Part 22

"Because--because of his scars," he answered slowly. "Poor Geoffrey. You see, he was so handsome before--before they came. And now! Somehow I cannot blame him; I feel everything he suffers. They make him horrible, mademoiselle, horrible--almost too hideous for a man to look at unmoved, and still less a--a woman!"

There was an unconscious undercurrent in his voice as he spoke the last few words, and she turned to him.

"Why do you say that? Why should he be more hideous to a woman?"

Arnold was embarrassed. "I--I do not know, but you see, mademoiselle, it always seems to men that women should be brought into contact only with the--the pretty things of this world. We try to keep the ugly things to ourselves."

"I know--and yet some women say men are selfish." She paused, but only for a few seconds. "Monsieur, supposing I brought you here for two reasons? One for the sake of--of memories, and the other to talk to you, alone and privately!

"Listen! That awful, terrible day when I betrayed the White Knight he called me 'Delilah.' Why, why did he say that to me? Has he ever explained to you?"

"No, mademoiselle," Arnold answered sadly. "He would not let me speak to him on the subject of his capture."

"Why not?" she demanded, but he was silent. "Yet I believe I can answer myself. Was it because he thought I had deliberately betrayed him?"

"I--I do not know."

"But you suspect...? Again you are silent, monsieur, and your silence is your answer. Holy Mary! Why cannot he realize the truth? I--I to betray the White Knight! Sooner would I have cut off my own tongue than willingly betray the man who saved my father from death, and me from far worse. Oh, Mother in Heaven, why can he not realize the truth?"

Arnold did not speak. He felt as if he were being permitted to look upon a woman's soul--that it would have been sacrilege for him to speak.

There was a sob in her voice, and she struggled with her emotion, but presently conquering it she continued: "Is that the only reason the White Knight has disappeared, Monsieur Arnold? Is the mere fact of a woman betraying him sufficient to drive him away for ever, or is there another reason? Tell me. I command you, monsieur, if you value a woman's happiness, answer me the truth."

"The truth ... mademoiselle, he worships the ground you walk on, but ... but ... because of his scars..."

"And what of my betrayal of him?"

"He would ... he has, I am sure ... forgiven you that."

"Monsieur, for those words I could almost love you. And I believe you. God be praised! But now, listen carefully, monsieur, I have a message for you to give the White Knight if ever you shall meet him. Tell him that his love for me is no deeper than my love for him, that--that--oh! what can I say save that I love him so?" And suddenly she buried her face in her hands, her body shaking with the sobs she could no longer repress.

At that moment there came, from the forest, a crackling of disturbed undergrowth, and a tall, white-faced man staggered toward them, to sink on the turf at her feet, clasping her hands, kissing them, again and again, till his burning lips were bruised.

With scarcely a sound Arnold disappeared, and they were left alone in the clearing, alone with the moon.

"My love, my love," he muttered again and again. "And yet ... it is impossible. I am dreaming, just dreaming. Soon I shall wake up, to find myself alone, with the rats and the mice--alone!"

"Hush, dear one!" she placed her hands to his lips. "Hush!"

For a while neither spoke, till in the end Geoffrey broke the silence, and his voice was changed.

"It must be impossible. How can you care for me? My scars..."

"Do you think a woman loves a man only for his face?" she asked.

"Not ordinarily, perhaps. But my face is ghastly--evil. For the moment you have forgotten it. Your love is blinding you. When your eyes are opened you will see--you must see--my features in their true colours, and you will shudder.... Oh, God! Believe me, Elizabeth, I know it to be the truth."

"It is not the truth!" she murmured passionately. "Have I not thought till my brain has ached with weariness? Have you forgotten that I am a daughter of Hungary, descended from a long line of fierce warriors? Each scar on your face is a scar of honour, every wound only one more reason why I should cherish you even more. I am not a dressed-up doll of the West, who must be surrounded by pretty things lest she droop. Unless you wish to wreck two people's happiness you must--must believe me, dear!"

"If only I might!" he murmured.

"Then test me," she challenged defiantly; "test me!"

"Ay, I will, dear," he agreed. "I will light a match, hold it to my face, and then look into your eyes. I shall assuredly read the truth there."

So his hand fumbled for a box of matches in his pocket, but when he found it his fingers trembled. What would the light reveal? Slowly he took out a match, but even then he hesitated. If they could only live for ever thus--in the dim light of the moon!

"Geoffrey!" she commanded gently.

"I am a coward. I am afraid." Then suddenly he struck it, and held the spluttering flame close to his face, so that its light might also reflect upon hers, and thus he could read her eyes.

So they sat, face to face, till the flame died away. In her eyes he had seen, not shuddering, unwilling horror, but tender love and, above all, overwhelming surprise.

Surprise!

"What is it?" he asked roughly.

"Geoffrey! Geoffrey!" She could hardly speak in her excitement, she was almost incoherent. "Oh, God! Oh, Mother in Heaven!"

So after all she had failed! His life was shattered. He rose to his feet, and would have moved away, but she clung to him desperately, forcing his arms around her.

"Geoffrey, you don't understand! Almost you are handsome. Your scars--your scars--I cannot see them, only one, just across your eye. That could not hurt me."

"You cannot see my ... my scars! Oh, God! You are deceiving yourself, Elizabeth ... your love is blinding you."

"No, no, I swear it! Don't you understand, Geoffrey? Your beard, your moustache----"

His hand wandered to his chin, his fingers felt the silky hairs, curling, concealing. Then suddenly he realized that he too was receiving his reward.

A wave of happiness flooded his body. Life once again opened out before him.

He drew her closer ... they were alone together ... just Elizabeth and he ... and the moon!