The Secret Power

"Not that I am aware of"--he replied--"The men are finishing some small detail of ornament. I have only looked in to tell them you are coming."

"And are they pleased?"

"Madama, they are not of a class to be either pleased or displeased"--he said--"They are instructed to perform certain work, and they perform it. In all that they have been doing for you, according to your orders, I truly think they are more curious than interested."

A streak of rose and silver flared through the sky flushing the pallor of Morgana's face as she lifted it towards him, smiling.

"Quite natural!" she said--"No man is ever 'interested' in woman's work, but he is always 'curious.' Woman is a many-cornered maze--and man is always peeping round one corner or another in the hope to discover her--but he never does!"

Rivardi gave an almost imperceptible shrug.

"Never?" he queried.

"Never!" she affirmed, emphatically--"Don't be sarcastic, amico!--even in this dim morning light I can see the scornful curve of your upper lip!--you are really very good-looking, you know!--and you imply the same old Garden of Eden story of man giving away woman as a wholly incomprehensible bad job! Adam flung her back as a reproach to her Creator--'the woman thou gavest me;'--oh, that woman and that apple! But he had to confess 'I did eat.' He always eats,--he eats everything woman can give him--he will even eat HER if he gets the chance!" She laughed and pointed to the brightening sky. "See? ''Tis almost morning!' as Shakespeare's Juliet remarked--but I would not 'have thee gone'--not unless I go also. Whither shall we fly?"

He looked at her, moved as he often was by a thrill of admiration and wonder.

"It is for you to decide"--he answered--"You know best the possibilities-and the risks---"

"I know the possibilities perfectly,"--she said--"But I know nothing of risks--there are none. This is our safety"--and she drew out from the folds of her cloak, two small packets of cylindrical form--"This emanation of Nature's greatest force will keep us going for a year if needful! Oh man!--I do not mean YOU particularly, but man generally!--why could you not light on this little, little clue!--why was it left to a woman! Come!--let us see the White Eagle in its nest,--it shall spread its wings and soar to-day--we will give it full liberty!"