But even as he did so, he spread his hands quickly toward us as if to apologize, and ghastly as the comment was, grotesque even, as it all seemed, I think we both understood.  He hardly needed to say, “Pardon me,” as he quickly recovered his strong hold on himself.

The next instant he was again standing erect before the fire, with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, and his voice was absolutely calm as he turned toward me and said, with a smile under his half lowered heavy lids, “I promised you, when I asked you to accompany me, that before we slept to-night I would explain my singular request.  I hardly thought that I should have to do it, whether I would or not, under these circumstances.  Indeed, it appears that you have the right to demand of me the explanation I so flippantly offered you an hour ago.  I am bound to own that, had I dreamed that you knew this lady—­that a relation so intimate existed between you—­I should surely never have done of my own will this which Fate has presumed to do for me.  What can I say to you two that will help or mend this—­to you, my fellow musician, who were willing to stand my friend in need, without question; and to the woman you love, and to whom I owe an eternal debt—­that we may have no doubts of one another in the future?  I cannot make excuses well, even if I have the right to.  I only hope we are all three so constituted that we may be able to feel that for a little we have been outside common causes and common results, and that you may listen to an explanation which may seem strange, pardon me, and part from me without resentment, being sure that I shall suffer, and yet be glad.”

The face against the high-backed chair was very pale.  She closed her eyes.  His gaze was on her.  He marked the change, I was sure.  He thrust his hands still deeper into his pockets, as if to brace himself, and went on.  “Last night her pure eyes looked into mine.  I had seen her face before me night after night, never dreaming who she was.  I had always played to her, and it had seemed to me at times as if the music I made was in her face.  I could see nothing else.  I seemed to be looking through her amber eyes, down, down into her deep beautiful soul, and my soul reached out toward her, with a sudden knowledge of what manhood might have been had all womanhood been pure; of what life might have been with one who could know no sin.

“It was only her face that I saw, as I stood waiting the end of the applause.  I seemed to be gazing between her glorious eyes, as to tell the truth, I had more than once gazed in my dreams in the past month.  I had already written the song that seeing her face had sung in my heart.  It was with an irresistible longing, an impulse stronger than my will, to say to her just what her face had said to me,—­though she might never know it was said to her—­that I went back to the stage.  Almost before I realized it, I was there.  I felt the vibrant soul of my violin as I laid my cheek against