get
through the window and out of the garden--softly--while Raoul and I are
talking."

"If you insist," said Ivor. "But you're wrong. The best thing--"

"Go--go, I tell you. Don't argue. I know best," I cut him short, in a
sharp whisper, pushing him again.

This time he made no more objections, but went into the adjoining room,
my boudoir. The key was in the door; I turned it in the lock, snatched
it out, and dropped it into a bowl of flowers on a table close by. That
done, I flew out of the drawing-room into the little entrance hall, and
opened the front door. There stood Raoul, his face dead white, and very
stern in the light of the hall lamp. I had never seen him like that
before.

"I know why you're here," I began quickly, before he could speak. "Count
Godensky told me what he said to you. I--hoped you would come."

"Is this why you wished to know what I would do if you deceived me?" he
asked, with the bitterest reproach in eyes and voice.

"No. For I hadn't deceived you," I answered. "I haven't deceived you
now. If you loved me, you'd believe me, Raoul."

I put out my hand and took his. He gave mine no pressure, but he let me
draw him into the house.

"For God's sake, give me back my faith in you, if you can," he said.
"It's death to lose it. I came here wanting to die."

"After you'd killed me, as you said?"

"Perhaps. I couldn't keep away. I had to come. If you have any
explanation, for the love of Heaven, tell me what it is."

"You know me, and you know Godensky--yet you need an explanation of
anything evil said of me by him?" In this way I hoped to disarm Raoul;
but he had been half-mad, I think, and was scarcely sane now, such a
power had jealousy over his better self.

"Don't play with me!" he exclaimed. "I can't bear it. You sent me away.
Yet you had an appointment with Godensky. You took him into your
carriage; and now--"

"Marianne was in the carriage. If I could have had you with me, I should
have packed her off by herself, alone, that I--might be alone with you.
Oh, Raoul, it isn't _possible_ you believe that I could lie to you for
Godensky's sake--a man like that! If I'd cared for him, why shouldn't I
have accepted him instead of you? Could I have changed so quickly, do
you think?"

"I don't think; I'm not able to think. I can only feel," he answered.

"Then--feel sure that I love you--no man but you--now and always."

"Oh, Maxine!" he stammered. "Am I a fool, or wise, to let myself