I  had  no  hope  then  of  winning  you."

"When  you  wrote  before?"  asked  Jean,  her  curiosity
getting  the  upper  hand.  "Did  you  tell  her  you  didn't  love
her ,  and  did  she  keep  you  to  your  word  ?  "

"I  told  her  I  loved  you."

"And  she  said?"

"She  said  she  would  not  take  amiss  anything  I  did  or
omitted  to  do  and  she  believed  all  would  yet  come  out  right,
if  we  held  to  our  trust  in  each  other."

"And  she  still  speaks  of  marrying  you?"

"Yes."

"Then  she  never  got  your  letter.  Have  you  ever  men-
tioned me  again  ?  Has  she  ever  spoken  of  me  ?"

"No."

"Then  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  sensible,  let  your  engage-
ment stand  for  the  present  at  least.  Your  fiancee  is  evi-
dently ignorant  that  your  fancy  has  ever  strayed  from  her.
Let  her  remain  in  ignorance.  I  am  soon  going  away."

"  Going  away  ?  "  he  cried.
"Did  you  suppose  I  would  stay  in  this  place  forever?"
She  rose  as  she  spoke,  and  began  to  walk  rapidly  toward
the  house.  "I  have  an  important  lawsuit  at  home  that
needs  my  attention.  Some  friends  are  waiting  at  Bushire
for  me  to  summon  them  as  escorts.  I  shall  telegraph  them
to-day."

"Jean,"  said  Thorley,  striding  along  beside  her,  and  speak-


REVELATIONS  271

ing  very  solemnly.  "I  believe  that  letter  has  been  lost.
I  will  write  another  to-night.  The  answer  may  get  here
before  you  leave.  If  not,  I  will  follow  you  to  America."

"Remember  how  you  feel  about  a  promise."  Her  tone
had  lost  its  hauteur.  She  was  pleading  with  him  now.
