"You can't expect me to be satisfied with that," he answered. "I, who know myself, and who see you as you do not see yourself. It is I who ask: who want to take a great gift. I am not offering myself," he went on rapidly. "I am beseeching yourself--of you." "I have not myself to give," she said calmly. "You mean you love someone else," he said, with a hardness about the corners of his mouth. "Yes," and the long eyelashes swept downward as she answered. But Zertho paid no attention to her reply. "During the years I have known you, Liane," he went on, "the thought of you has been as a safeguard against my total disbelief in the possibility of woman's fidelity. I knew then that I revered you with my better self all the while--that, young as you were, I believed in you. I believe in you now. Be my wife, and from this instant I will devote all the love in me--and I have more than you think--to you alone." "Prince Zertho," she said, in honest distress, "I beg you won't go on! I respect your devotion and your kindness, and I don't want to inflict any hurt upon you; but oh! indeed, you must not ask this." "Very well," he said sadly, rising to his feet. "Let it all be. I will not despair. You know now that I love you, and ere long I shall ask you again as I have asked. Defer your answer until then." "Let us go back," she urged, shivering as she rose. "The wind has grown cold;" and in silence they together retraced their steps along the deserted Promenade. An hour later, when Liane had gone to her room, the Captain, at Zertho's request, walked along to the Villa Chevrier, and found his friend awaiting him in the handsome salon. When the servant closed the door the Prince was the first to speak. "To-night I have asked Liane to become my wife," he said harshly, standing with his hands in his pockets. "Well?" "She refuses." "As I expected," answered her father coldly. "As you wish, you mean," retorted Zertho. "I have already explained my views," the other answered, in a deep strained voice. "From her attitude it is evident that you have not spoken to her, as we arranged," said the other angrily. "I have said nothing." "Well, you know me sufficiently well, Brooker, to be aware that when I set my heart upon doing a thing I will accomplish it at all cost," the Prince, exclaimed. "I'm no longer an outsider, remember, I cannot really understand your disinclination to allow Liane to become Princess d'Auzac. Surely you must see that it would be distinctly to your own advantage. She would take care that you'd never be hard up for a few hundreds, you know." "She does not love you, Zertho." "Love be hanged!" cried the other, fiercely impatient. "In a week I shall repeat my proposal to her: if she does not accept, well--" "Well?" echoed Brooker, paler than before, the hand holding the cigar trembling, for he was feigning a coolness which he was unable to preserve.