It. Yet even then I felt bound to carry out my agreement. It
was only when you told me your identity, that I felt free to decide
otherwise."

"Why should that make such a difference? If I had not been the one,
then it would have been some other woman defrauded."

"True, but a mere unknown, a shadow. Besides, I had no reason
previously to know that a fraud was contemplated--those rascals told a
most plausible story, leaving me to believe I served the real heirs.
Now I comprehend their true purpose and--and, well, knowing you it has
become personal."

"I do not altogether understand."

"Why, it is simply this," I went on desperately, "I want to serve you,
and I want you to respect me. Down in your heart you have n't really
been assured that I was not one of that gang of conspirators. You came
down here to watch me. Now I am going to stand up as Gordon Craig, and
fight it out for you."

There was a knot of blue ribbon at her throat, and I reached out and
unpinned it before she had time to protest.

"See, there are your colors, and I do battle under them. Whatever the
final results you are never going to doubt me any more--are you?"

Her eyes were veiled by long lashes, and I could see the heaving of her
breasts.

"No--no. I scarcely think I ever did doubt you, only it was all very
strange. Nothing seemed real; it was more like a stage-play in which I
acted a part--our first meeting, our being thrown together on this
quest. I have not known what to think, even of myself."

"We are both getting our heads above the mist now," I interrupted
gently, "and deep as the mystery appears, when finally solved it will
likely prove a very sordid, commonplace affair. The main thing is for
us to thoroughly understand and trust each other."

"You need not doubt me."

"I have already learned that. It is more important that you fully
trust me."

"I do," and both her hands were impulsively extended. "I have from the
very first. I did not come here to watch, but because I believed in
you. Truly this was my motive rather than any thought of the property.
Indeed I hardly realized at the start that this was my affair; I merely
had a feeling that you needed me. That--that morning on the bench,"
she paused, her voice choking in her throat, her eyes misted, "why,
I--I was scarcely rational; my mind could not even grasp clearly what
you endeavored to tell. I was so far from being myself that I failed
to recognize my