"You will tell me no more than that," she murmured.
"I have nothing more to tell you," I answered.
Once more she leaned towards me. The wind was blowing around us, she
came closer as though seeking for the shelter of my body. I could smell
the crushed violets, which she was still wearing at her bosom; her eyes
were soft and bright, her lips were slightly parted. I took her into my
arms--she clung to me for a moment--one long, delicious moment.
"I have given it all up," she whispered, "for you! If I had told the
truth, if I had told them that you knew, it would have meant death! You
must forget, you must swear to forget."
I held her tightly.
"Dear Adele," I whispered, "you are a woman who understands. Life and
death come to all of us, but a coward could never deserve your love--you
could never stoop to care for a man who thought of his life before his
honor."
"You are pledged!" she cried.
"I must do what I can," I answered.
She staggered away from me.
"God help us both!" she murmured.
I would have caught her to me again, but a dark figure was coming slowly
down the deck.
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