"Now for the trap I set, into which I was the only one to fall. I had really, with the best wisdom at my command, reviewed and studied the lamentable position of affairs, and it appeared to me a necessity that one of the brothers must suffer. If he suffered without guilt upon his soul, it would be the be-all and the end-all of the torture. His suffering would be his own, and would not bring misery upon others. And in the light of the inevitable, his honourable feelings and the promptings of conscience--to which I believed both Silvain and Kristel to be amenable--would assist him to bear it in silence, however bitter and poignant it might be. I decided that Silvain was the better able, upon moral grounds, to bear the suffering, although, had it devolved upon me to deliberately contribute to the happiness of only one of the brothers, my choice would have fallen upon Silvain. My scheme was to endeavour to take him from this scene of silent, agonising contention of love. Upon his return he would find matters so far advanced that he would be deterred from advancing another step towards Avicia. "I opened the matter privately with Silvain. "'I am called away from you,' I said to him, 'and shall be absent for three or four months.' "'I am sorry to hear it,' said Silvain. 'Is it imperative?' "'Yes,' I said, 'it is imperative.' "'I do not ask you upon what errand you are compelled to leave us,' said Silvain, 'because if the matter were not as private as it is urgent, I think you would confide in me voluntarily. Unhappily,' he added, with a sigh, 'we all have secrets which it is incumbent upon us to conceal even from our dearest friends.' "I understood the allusion, and my heart bled for him. "'Silvain,' I said, 'I have grown so accustomed to your society, and if you will forgive me the confession, have grown so to love you, that I shall feel inexpressibly lonely and unhappy without you. Why not accompany me?' "There was a sad surprise in his eyes as he answered, "'If it were possible, it would afford me great pleasure. But it is not possible.' "'Why not?' "'Do not ask me; you would not understand.' "'Is it really necessary you should stay here?' "'Vitally necessary. To leave would snap my heart-strings. I should die.' "'Silvain,' I said, with all my earnestness, 'sometimes in a man's life there comes a crisis----' "He stopped me with a firmness and decision which were unanswerable. "'I do not, I must not seek to know your meaning. Surely you can see that I am suffering. All would be dark, but for the light of one star which illumines the world for me. Not another word. You say you love me. If your love is sincere, you will spare me.' "'It is because my love is sincere,' I urged, 'that I would give much if I could prevail upon you.' "But he broke from me and would listen no further.