"I was a spy for him. You are a
spy--against him."
"It was a deliberate plot, then!" Maggie exclaimed, trying to feel the
anger which she imparted to her tone.
La Belle Nita suddenly laughed, softly and like a bird.
"You very, very foolish Englishwoman," she said. "A hand leaned down
from Heaven, and you liked better to stay where you were, but I am
glad."
"And why?"
"Because I have been his slave," the girl continued. "At odd, strange
moments he has shown me a little love, he has let me creep into a small
corner of his heart. Now I am cast out, and there is no more life for me
because there is no more love, and there is no more love because, having
felt his, no other can come after. Here have I sat with all the tortures
of Hell burning in my blood because I knew that you and he were there
alone, because I was never sure that, after all, I was not doing my
lord's will. And now I know that I suffered in vain. You did not
understand."
Maggie looked across at her visitor reflectively. She was beginning to
regain her poise.
"Listen," she said, "did you seriously expect me to accept Prince Shan
as a lover?"
The girl's eyes were round with wonder.
"It would be your great good fortune," she murmured, "if he should offer
you so wonderful a thing."
Maggie laughed,--persisted in her laugh, although it sounded a little
hard and the mirth a little forced.
"I cannot reason with you," she declared, "because you would not
understand.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166