The Passenger from Calais | Page 7

her own admission. Nothing, indeed, could take the sting out of this,
and yet it was all but impossible to accuse her, to blame her even for
what she had done.
She read that in my eyes, in my abashed face, my hands held out
deprecating her wrath, and her next words had a note of conciliation in
them.
"There are degrees of wrong-doing, shades of guilt," she said. "Crimes,
offences, misdeeds, call them as you please, are not absolutely
unpardonable; in some respects they are excusable, if not justifiable.
Do you believe that?"
"I should like to do so in your case," I replied gently. "You know I am
still quite in the dark."
"And you must remain so, for the present at any rate," she said firmly
and sharply. "I can tell you nothing, I am not called upon to do it
indeed. We are absolute strangers, I owe you no explanation, and I

would give you none, even if you asked."
"I have not asked and shall not ask anything."
"Then you are willing to take it so, to put the best construction on what
you have heard, to forget my words, to surrender your suspicions?"
"If you will tell me only this: that I may have confidence in you, that I
may trust you, some day, to enlighten me and explain what seems so
incomprehensible to-day."
"I am sorely tempted to do so now," she paused, lost for a time in deep
and anxious thought; and then, after subjecting me to a long and intent
scrutiny, she shook her head. "No, it cannot be, not yet. You must earn
the right to my confidence, you must prove to me that you will not
misuse it. There are others concerned; I am not speaking for myself
alone. You must have faith in me, believe in me or let it be."
She had beaten me, conquered me. I was ready to be her slave with
blind, unquestioning obedience.
"As you think best. I will abide by your decision. Tell me all or nothing.
If the first I will help you, if the latter I will also help you as far as lies
in my power."
"Without conditions?" And when I nodded assent such a smile lit up
her face that more than repaid me, and stifled the doubts and qualms
that still oppressed me. But, bewitched by the sorcery of her bright eyes,
I said bravely:
"I accept service--I am yours to command. Do with me what you
please."
"Will you give me your hand on it?" She held out hers, gloveless, white
and warm, and it lay in mine just a second while I pressed it to my lips
in token of fealty and submission.
"You shall be my knight and champion, and I say it seriously. I may

call you to fight for me, at least to defend and protect me in my present
undertaking. The way is by no means clear. I cannot foresee what may
happen on this journey. There are risks, dangers before me. I may ask
you to share them. Do you repent already?"
She had been watching me closely for any sign of wavering, but I
showed none, whatever I might feel in my inmost heart.
"I shall not disappoint you," was what I said, and, in a firm assured
voice, added, "You have resolved then to travel forward in this train?"
"I must, I have no choice. I dare not tarry by the way. But I no longer
feel quite alone and unprotected. If trouble arises, I tell you candidly I
shall try to throw it on you."
"From what quarter do you anticipate it?" I asked innocently enough.
"You expect to be pursued, I presume?"
She held up a warning finger.
"That is not in the compact. You are not to be inquisitive. Ask me no
questions, please, but wait on events. For the present you must be
satisfied so, and there is nothing more to be said."
"I shall see you again, I trust," I pleaded, as she rose to leave me.
"If you wish, by all means. Why should we not dine together in the
dining-car by and by?" she proposed with charming frankness, in the
lighter mood that sat so well upon her. "The waiters will be there to
play propriety, and no Mrs. Grundy within miles."
"Or your maid might be chaperon at an adjoining table."
"Philpotts? Impossible! She cannot leave--she must remain on duty;
one of us must be in charge always. Who knows what might happen
when our backs were turned? We might lose it--it might be abstracted.
Horrible thought after all it has cost us."
"'It' has evidently an extraordinary value in your eyes. If only I might

be allowed to--" know more, I would