"I assure you it's safer now than anywhere in London!" the man cut her short. "I can't explain why--that is, I _could_ explain if I cared to rig up a story. But there's something about you makes me feel as if I'd like to tell you the truth whenever I can: and the truth is, that for reasons you may understand some day--though I hope to Heaven you'll never have to!--my association with those men is one of the things I long to turn the key upon. I know that that sounds like Bluebeard to Fatima, but it isn't as bad as _that_. To me, it doesn't seem bad at all. And I swear that whatever mystery--if you call it 'mystery'--there is about me, it sha'n't hurt you. Will you believe this--and trust me for the rest?" "I've told you I would!" the girl reminded him. "I know. But things were different then--not so serious. They hadn't gone so far. I didn't suppose that Fate would give you to me so soon. I didn't dare hope it. I----" "Are you _sure_ you want me?" Annesley faltered. "Surer than I've ever been of anything in my life before. It's only of you I'm thinking. I wanted to arrange my--business matters so as to be fair to you. But you'll make the best of things." "You are being noble to me," said the girl, "and I've been very foolish. I've complicated everything. First, by what I told Mr. Ruthven Smith about--about _us_. And then--saying your name was Nelson Smith." "You weren't foolish!" he contradicted. "You were only--playing into Fate's hands. You couldn't help yourself. Destiny! And all's for the best. You were an angel to sacrifice yourself to save me, and your doing it the way you did has made me a happy man at one stroke. As for the name--what's in a name? We might as well be in reality what we played at being to-night--'Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Smith.' There are even reasons why I'm pleased that you've made me a present of the name. I thank you for it--and for all the rest." "Oh, but if it isn't _really_ your name, we sha'n't be legally married, shall we?" Annesley protested. "By Jove!" he exclaimed. "I hadn't thought of that. It's a difficulty. But we'll obviate it--somehow. Don't worry! Only I'm afraid we can't ask your friend the Archdeacon to marry us, as I meant to suggest, because I was sure you'd like it." "I should. But it doesn't matter," said the girl. "Besides, I feel that to-morrow I shall find I've dreamed--all this." "Then I've dreamed you, at the same time, and I'm not going to let you slip out of my dream, now I've got you in it. I intend to go on dreaming you for the rest of my life. And I shall take care _you_ don't wake up!" Afterward there came a time when Annesley called back those words and wondered if they had held a deeper meaning than she guessed. But, having uttered them, he seemed to put the thought out of his mind, and turn to the next.