"Joan, wait," he pleaded--"wait! One last word! One day I shall hope to
explain to you, then perhaps you will find it in your heart to forgive.
For the blunder that I made in Slotman's office, for the further insult,
if you look on it as such, I ask you to forgive me now. It was the act
of a senseless fool, a mad fool, who had done wrong and tried to do
right, and through his folly made matters worse. To-night perhaps I have
sinned more than ever before in telling you that I love you. But if that
is a sin and past all forgiveness, I glory in it. I take not one word of
it back. I shall trouble you no more, and so"--he paused--"so I say
good-bye."

"Good-bye!" He held out his hand to her, but she looked him full in the
face.

"Good-bye!" she said, and then turned quickly, and in a moment the door
was closed between them.

He did not see her hurry away, her hands pressed against her breast. He
did not see the face, all womanly and sweet, and soft and tender now. He
had only the memory of her brief farewell, the memory of her cold,
steady eyes--nothing else beside.




CHAPTER XIII

THE GENERAL CONFESSES