go straight to the hand that wielded him. Because I know of your
affection for Sir John I gave him such latitude as no man of honour in
England would have given him."

Then seeing that she still avoided his regard, still sat in that frozen
attitude of horror at learning that the man she loved had imbrued his
hands with the blood of another whom she also loved, his pleading
quickened to a warmer note. He flung himself upon his knees beside her
chair, and took in his great sinewy hands the slender fingers which she
listlessly surrendered. "Rose," he cried, and his deep voice quivered
with intercession, "dismiss all that you have heard from out your mind.
Consider only this thing that has befallen. Suppose that Lionel my
brother came to you, and that, having some measure of power and
authority to support him, he swore to you that you should never wed me,
swore to prevent this marriage because he deemed you such a woman as
could not bear my name with honour to myself; and suppose that to all
this he added insult to the memory of your dead father, what answer
would you return him? Speak, Rose! Be honest with thyself and me.
Deem yourself in my place, and say in honesty if you can still condemn
me for what I have done. Say if it differs much from what you would
wish to do in such a case as I have named."

Her eyes scanned now his upturned face, every line of which was
pleading to her and calling for impartial judgment. Her face grew
troubled, and then almost fierce. She set her hands upon his
shoulders, and looked deep into his eyes.

"You swear to me, Noll, that all is as you have told it me--you have
added naught, you have altered naught to make the tale more favourable
to yourself?"