“You are eminently fitted,” he replied, “because your opinion is of infinite value to me, and your approval worth more to me than that of any one else in the world. Indeed, if _you_ approve, I care not who else disapproves.” He stopped for an instant, then quickly went on: “I thank God that the temptation to keep this money has not overpowered me, for it has been great. Do you know why? Because it seemed to put within my reach a prize which before had seemed as far from me as heaven; at least, it made effort possible, it gave me leave _to try_. Before, how could I, how dared I, think of saying to one dowered like a princess, ‘I love you’? But if, with this fortune in my hand, I said it, no one could doubt my sincerity, no one could think that I sought her for anything save herself--herself, so far above all that a man could offer or give, that if he brought the wealth of the world he would still be unworthy of her!” He paused, overpowered by his own emotion, and hardly expecting an answer from Aimée. He could not see her face, for she had turned away from him, but he saw that she was trembling, and he was amazed by the clear steadiness of the voice in which she spoke after a moment. “What a man could say with a fortune in his hand, he might surely--unless he thought more of money than of his own manhood--say without it.” “May I?” he cried, almost incredulously. “You will let me say it--I, who had nothing yesterday, and will have nothing to-morrow!--you will let me tell you that I love you with all my heart?” Another pause, and then--“If that be true,” said the sweet voice, “why should it matter that you had nothing yesterday or that you will have nothing to-morrow?” “It matters,” he answered, “in the opinion of the world, which is quick to say of such a man--” “But, a moment ago, I thought that it was my opinion alone which mattered,” she interposed. “It _is_ yours--yours alone,” he replied. “And if you tell me that I may hope, the scorn of the whole world can not hold me back from striving to win you.” She turned a beautiful, smiling face toward him. “It seems to me,” she said, “that a man who possesses or who has refused a fortune of a million or two can hardly fear that his disinterestedness could be questioned. But I”--her voice sank a little--“I do not think I should have needed the test.” * * * * * Mrs. Meredith, sitting quietly below in the loggia of Sansovino, grew rather tired of waiting before the two from above came down to seek her. She rose, and looked at them with a smile. “Well,” she said, innocently, “have you settled the matter? Is the fortune to be given up, or retained?” “The fortune!” said Kyrle. “I had forgotten it; but, of course, it is to be given up.”