Clementina

The Chevalier ended and sat with his eyes turned away. Maria Vittoria

did not change her attitude, nor for a while did she answer, but the

tears gathered in her eyes and welled over. They ran down her cheeks;

she did not wipe them away, she did not sob, nor did her face alter from

its fixity. She did not even close her eyes. Only the tears rained down

so silently that the Prince was not aware of them. He had even a thought

as he sat with his head averted that she might have shown a trifle more

of distress, and it was almost with a reproach upon his lips that he

turned to her. Never was a man more glad that he had left a word

unspoken. This silent grief of tears cut him to the heart.

"Maria!" he cried, and moved towards her. She made no gesture to repel

him, she did not move, but she spoke in a whisper.

"His Holiness the Pope had consented to our marriage. What would I not

have done for you?"

The Chevalier stooped over her and took her hand. The hand remained

inert in his.

"Maria!"

"Would that I were poor! Would that I were powerless! But I am rich--so

rich. I could have done so much. I am alone--so much alone. What would I

not have done for you?"

"Maria!"

His voice choked upon the word, his lips touched her hair, and she

shivered from head to foot. Then her hand tightened fast upon his; she

drew him down almost fiercely until he sank upon his knees by her side;

she put an arm about his shoulder and held him to her breast.

"But you love me," she said quickly. "Tell me so! Say, 'I love you, I

love you, I love you.' Oh that we both could die, you saying it, I

hearing it,--die to-night, like this, my arm about you, your face

against my heart! My lord, my lord!" and then she flung him from her,

holding him at arm's length. "Say it with your eyes on mine! I can see

though the tears fall. I shall never hear the words again after

to-night. Do not stint me of them; let them flow just as these tears

flow. They will leave no more trace than do my tears."

"Maria, I love you," said the Chevalier. "How I do love you!" He took

her hands from his shoulders and pressed his forehead upon them. She

leaned forward, and in a voice so low it seemed her heart was

whispering, not her mouth, she made her prayer.