her side - strained now and curiously intense.

"Supposing I did!"

"You must be mad!" he declared. "You must not talk to me like this,
Mademoiselle. I have no secret. It is your humor, I know, but it
is dangerous."

"There is no danger," she murmured, "for we are alone. I say again,
Rudolph, supposing this were true?"

His hand passed across his forehead. She fancied that he made a
motion as though to rise to his feet, but she laid her hand upon his.

"Stay here," she whispered. "No, I do not wish to drive you away.
Now you are here you shall listen to me."

"But you are not in earnest!" he faltered. "Don't tell me that you
are in earnest. It is treason. I am Rudolph Von Behrling,
Secretary to the Chancellor."

Again she leaned towards him so that he could see into her eyes.

"Rudolph," she said, "you are indeed Rudolph Von Behrling, you are
indeed the Chancellor's secretary. What do you gain from it? A
pittance! Many hours work a day and a pittance. What have you to
look forward to? A little official life, a stupid official position.
Rudolph, here am I, and there is the world. Do I not represent
other things?"