“Am I indeed so precious in General Laurance’s eyes!  Will he hold me always such a dainty sacred treasure, safe from censure and aspersion?  Sir, I appreciate the delicate regard that prompts this expression of your wishes, and with one slight exception, I willingly accede to them.  I have written a little drama, adapting the chief role to my own peculiar line of talent and I desire in that play, of my own composition, to bid adieu to the stage.  In Paris, where illness curtailed my engagement, I wish to make my parting bow, and I trust you will not oppose so innocent a pleasure?  The marriage ceremony shall be performed in the afternoon, and that night I propose to appear in my own play.  May I not hope that my husband will consent to see me on my wedding day in that role?  Only one night, then adieu for ever to the glittering bauble!  Can my fastidious lover refuse the first boon I ever craved?”

She turned and placed her disengaged hand on his shoulder, and as the moonlight shone on her smiling dangerously beguiling face, the infatuated man laid his lips upon the soft white fingers.

“Could I refuse you anything, my beautiful brown-eyed empress?  Only once more then; promise me after that night to resign the stage, to reign solely in my heart and home.”

“You have my promise, and when I break my vows, it will be the Laurance example that I follow.  In your letter you stated that urgent business demanded your return to Paris, possibly to America.  Can you not postpone the consummation of our marriage?”

“Impossible!  How could I consent to defer what I regard as the crowning happiness of my life?  I have not so many years in store, that I can afford to waste even an hour without you.  When I leave Europe, I shall take my darling with me.”

The moon was shining full upon her face, and the magnificent eyes looked steadily into his.  There was no movement of nerve and muscle to betray all that raged in her soul, as she fought and conquered the temptation to spring forward, and hurl him over the parapet.

In the flush and enthusiasm of his great happiness, he certainly seemed far younger in proportion to their respective years than his companion; and as he softly stroked back a wave of golden hair that had fallen on her white brow, he leaned until his still handsome face was close to hers, and whispered: 

“When may I claim you?  Do not, my love, delay it a day longer than is absolutely necessary.”

“To-morrow morning I will give you an answer.  Then I am going away for a few days to Paestum, and cannot see you again till we meet in Paris.  Recollect, I warned you, I bring no heart, no love; both are lost hopelessly in the ashes of the past.  I never loved but one man—­the husband of my youth, the father of my baby; and his loss I shall mourn till the coffin closes above me.  General Laurance, you are running a fearful hazard, and the very marble of the altar should find a voice to cry out and stay your madness.”