left to waste on you," and Piet obeying him, fell back a little and
stood gnawing his nails and staring at the pair.

"Suzanne, wife Suzanne," whispered Ralph, "we are about to part, since,
as you see, I must die, and your fate lies in the Hand of God. Yes, you
are made a widow before you are a wife; and, Suzanne, ah! that is the
worst of it, another takes you, even my murderer."

Now Suzanne, who till this moment had been as one stupefied, seemed to
gather up her strength and answered him calmly, saying:

"Truly, husband, things appear to be as you say, though what we have
done that they should be so, I cannot tell. Still comfort yourself, for
death comes to all of us soon or late, and whether it comes soon or late
makes little difference in the end, seeing that come it must."

"No, not death, it is your fate that makes the difference. How can I
bear to die and leave you the prey of that devil? Oh my God! my God! how
can I bear to die!"

"Have no fear, husband," went on Suzanne in the same clear, indifferent
voice, "for you do not leave me to be his prey. Say, now; if we walk
backwards swiftly before they could catch us we might fall together into
the pit of the sea beneath."

"Nay, wife, let our deaths lie upon their heads and not upon ours, for
self-murder is a crime."

"As you will, Ralph; but I tell you, and through you I tell Him who
made me, that it is a crime which I shall dare if need be. Have no fear,