"Cannot! What's the matter with him? Has he no arms, nor legs, nor courage? Is he made of gingerbread? Oh, if I---- But perhaps I speak ignorant of facts. Maybe he's chained fast, too." "Yes, he's fast enough." "Then 'tis your duty to do what a man may, Jack. You, at least, are free as well as faithful; and in love with Miss Malherb also, I'll wager. You must love her if you're a man." "I do love her." "And can see her and speak to her every day of your blessed life! Oh, if I might but help you; if I might come between her and trouble----" He broke off and ended his aspirations to himself. Then Lee spoke. "Could you escape from this place again?" Stark started and looked round about him. "For that cause--yes." "There may be good reason why you should presently--not yet. The first thing----" Here Cecil interrupted. "'Good reason--good reason'? You know so much that you must know more. And you must tell me more." "I'll tell you this. We are at cross purposes. I let you talk because--because it amused me in a strange sort of painful way. But the truth----" He hesitated, and the full, fatal significance of the next few words impressed itself vividly upon his soul. There was no blinking it. The fact stared pitiless. He stood at the cross roads of fortune, and with his next word to Cecil Stark, his own path would be chosen, his own desire renounced, for ever. The American saw that great emotions fought in this man's mind, and waited for him to speak. "The truth is that Miss Malherb is a free woman--so far as love is concerned." "She told me when I----" began Stark; then he looked guilty and held his peace. But Lee understood. "When you asked her to marry you? I know. She could not say otherwise then. Bide bold and patient; the time will come when she may answer differently." The other was terribly moved. A great expiration burst from him, half an oath of astonishment, half a hallelujah. "In God's name what are you that dare to speak these great things?" he asked under his breath, as though he apostrophised a sexless spirit. "Her servant--her slave. At least I tell truth. Thus it stands--that other--he will not marry her." "And she still loves him? This is damnable! Let me but meet that man!" "No need to rage against him. He's a harmless fool enough and would be your friend--anybody's friend but his own. 'Twill be no grief to her, a joy rather to find that she's mistaken in him." "She never really loved him then?" "She didn't know--she didn't know. You forget how young she is. I think she loved him with an innocent, baby love; I think she'll always love him a little for the sake of--but let that go--she's free--free to listen to a lover. Now you know what I came to tell you."