he whispered; "I quite understand. But you will be
my wife?"

Aghast, white as the driven snow, she watched him with dilating eyes
that slowly filled with a great horror.

"Understand!--_you understand!_ Oh, what does that mean? _Why_ should
you understand?"

"Because"--his voice sunk to a whisper, but I heard it, as I would have
recognized his thought had he not spoken at that moment--"because I
am the chief of the organization you mention. Irene, now you have _my_
secret."

I do not think she uttered a sound, but I heard the dying cry of her
soul in her very silence. He may have heard it, too, for his look showed
sudden and unfathomable pity.

"This is a blow to you," he said. "I do not wonder; there _is_ something
hateful in the fact; latterly I have begun to realize it. That is why
I have allowed myself to love. I wanted some relief from my thoughts.
Alas! I did not know that a full knowledge of your noble soul would only
emphasize them. But this is no talk for a ballroom. Cheer up, darling,
and----"

"Wait!" She had found strength to lay her hand on his arm. "Did you know
that a man was condemned to-day?"

His face took on a shade of gloom.

"Yes," he bowed, casting an anxious look towards the room from which
came the mingled sounds of dance and merriment. "The bell which
announces the fact rang during my absence. I did not know there was a
name before the society."

She crouched, covering her face with her hands. I think she was afraid
her emotion would escape her in a cry. But in an instant they had
dropped again, and she was panting in his ear:

"You are the chief and are not acquainted with these matters of life
and death? Traitors are these men and women to you--traitors! jealous of
your influence and your power!"

He looked amazed; he measured the distance between himself and the
door and turned to ask her what she meant, but she did not give him the
opportunity.

"Do you know," she asked, "the name of the person for whom the bell rang
to-day?"

He shook his head. "I am expecting a messenger with it any moment," said
he, looking towards the rear of the conservatory. "Is it any one who is
here to-night?"

The gasp she gave might have been heard in the other room. Language and
motion seemed both to fail her, and I thought I should have to go to
her rescue. But before I could move, I heard the click of a latch at
the rear of the conservatory, and saw, peering through the flowers and
plants,