, Luigi, and I love you."

They wandered down the little lane between the wall and the trees that
lined the road, while Mark lay in dumb misery in the grass. It had
been hard before. It was harder now when he knew for sure. He must go
away, and never see her again. It was all that was left him, as an
honorable man, to do.

Down the road his eye caught a movement as if someone were slipping
into the bushes. Mark watched for a second glimpse of the lovers, but
they were far away on the other side. For a long time there was no
other visible movement of the figure that had slipped into the shadows;
but the listener could hear softened steps in the underbrush, and the
crackling of dead branches. Was it Saunders who at last had found his
man? Instinctively Mark resolved to protect, for did he not love her?
He watched the shrubbery, and soon he saw a face peer out; but it was
not the face of Saunders. It was a strange face, youthful, but bearded
and grim, and a gun was poised beside it. Mark lay quite still, for
now he heard the lovers' steps returning; but he never took his gaze
off that terrible face. He saw the gun lifted and he prepared to
spring; but when the man and the girl came into sight the gun barrel
dropped, and the face disappeared. In an instant Mark realized that it
was the man and not the girl who was threatened, and that nothing would
be done while she was there.

The lovers stood before the tree, saying good-bye.

"You will come back, Luigi?" the girl asked anxiously.

"I will come when you call, my beloved."

"But if they find you?"

"They will not find me."

"Then we can go away. There is a great West in this country. I have
my jewels, you know. We could hide. We could live like other people.
We could be just alone together."

"But would you be happy, Carlotta?"

"I should be happy anywhere with you, Luigi. It is too much to pay for
being a duchess, to lose all I want in life."

"But many duchesses must do that, you know. I never have asked such a
sacrifice, though, God knows, I have wanted it."

"You have never asked, Luigi, and that makes me all the more happy to
give. I will tell you when to come."

With an ardent embrace the two parted. She stepped inside the tree and
closed the door.

The young officer turned. Mark knew that the time had come for action,
and jumped for the other side--but too late. There was no sound, but
powder burned Mark's hand--powder from th