"With your murdered brother's blood hardly yet dried upon the threshold, I cannot bear to hear you: even a compliment like that is treason to his memory." "Alas, my Lord, it is no treason, for it is no compliment." The Admiral looked at her earnestly with his large searching eye, which raked one like a broadside. "You do not understand me. I am not speaking in the flowery way of which you accuse us, but truth." "Princess, the women of your country have overwhelmed me with their gratitude for the small services I have been able to render it. I thank you--I thank you. It is nothing, what I have been able to do for you. But how am I ever to thank _you_ for what you have done for me? It is not twelve hours since you saved my life with your bravery. I have none braver in my whole fleet. Princess, do not talk of gratitude to me, me who have robbed you of a brother; tell me rather how I can atone." "Are you blind?" she asked, in a low voice I could scarcely catch. "I almost wish I were, that I might forget last night's work." "Oh, why are you blind?" He waited for her to explain. "You do not see yet?" "See?" "See that it is all because I love you!--not gratitude, but love. I love you with my whole heart, my whole soul, and every fibre of my body!" I could see tears glistening in the Admiral's eyes as he said, "Princess, this is madness!" "No, it is not madness," she said, coming forward and kneeling at his feet, with her hands clasped round his arm, and her great clear eyes and her flowerlike face turned upwards, radiating love and beauty. In this attitude of supplication she poured forth her love; speaking, not the worship of the women of a people for the liberator of their country, but a girl's passion for her first love. I was so riveted by the tumult of emotions which struggled in the Admiral's open face that I did not notice that I was no longer alone at the lattice. My attitude had betrayed that something extraordinary was in progress, and Will was looking over my shoulder. I noticed the pressure, but did not give him a thought while that wonderful tragedy was being enacted below. The Admiral was strangely moved, and could find no words except, "But your brother, Princess?" "I cannot think of him; I cannot think of anything except my love for you." The Admiral gave a little gesture as if he would shake her off; but, looking down on the lovely enraptured face, he had not the heart. Instead, I could see the tears rolling down his cheeks as he said, "And your brother is hardly dead." "He is dead! he is dead!" she cried. "Ruggiero who was dearer to me than anything in life, except you. Did I not wait for it? Did I not spare him? This has been upon my lips for months past, and I thought of Ruggiero." "Princess, Princess, do not speak it!"