"Sold to the devil for the time being, I was certainly infatuated. When I did speak, what do you think I said?
"'Whatever my own feelings were, I was persuaded _you_ loved _me_, Miss Keeldar.'
"Beautiful, was it not? She sat quite confounded. 'Is it Robert Moore that speaks?' I heard her mutter. 'Is it a man--or something lower?'
"'Do you mean,' she asked aloud--'do you mean you thought I loved you as we love those we wish to marry?'
"It _was_ my meaning, and I said so.

"And what do you think I said? 'Whatever my own feelings were, I was persuaded you loved me, Miss Keeldar.'
"Beautiful, was it not? She sat quite confounded. 'Is it Robert Moore that speaks?' I heard her mutter. 'Do you mean,' she asked aloud, 'you thought I loved as we love those we wish to marry? 