y!" Madalena sighed. "He won't change
his mind. There is no danger. He is old, and I seem a young girl to him.
He adores me. He is on his knees!"

"Bad for rheumatism!"

"He thinks I am the most wonderful creature who ever lived. I met him
through my work. He came from a friend of his who told him about my
crystal, and about me, too."

"You are still working the crystal?"

"But, of course! It has always given me the path to success. If I marry
this man I shall be able to rest."

"On your laurels--such as they are!"

"On his money. He can't live many years."

"You are an affectionate fiancee!"

"I am not a fiancee yet. Not till I give my answer. And that depends on
you.... Oh, Don, surely you must be sick of this--this existence, for it
is not life! I know you are angry with me, but you can't hate me really.
It is not possible for a man with blood in his body to hate a woman who
loves him as I love you.

"I have tried to get over it. At first I thought I was succeeding. But
no, when the reaction came, I found that I cared more than ever. We were
born for each other. It must be so, for without you I am only half alive.
I haven't come for your advice, Don, but to make you an offer. Oh, not an
offer of myself. I should not dare, as you feel now. And it is not an
offer from me only; it is from a great person who has something to give
which is worth your accepting, even if my love is not!"

"You've got in touch with _him_, have you?" Knight broke into the rushing
torrent of her words as a man might take a plunge into a cataract.

"Why not?" she answered. "I didn't seek him out. It was he who sought
me."

"You don't know how to speak the truth, Madalena! You said you found me
through Lady Annesley-Seton hearing from Mrs. Waldo, whereas you wrote to
Paul Van Vreck."

"You do me injustice--always! I _did_ hear from Constance. Then I--merely
ventured to write and ask Mr. Van Vreck if he kept up communication with
you, and----"

"You said in your letter to him that you knew where I was, and gave him
to understand that we were in touch with each other, or he would have let
out nothing."

"He has written and told you this!" She spoke breathlessly, as if in
fear.

"Ah, you give yourself away! No, I haven't heard from Van Vreck since I
saw him in New York, and thought I convinced him that my working days
for him were over. I simply guessed--knowing you--what you would do."

"I may have mentioned Texas," Madalena