"Now that you are married," she said, "I do not think you have any right
to risk your life and your position for a fad."
"I have done it with impunity for the last two or three years," he
answered. "With ordinary precautions the risk is small. I have begun the
thing now; I must go on with it."
"But the country is not safe for us--for you."
"Oh, yes, it is," answered Paul. "As safe as ever it has been."
Etta paused. She turned round and looked into the fire. He could not see
her face.
"Then the Ch--Charity League is forgotten?" she said.
"No," answered her husband quietly. "It will not be forgotten until we
have found out who sold us to the Government."
Etta's lips moved in a singular way. She drew them in and held them with
her teeth. For a moment her beautiful face wore a hunted expression of
fear.
"What will you gain by that?" she asked evenly.
"I? Oh, nothing. I do not care one way or the other. But there are some
people who want the man--very much."
Etta drew in a long, deep breath.
"I will go to Osterno with you, if you like," she said. "Only--only I
must have Maggie with me."
"Yes, if you like," answered Paul, in some surprise.
The clock struck ten, and Etta's eyes recovered their brightness.
Womanlike, she lived for the present. The responsibility of the future
is essentially a man's affair.
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