You never thought for a moment that I did what
they claim?"
"No, no! It has all been a mistake from the first. I was sure of
that."
"You heard what those two men testified?"
"Bah! That is Ramon Alfarez--but he can do nothing."
"Nothing! I don't call a week in the Bastile 'nothing.' Why, he
has perjured two witnesses already, and I dare say he'll have the
whole native population swearing against me when the trial comes
up."
"Never mind. I have had no time to do anything as yet. There were
--so many things to be attended to." She shuddered and sank down
upon the edge of his cot. "Stephen had a great many friends in
various parts of the world; I have been swamped with cablegrams."
"If my dad were here he'd have me free in a jiffy; he can do
anything."
"I don't think we'll need him," she said, in a way that comforted
him somehow, though the feeling shamed him. She laid a soft hand
upon his arm, and, looking up eagerly into his face, exclaimed:
"You will forgive me for what I said that night at the hotel,
won't you? I didn't really mean to injure you, Kirk, but I was
half hysterical. I had suffered so these last few months that I
was ready to do anything. I was torn by two great desires, one to
remain what I am and have always been, and the other--well, the
other was the stronger, or would have been if you had allowed it.
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