"
She was aghast, for all that she was far from understanding. But he
went on relentlessly to make his meaning clear, for the sake of O'Moy
as much as for her own - for the sake of the future of these two
people who were perhaps his dearest friends. He saw in what danger
of shipwreck their happiness now stood, and he took the determination
of clearly pointing out to her every shoal in the water through
which she must steer her course.
"Since this has happened, Una, you must be told the whole truth; you
must listen, and, above all, be reasonable. I am Dick's friend, as
I am your own and Terence's. Your father was my best friend, perhaps,
and my gratitude to him is unbounded, as I hope you know. You and
Dick are almost as brother and sister to me. In spite of this -
indeed, because of this, I have prayed for news that Dick was dead."
Her grasp interrupted him, and he felt the tightening clutch of her
hands upon his arm in the gloom.
"I have prayed this for Dick's sake, and more than all for the sake
of your happiness and Terence's. If Dick is taken the choice before
Terence is a tragic one. You will realise it when I tell you that
duty forced him to pledge his word to the Portuguese Government that
Dick should be shot when found.
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