"Never?" he queried.

"Never!" she affirmed, emphatically--"Don't be sarcastic, amico!--
even in this dim morning light I can see the scornful curve of your
upper lip!--you are really very good-looking, you know!--and you
imply the same old Garden of Eden story of man giving away woman as
a wholly incomprehensible bad job! Adam flung her back as a reproach
to her Creator--'the woman thou gavest me;'--oh, that woman and that
apple! But he had to confess 'I did eat.' He always eats,--he eats
everything woman can give him--he will even eat HER if he gets the
chance!" She laughed and pointed to the brightening sky. "See? ''Tis
almost morning!' as Shakespeare's Juliet remarked--but I would not
'have thee gone'--not unless I go also. Whither shall we fly?"

He looked at her, moved as he often was by a thrill of admiration
and wonder.

"It is for you to decide"--he answered--"You know best the
possibilities-and the risks---"

"I know the possibilities perfectly,"--she said--"But I know nothing
of risks--there are none. This is our safety"--and she drew out from
the folds of her cloak, two small packets of cylindrical form--"This
emanation of Nature's greatest force will keep us going for a year
if needful! Oh man!--I do not mean YOU particularly, but man
generally!--why could you not light on this little, little clue!--
why was it left to a woman! Come!--let us see the White Eagle in its
nest,--it shall spread its wings and soar to-day--we will give it
full liberty!"