"Let go of me! Peter, don't do that! You hurt me! You--forget how strong you are!" I had gripped her shoulders; I cast her hastily off. "Where have you been? What have you been doing?" She eyed me. The impish smile was twitching at her lips. "You are ver' much like a master--you deman' knowing where I have been?" "Yes. I do." "Sit down." I sat in my chair and she sat crosslegged at my feet. "There. This is better." "How did you get out?" I demanded. "Father said he was having you watched." "He is. But he forget--those insects know me better than himself. I took them with me." She was smiling broadly. She added calmly, "I have run away from them, coming back. They will be here soon--I have been up to see Graff." I knew it! I made no comment. She went on, as calmly, evenly as before. "I thought--before to-night when you three men try to get the Garland weapons--I thought I would make one las' try for Graff." She gestured. "I met him--up there on the street. We were alone--" She saw my expression. She laughed. "Oh, no, Zetta is not a fool! We were alone so that none could hear us. But many were near. My own insects--and I made sure the city guards were close by, watching. I was quite safe." She paused. But when I did not speak, she went on quietly. "I have fail'. I tol' him openly that he--could have me for his wife, as you call it--" She was stumbling, but only for a moment. "I tol' him that. But when I tried to bargain--I am no fool--I tol' him I would have to be satisfy he would not trick me--then I saw it could not succeed. I could not trust him. That I could tell by the way he talked. Yet I believe he really thinks he loves me--" She added the last words as though to herself. I exclaimed: "Why would you make a sacrifice like that? Or perhaps it isn't such a sacrifice?" Unworthy, churlish thing for me to say! The impulsive words were no sooner out than I hated myself for them. Her wide eyes searched my face. "I forgive you--for saying that, Peter. I would almos' rather die than be his wife." For just an instant she yielded to the shuddering emotion she was holding in check; then again she was calmly imperturbable. "You say, would it be a sacrifice? Of me--yes. But what am I? Jus' one small woman. I am thinking of your earth--all those millions of people--" Brave, foolish little Zetta! If she could have trusted Graff, of course, it would have been best. But I did not feel it so at the moment. She was more to me, this one small woman sitting now at my feet, than all the millions of distant earth. I interrupted her gently. "You were going to sacrifice some one else, Zetta. Some one--" Her face turned quickly up; her wide eyes were on mine. I found myself holding her against my knees. Ah, then I felt the strength of the force between us! "Zetta, don't you know I love you? Can't you feel it--as I feel it?"