But you will help me. You
must. Have I talked to you in vain? Do--do you think I would make you
unhappy?"

"That's not the question, not the question at all. But you don't know
me. We are perfect strangers!"

That is what Peter had been trying to get out of his system all of this
time. Had he been thinking connectedly at this trying moment, not for
the life of him would he have uttered those words. He had convinced
himself that he was above and beyond all shallow conventions. And in
an unguarded moment this thought, which had been in and out of his
mind, popped out like a ghost from a closet. We are perfect strangers!

"So is every man a stranger to his wife. What difference does time
make? Very little, I think. A day--a week--a month--a
year--twenty!--you and I would still be strangers, for that matter.
Who can see into any man's heart?"

She stopped talking, and kneaded her hands as if in anguish.

"And think! Do think of me!"

"I am thinking of you," said Peter constrainedly.

"We can go to Nara, if you like, to the little inn near the deer-park,
and be so happy--you and I. Think of Nara--in cherry-blossom time!"

"I can't see the picture at all," said Peter dryly. "But since you've
elected me to be your--your Sir Galahad, I'll tell you what I will do."

Nervously the girl was fumbling at her throat, where, suspended by a
fine gold chain, hung a cameo, a delicately carved rose, as red as her
lips, and as life-like. She nodded, quite as though her life hung by
that gold thread and depended at the high end upon his decision.

"Your husband's nationality?" he asked abruptly.

"He is a Portuguese gentleman, my father's cousin."

"It would be possible for me, perhaps, to aid a lady in distress by
punishing the cause of it."

"You mean----"

"I will gladly undertake to thrash the gentleman, if it would do any
good."

"No, no! That would not do."

"Then there's no choice for me. Either I must accept or decline your
invitation."

"I pray you will! I have told you frankly and quickly, because time is
valuable. We have none to lose. A steamer leaves for Formosa and Moji
the morning after we arrive--at daybreak. We would scarcely have time
to complete our plans, and embark."

Peter raised his eyebrows. "Complete our plans?" he intoned.

"Yes. We must raise money. You see, there is money, thousands of
dollars, always in that house. It would be necessary to--to take
whatever of