.

"Forgive me, my beloved," he said at last. "I am beside myself with
joy." She hid her face on his breast as they stood together.

"Are you very glad to come back?" she asked at last, looking up to him
with a smile that told the answer.

"Glad is too poor a word, my dear, dear lady," he said simply.

* * * * *

Two hours later they were still seated side by side on the deep sofa.
Claudius had told her everything, for, now that he had accomplished his
mission, there were to be no more secrets; and there were tears in
Margaret's dark eyes as she heard, for she knew what it had cost him to
leave her, knowing how he loved. And then they talked on.

"If it is to be so soon, dear," she said, "let it be on Christmas Day."

"So be it. And, beloved, where shall we go?" he asked.

"Oh, away--away from New York, and--and Mr. Barker and Mr. Screw and all
these horrid people," she cried; for she too had confessed and told him
all.

"Yes," he said; and was silent for a moment. "Dear one," he began again,
"there is one thing more that you ought to know--" he stopped.

"Yes?" she said interrogatively.

"My blessed lady, I have told you the story of my birth for the first
time to-day. I thought you ought to know it."

"That would never have made any difference, Claudius," she answered half
reproachfully.

"My uncle--my father's brother--died a week before I sailed."

"I am sorry, dear," said she in ready sympathy; "were you fond of him?"
She did not realise what he meant.

"I never remember to have seen him," he replied; "but--he died
childless. And I--I am no longer a _privat-docent_." Margaret turned
quickly to him, comprehending suddenly.

"Then you are the heir?" she asked.

"Yes, darling," he said softly. "It is a great name, and you must help
me to be worthy of it. I am no longer Dr. Claudius." He added the last
sentence with a shade of regret.

"And you need never have taken any trouble about this stupid money,
after all? You are independent of all these people?"

"Yes," he answered, with a smile, "entirely so."

"I am so glad,--so glad, you do not know," said she, clasping her hands
on his shoulder. "You know I hated to feel you were wrangling with those
lawyers for money;" and she laughed a little scornfully.

"We will have it, all the same," said Claudius, smiling, "and you shall
do as you like with it, beloved. It was honestly got, and will bring no
ill luck with it.