he finds
you! They have gone for him! Ah! I remember! Father Andrew went for
him! He is afraid that I shall tell you the truth, and that the Church
will not gain your property. Quick! you must go! Kiss me once more,
Paul, and go! Go quickly! These monks are wolves, but they are
cowards! Strike them down if they try to stop you! Don't hurt my
father! Farewell! farewell!"

"I will stay with you till the end," Paul whispered.

"No, no! away! I cannot die in peace and think of you--in danger. I
want to pray. Leave me, now, Paul. Dear Martin! Martin, my love--is it
you?"

Her mind was wandering, and she saw her lover of old days in the man
whose hand she clasped so fra