"For the moment I had forgotten him," said Herrick. "You reprove me in kindly fashion; but after to-night we may never speak again as we are now, you and I alone—man and woman. It is nothing to me that you are the greatest lady in this land; to me you are only the woman I love, the lady I worship. I am dedicated to your service. The avowal is wrung from me to-night because—because failure may bring death—at the best flight, and success may bring your contempt."
"Death!" she said slowly.
"That were better than your contempt," he answered.
"I shall not easily hate you," she returned.
"I shall remember always that you have confessed so much," he said quietly, kneeling to kiss her hand.
Into Christine's thoughts came the memory of Lucille's dream and the prince who knelt to her, bringing the fulfilment of all her desires.
"Far from hating you, I might confess more," she whispered, bending over his bowed head.
"Christine!"
The next moment Herrick had sprung to his feet. There were heavy steps in the corridor without, rapidly approaching the room.