"Kiss your feet, dear?" he asked. "I would lie down in the dust for your dear feet to walk over me. I only wonder why God should love me so that he gave you for this one beautiful moment to me. Lou, my dearest saint, I cannot accept your sacrifice. Dear heart! dear, dear heart! do try and believe me, when I say that I cannot accept it. As for imagining that I don't understand it and appreciate it, why as soon think that to-morrow's sun will never rise. I worship you, my saint! and I worship your love--the purest, most tender sentiment that ever glorified this ugly world. But its sacrifice I cannot accept. I cannot. I would sooner do that most cowardly of all deeds, end my life here and now, than be tempted for one single instant into the cowardice of accepting it. But the memory of it, dear, that I will take with me. Do not think of me in future as being unhappy. No man can be unhappy whose heart is fed on such a memory!" He had her two hands imprisoned in his, the scent of sweet peas floating gently to his nostrils. As he buried his lips in their fragrant soft palms he was entirely happy. The world had floated away from him. He was in a land of magic with her; in a land where the air was filled with the fragrance of sweet peas, a land of phantasmagoria, the land of Fata Morgana, which none can enter save those who love. Time sped on, and both had forgotten the world. The fire crackled in the hearth, the clock alone recorded the passing of time. The noise of the great city--so cruel to those who suffer--came but as faint echo through the closely drawn curtains. There was a discreet knock at the door, and as no reply came from within, it was repeated more insistently. Luke jumped to his feet, and Louisa retreated into the shadow. "Come in!" said Luke. The door was opened, quite softly from outside, and the well-drilled servant said: "Two gentlemen to see you, sir." "Where are they, Mary?" he asked. "In the hall, sir." "Did they give their names?" "No, sir." "Where's Miss Edie, Mary?" "In the drawing room, sir, with Colonel Harris." "Very well. Then show the two gentlemen into the dining-room. I'll come in a moment." "Very good, sir." And the discreet little maid retired, closing the door after her. CHAPTER XXXIV WHICH SPEAKS ONLY OF FAREWELLS The door had scarcely closed, and already she was near him. "Luke," she whispered, and her voice was hoarse now and choked, "the police!" "That's about it," he said. "I thought that they meant to let me get away." "So father understood from Sir Thomas Ryder. What will you do, Luke?" "I can't do anything, I am afraid. I wanted to get away----" "And I have kept you--and now it is too late."