ndon my cause."

Brilliana almost screamed at him in her anger and despair.

"You are a prisoner under sentence of death. If you die, what gain
has the Parliament of you, and I must live a widowed woman." She was
close to him now and very suddenly she flung her arms about him,
clasping him to her, her eager face close to his.

"Promise," she panted; "promise, dear love, promise. Your Parliament
loses nothing, you gain your life, my love. Promise, promise!"

Evander's flesh fought with his spirit, but his face was calm and the
arms that yearned to enfold his lover lay by his side. He turned his
face away lest he should kiss her on the mouth, and, kissing,
surrender his soul.

"I cannot," he said, as if from a great silence. He would not see the
passionate, beautiful face; he sought to fix his mind upon the faces
of those whose faithful soldier he was sworn. The girl unloosed her
arms and swayed away from him, wild anger in her eyes.

"Do you call this true love," she sneered, "that is so scrupulous?"

"The truest love in the world," Evander answered, looking full at
her. He could look at her now; he had no fear to fall. He was losing
a joy beyond all thought, but at least he would die with a white
soul.

"Do you think it is nothing to me to die thus losing you? But you
have served soldier; you have a soldier's spirit; you would not have
me do other than I am doing. You do not understand my cause, to think
it should be easy to persuade me from it. But if I were of the
King's party and in such peril so tempted, would you wish me to
abandon my royal master to win life or love?"

Brilliana's cheeks flamed a furious scarlet; then the fierce blood
ebbed and left her face very pale, but her eyes were shining very
bright. She steadied herself against the table and tried to speak
with a steady voice.

"You are in the right. You could not do other than you are doing. But
it is very hard to bear."

She reeled a little, and he, thinking her about to faint, made to
support her, but she stiffened again, and he stood where he was. She
bent forward, speaking scarcely above a whisper.

"There is a way of escape from this chamber, a secret passage. You
can get from it to the park, and so into the open country and safety.
You are my prisoner. I release you from your parole. Fly, while there
is time."

The loyal lovers were so absorbed in their honorable contest that
they did not heed how the door of the King's apartment op