lift your hand. You said the circle may be smaller, but it may be
unbroken still. Will you not do a great thing once, and win a woman's
gratitude, and the thanks of the world, by trying to save one who makes
us think better of humanity? Will you not have the name of Nahoum Pasha
linked with his--with his who thought you were his friend? Will you not
save him?"

He got slowly to his feet, a strange look in his eyes. "Your words are
useless. I will not save him for your sake; I will not save him for the
world's sake; I will not save him--"

A cry of pain and grief broke from her, and she buried her face in her
hands.

"--I will not save him for any other sake than his own."

He paused. Slowly, as dazed as though she had received a blow, Hylda
raised her face and her hands dropped in her lap.

"For any other sake than his own!" Her eyes gazed at him in a
bewildered, piteous way. What did he mean? His voice seemed to come
from afar off.

"Did you think that you could save him? That I would listen to you, if I
did not listen to him? No, no, madame. Not even did he conquer me; but
something greater than himself within himself, it conquered me."

She got to her feet gasping, her hands stretched out. "Oh, is it true--
is it true?" she cried.