She hesitated and glanced at him uneasily: "I don't know. I'm just nervous. I don't feel equal to the strain of such an interview to-night. It means so much to you. It means so much to me now that love rules my life----" He took her hands in his and drew her into the friendly shadows beside the walk. "Love does rule life, doesn't it?" "Absolutely. I'm frightened when I realize it," she sighed. "You are all mine now? In life, in death, through evil report and good report?" "In life, in death, through evil report and good report----yours forever, dearest!" He took her in his arms and held her in silence. She could feel him trembling with deep emotion. "There's nothing to be nervous about then," he said, reassuringly, as his arms relaxed. "Come, we'll hurry. I want to send a message to my father to-night announcing his release." At the entrance to the White House grounds they passed a man who shot a quick glance at John, and Betty thought his head moved in a nod of approval or recognition. "You know him?" she asked nervously. "One of Baker's men, I think--attempt on the President's life last week. They've doubled the guard, no doubt." They passed another, strolling carelessly from the shadows of the white pillars of the portico. "They seem to be everywhere to-night," John laughed carelessly. The White House door was open and they passed into the hall and ascended the stairs to the Executive Chamber without challenge. Little Tad, the President's son, who ran the House to suit himself at times, was in his full dress suit of a lieutenant of the army and had ordered the guard to attend a minstrel show he was giving in the attic. The President had agreed to meet Betty in his office at ten o'clock and told her to bring her friend right upstairs and wait if he were not on time. They sat down and waited five minutes in awkward silence. Betty was watching the strange glittering expression in John Vaughan's eyes with increasing alarm. She heard a muffled footfall in the hall, stepped quickly to the door, and saw the man they had passed at the entrance to the grounds. She returned trembling. "The man we passed at the gate is in that hall," she whispered. "What of it?" was the careless answer. "Baker's secret service men come and go when they please here----" He paused and glanced at the door. "He has his eye on us maybe," he added, with a little laugh. He studied Betty's flushed face for a moment, curiously hesitated as if about to speak, changed his mind, and was silent. He drew his watch from his pocket and looked at it. "I've ordered a carriage to wait for you at the gate at a quarter past ten," he said quickly. "I forgot to tell you." "Why--it may take us longer than half an hour?" "That's just it. We may be talking two hours. Such things can't be threshed out in a minute. You can introduce me, say a good word, and leave us to fight it out----" "I want to stay," she interrupted.