“He is rich and titled now. He has all that she married him to gain, so she would not have any excuse for persisting in her separation,” he thought, with inexpressible pain. But in spite of his wearying thoughts, his health improved daily, and one day, when he had been lying quite still for a long time, he suddenly raised his blue eyes to Mrs. Howard, and said: “How still and quiet it seems at the villa now. As I lie here dozing and dreaming day by day, I seldom hear a sound. Have they all gone away?” Last night Doctor Gavinzel had told her that his patient was strong enough to hear all she had to tell him, and at this question she resolved to tell him everything. But at first she answered him evasively: “The Fraynes went away more than two weeks ago. We all thought it best, as the doctors desired to keep you very quiet.” “And--Fair?” His voice faltered over the familiar name. She averted her eyes, that she might not see his emotion, and answered gently: “She is gone, too.” He sighed faintly, and asked: “How long?” “Three weeks. Ever since the day after you were wounded.” He could not ask another question. She had gone with her husband, of course. What did she care if she left him dying--him, whom she had confessed to love! Pshaw! It had been nothing but clever acting. She wished to marry a rich man, that was all, and as things had turned out she was best suited perhaps to have a title added to the wealth. Princess Gonzaga! It had a lofty sound. What a rise it was for the poor sewing girl! Mrs. Howard read what was passing in his mind, and said: “Prince Gonzaga is gone, too.” “Of course!” he answered, with a sneer he could not repress, and again she read his bitter thought, and answered it: “But they did not go together, Bayard. You will not understand it. Neither did I, but Fair absolutely refused to have anything to say to her husband. She never saw him again.” And as briefly as she could, she told him the story of the day after the interrupted wedding, of the stand she had taken against Fair, and of her successful flight from the villa. Bayard Lorraine looked at Mrs. Howard in angry wonder. “She hated and feared the prince--she was not willing to live with him,” he said, “and she begged you to take her part and defend her against his claim? Yet you hardened your heart against her--you tried to drive her into his arms. Oh, Mrs. Howard, how could you do it? How could you be so cruel and so heartless?” She started in surprise, and exclaimed: “Do you mean that I did wrong in trying to make peace between Fair and the husband she had treated so badly?” He flushed slightly, but did not hesitate to answer: “Yes, I mean that. If she hated and feared him, it was not right to force her to live with him.” “I did not force her. I only washed my hands of the whole matter,” she replied, with natural resentment.