The Powers and Maxine Part 30

"You are my good angel!" he exclaimed. "Thank Heaven, I won't have to take your money now."

"All that's mine is yours," I said.

"It is _you_ I want for mine," he answered. "When am I to have you?

Don't keep me waiting long, my darling. I'm nothing without you."

"I don't want to keep you waiting," I told him. And indeed I longed to be his wife--his, in spite of G.o.densky; his, till death us should part.

He took me in his arms, and then, when I had promised to marry him as soon as a marriage could be arranged, our talk drifted back to the morning, and the note I had written, telling him that a pretty American girl had found the diamonds.

"She's engaged to marry Ivor Dundas, an old friend of mine--the poor fellow so stupidly accused of murder," I explained. "But of course he is innocent. Of course he'll be discharged without a blot upon his name.

They're tremendously in love with each other, almost as much as you and I!"

"You didn't tell me about the love affair in your note," said Raoul.

"You spoke only of the girl, and the coincidence of her driving past your house, after I went in."

"There wasn't time for more in that famous communication!" I laughed.

Raoul echoed me. "It came rather too near being famous, by the way," he said. "Just after I had found it in the safe--where you would put it, you witch!--a man came in with an order from the President to copy a clause in a new treaty which is kept there."

"What treaty?" I asked, with a leap of the heart.

"Oh, one between France, j.a.pan and Russia. But that isn't the point."

(Ah, _was_ it not, if he had known?) The thing is, it would have been rather awkward, wouldn't it? if I hadn't got your note out of the safe before the man came in, as he never took his eyes off me, or out of the open safe, for a second."

"Thank G.o.d I wasn't too late!" I stammered, before I could keep back the rushing words. "You mean, thank G.o.d he wasn't sooner, don't you, darling?" amended Raoul.

"Yes, of course. How stupid I am!" I murmured.

All along, then, G.o.densky had meant to get my promise and deceive me, for I had not even sent my note of defiance when this trick was played.

Had the treaty been missing, and Raoul disgraced, G.o.densky would no doubt have vowed to me--if I'd lived to hear his vows--that he had had no hand in the discovery. Fear of the terrible man who had so nearly beaten me in the game made me quiver even now. "You see," I went on, "I can think of nothing but you, and my love for you. You'll never be jealous and make me miserable again, will you, no matter what Count G.o.densky or any other wretched creature may say of me to you?"

"I've listened to G.o.densky for the last time," said Raoul. "The dog! He shall never come near me again."

"I hardly think he will try," I said. "I'm glad we're going to be married soon. Do you know, I'm half inclined to do as you've asked me sometimes, and promised you wouldn't ask again--leave the stage. I want to rest, and just be happy, like other women. I want love--and peace--and you."

"You shall have all, and for always," answered Raoul. "If only I deserved you!"

"If only I deserved you!" I echoed.

Raoul would not let me say that. But he did not know. And I trust that he never may; or not until a time, if such a time could come, that he would forgive me all things, because we are one in a perfect love.

THE END