."

They reached the last landing before the court without meeting any one,
and she paused again. He wondered what expression was on her face while
she spoke, for he could scarcely see the outline of her features through
the veil.

"Thank you again," she said. "We may not meet for a long time, for my
mother and I shall go away at once, and I suppose we shall not come back
next winter." She spoke rather bitterly now. "My reputation is damaged,
I fancy, because I have refused to marry a man I do not love!"

"I will take care of your reputation," Lamberti answered, as if he were
saying the most natural thing in the world.

"It is hardly your place to do that," Cecilia answered, much surprised.

"It may not be my right," Lamberti said, "as people consider those
things. But it is my place, as Guido's friend and yours, as the only man
alive who is devoted to you both."

"I am more grateful than I can tell you. But please let people say what
they like of me, and do not take my defence. You, of all the men I know,
must not."

"Why not I, of all men? I, of all men, will."

She was standing with her back to the wall on the landing, and he was
facing her now. His face looked a little more set and determined than
usual, and he was rather pale, and he stood sturdily still before her.
She could see his face through her veil, though he could hardly
distinguish hers. He felt for a moment as if he were talking to a sort
of lay figure that represented her and could not answer him.

"I, of all men, will take care that no one says a word against you," he
said, as she was silent.

"But why? Why you?"

"You have definitely given up all idea of marrying Guido? Absolutely?
For ever? You are sure, in your own conscience, that he has no sort of
claim on you left, and that he knows it?"

"Yes, yes! But----"

"Then," he said, not heeding her, "as you and I may not meet again for a
long time, and as it cannot do you the least harm to know it, and as you
will have no right to feel that I shall be lacking in respect to you, if
I say it, I am going to give myself the satisfaction of telling you
something I have taken great pains to hide since we first met."

"What is it?" asked Cecilia, nervously.

"It is a very simple matter, and one that will not interest you much."

He paused one moment, and fixed his eyes on the brown veil, where he
knew that hers were.

"I love you."

Cecilia started violently, and put out one hand against