“But not such danger as you! You may still be found out. And then----” He sickened as he saw her again in last night’s danger, with this time no rescue for her. “I cannot bear to think of that!” he cried desperately. “Sonya, come with me to America!” “That’s what my heart wants most of all to do,” said she. He caught her hands in joy. “Then you will come?” Her face grew gray with pain, and she sighed. “If I only could!” “You can!” She slowly shook her head. “I cannot, dear. If my country were happy, I would. Ah, but I would! But at the time of my country’s agony, I cannot think first of my own happiness. I cannot desert her in the time of her distress.” “Then I will stay with you!” he cried. “I’ll stay with you, and help you!” “I cannot let you. Father has told me how the description of Captain Laroque is everywhere. You are safe for perhaps only a few hours. You must leave at once.” He thought a moment. “You are right,” he said. “And leave for a greater reason than my own safety. You have an alibi; no one will suspect the sick Princess Valenko. But should I stay, and should we be seen together, I the double of Captain Laroque, you the double of the escaped prisoner--that would rouse a fatal suspicion. Yes--I must leave at once.” “I was thinking of your safety alone,” said she. “But to go away to placid safety, leaving you to undertake new perils!” he groaned. If at least she were only safe! He thought of her father, and his fearing love seized at that hope. “Now that your father knows, will he not prevent your activities?” “Father and I have just had a long talk. He cannot countenance what I do, and I cannot give up doing it. He cannot denounce me; nor will his honour let him continue in power and keep silent. So he is going to resign; he had been considering that, anyhow, for he is close upon seventy. We are going to part--to part in love. He is going to retire to one of his estates.” “And you,” he cried despairingly, “are going to plunge into new dangers!” “Whatever danger my country’s freedom requires--I must.” “Sonya! Oh, Sonya!” and her name came out as a sob. “But, dear--would you have me suffer these wrongs in silence?” she asked softly. “I would have my love be safe!” he cried in anguish. “Would you have me apathetically content?” she asked. “Ah, you know, dearest,” he moaned, “that I would have you be yourself!” “Yes, I knew,” she said softly. He gazed at her in an agony of longing. There was a sudden flare of hope. “You said--a moment ago--that if your country did not need you, you would come to me.” “And so I would!” she breathed. “Then if there comes a day when your country is set free?” “That day I’ll come to you!” she said. But hope as suddenly died to ashes. “But moving among such dangers, you may never see that day!” “Who knows? Six months--a year--more perhaps--and then----” “Don’t!” he whispered, and he tried to close his eyes against the vision she had conjured up.