I never dreamed there was a way out of my misery, a way so close
at hand; but somehow even before General Alfarez' voice on the
'phone told me what had happened, I knew, and I--I felt--"
"I know you had a great deal to put up with," he said, "but for
both our sakes I wish it had come in some other way."
"Oh, I don't care," she cried, recklessly. "The one thing I can
grasp in all this turmoil, the one thing that rings in my ears
every moment, is that I am free, FREE! That is all that matters to
me. You showed your loyalty to Stephen more than once, and, though
your scruples angered me, I honor you for them now. I can see,
too, that you had no choice but to put me off even that night of
the dance. But my chains are broken, and it is all different now."
"Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs.
Cortlandt," he said, gravely.
"We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do
otherwise now. You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I
know better. I believe there is a love so strong that it must find
an answer. Although you may not care for me now as you care for--
some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in
her place. I know men, and I know you. I came here prepared to be
honest--shameless, if you like.
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