el between
them had begun.

"You have my note," he said, "and I would rather not talk about Agnes
to-night. On that point I am in a stupor. I can't realise the disaster
at all. I might seem unfeeling, whereas I am insensible, or unconscious,
or mentally chloroformed--anything you like to call it."

"I can see that you have received a great blow," answered Sara, looking
down.

"I suppose so. And at present I am stunned. Wait a week, and I may be
able to grasp the case--I won't say calmly, for I couldn't be calmer
than I am at this very moment. But I will say, with understanding, with
justice. Give me no credit yet for either. To be frank, I don't
recognise myself in this crisis. As a rule, I have an impulse--more or
less violent--to some extreme measure.... I saw d'Alchingen this
afternoon," he added, abruptly.

He did not add that the Prince had given several striking reasons for
the Lady Sara's interest in Robert Orange. His Excellency, in so acting,
may not have been aware that he was pouring such confidences into the
ear of a jealous man, but he wished to divert gossip from himself, and
he was becoming afraid lest his intimacy with the brilliant, dangerous
girl might give rise to criticism. "She talks and writes incessantly
about Orange," he had said; "what a marriage it would be! I hope it may
be brought about." This suggestion drove Reckage's thoughts toward a
fatal survey of the past year. He discovered, as he believed,
irresistible proofs of Sara's infatuation, and, what was worse, clear
evidence of Robert's sly encouragement of that weakness. Why else had he
borne the severance from Mrs. Parflete with such astonishing fortitude?
How else did he keep up his spirits in the face of a grotesque, if
unfortunate, adventure? The answer was plain enough. Sara's sympathy
and the reasonable hopes necessarily attached to so much kindness had
sustained him through the bitterness of all his trials.

"Have you ever thought," said Reckage, with pretended carelessness,
"that Orange's serenity just now is somewhat unnatural? Is it _all_
religion?"

"I believe that neither of _us_ can form any conception of his capacity
for suffering, or the support he finds in his Belief."

"It points to fanaticism, no doubt. He is a Cardinal _in petto_. The
Catholics want spirit everywhere, and Orange has got spirit. His
vocation lies toward the Vatican. His morals are as good as his
build--which is saying much. D'Alchingen was remarki