"I've never yet been false to the hand that
paid me--and sometimes _I've_ paid dearly for keeping faith. Now for the
first time,--and the last time, too, for if successful the service will
know me no longer--I am ready and willing deliberately to make a failure
of my mission, if you will take that failure as conclusive evidence of
my good faith." She bent a bit forward and threw into her words and
tones and attitude every grace that she possessed. "Will you do it,
Guy?"
"When you ask that way," said Harleston, "who of mankind would refuse
you anything on earth."
She was alluring, wonderfully alluring. Time was, and that lately, when
he would have succumbed. But that time was no longer; beside the
raven-hair and dead-white cheek was now another face, with peach-blow
cheek and the ruddy tresses--and the peach-blow cheek and ruddy tresses
prevailed. And so he had responded, sincere enough, in tribute to her
loveliness and in memory of what had been.
And Madeline Spencer detected the absent note; but she ignored it. She
would go through with it--make her bid:
"Almost you say that as though you meant it!" she smiled, and forced his
hand. Now he must either deny or affirm.
"I do mean it," he replied. It was all in the game, and he was obligated
to be truthful only to Mrs.
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