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〃You don't need to turn up your nose；〃 I retorted to her expressive grimace； 〃you ate some of the stuff yourself。〃
There was a silence； then suddenly Desiree's voice came：
〃Paul…〃 She hesitated and stopped。
〃Yes。〃
〃What do you think of me？〃
〃Do you want a lengthy review？〃 I smiled。
What a woman she was！ Under those circumstances； and amid those surroundings； she was still Desiree Le Mire。
〃Don't laugh at me；〃 she said。 〃I want to know。 I have never spoken of what I did that time in the cavern…you know what I mean。
I am sorry now。 I suppose you despise me。〃
〃But you did nothing；〃 I objected。 〃And you wouldn't。 You were merely amusing yourself。〃
She turned on me quickly with a flash of her old fire。
〃Don't play with me！〃 she burst out。 〃My friend； you have never yet given me a serious word。〃
〃Nor any one else；〃 I answered。 〃My dear Desiree； do you not know that I am incapable of seriousness？ Nothing in the world is worth it。〃
〃At least； you need not pretend；〃 she retorted。 〃I meant once for you to die。 You know it。 And since you pretend not to understand me； I ask you…these are strange words from my lips…will you forgive me？〃
〃There is nothing to forgive。〃
〃My friend； you are being dull。 An evasive answer should always be a witty one。 Must I ask you again？〃
〃That…depends；〃 I answered； hardly knowing what to say。
〃On…〃
〃On whether or not you were serious； once upon a time； when you made a…shall we call it a confession？ If you were； I offended you in my own conceit； but let us be frank。 I thought you were acting； and I played my role。 I do not yet believe that you were； I am not conceited enough to think it possible。〃
〃I do not say；〃 Desiree began； then she stopped and added hastily： 〃But that is past。 I shall not tell you that again。
Perhaps I forgot myself。 Perhaps it was a pretty play。 You have not answered me。〃
I looked at her。 Strange and terrible as her experiences and sufferings had been； she had lost little of her beauty。 Her face was rendered only the more delicate by its pallor。 Her white and perfect body； only half seen in the half…darkness； conveyed a sense of the purest beauty with no hint of immodesty。
But I was moved not by what I saw； but by what I knew。 I had admired her always as Le Mire； but her bravery； her hardihood； her sympathy for others under circumstances when any other woman would have been thinking only of herself…had these awakened in my breast a feeling stronger than admiration？
I did not know。 But my voice trembled a little as I said： 〃I need not answer you； Desiree。 I repeat that there is nothing to forgive。 You sought revenge； then sacrificed it； but still revenge is yours。〃
She looked at me for a moment in silence； then said slowly： 〃I do not understand you。〃
For reply I took her hand in my own from where it lay idly on my knee； and； carrying it to my lips； pressed a long kiss on the top of each of the slender white fingers。 Then I held the hand tight between both of mine as I asked simply； looking into her eyes：
〃Do you understand me now？〃
Another silence。
〃My revenge；〃 she breathed。
I nodded and again pressed her hand to my lips。
〃Yes； Desiree。 We are not children。 I think we know what we mean。 But you have not told me。 Did you mean what you said that day on the mountain？〃
〃Ah； I thought that was a play！〃 she murmured。
〃Tell me！ Did you mean it？〃
〃I never confess the same sin twice； my friend。〃
〃Desiree； did you mean it？〃
Then suddenly； with the rapidity of lightning； her manner changed。 She bent toward me with parted lips and looked straight into my eyes。 There was passion in the gaze； but when she spoke her voice was quite even and so low I scarcely heard。
〃Paul；〃 she said； 〃I shall not again say I love you。 Such words should not be wasted。 Not now； perhaps； but that is because we are where we are。 And if we should return？
〃You have said that nothing is worth a serious word to you； and you are right。 You are too cynical； things are bitter in your mouth； and doubly so when they leave it。 Just now you are amusing yourself by pretending to care for me。 Perhaps you do not know it； but you are。 Search your heart； my friend； and tell me…do you want my love？〃
Well； there was no need to search my heart； she had laid it open。 I hated myself then； and I turned away； unable to meet her eyes； as I said：
〃Bon Dieu！〃 she cried。 〃That is an ugly speech； monsieur！〃 And she laughed aloud。
〃But we must not awaken Harry；〃 she continued with sudden softness。 〃What a boy he is…and what a man！ Ah； he knows what it is to love！〃
That topic suited me little better； but I followed her。 We talked of Harry； Le Mire with an amount of enthusiasm that surprised me。 Suddenly she stopped abruptly and announced that she was hungry。
I found Harry's pantry after a few minutes' search and took some of its contents to Desiree。 Then I returned to the edge of the water and ate my portion alone。 That meal was one scarcely calculated for the pleasures of panionship or conviviality。
It was several hours after that before Harry awoke； the greater part of which Desiree and I were silent。
I would have given something to have known her thoughts； my own were not very pleasant。 It is always a disagreeable thing to discover that some one else knows you better than you know yourself。 And Desiree had cut deep。 At the time I thought her unjust； time alone could have told which of us was right。 If she were here with me now…but she is not。
Finally Harry awoke。 He was delighted to find Desiree awake and paratively well； and demonstrated the fact with a degree of effusion that prompted me to leave them alone together。 But I did not go far； a hundred paces made me sit down to rest before returning； so weak was I from wounds and fasting。
Harry's spirits were high； for no apparent reason other than that we were still alive； for that was the best that could be said for us。 So I told him； he retorted with a hearty clap on the back that sent me sprawling to the ground。
〃What the deuce！〃 he exclaimed； stooping to help me up。 〃Are you as weak as that？ Gad； I'm sorry！〃
〃That is the second fall he has had；〃 said Desiree； with a meaning smile。
Indeed； she was having her revenge！
But my strength was not long in returning。 Over a long stretch our diet would hardly have been conducive to health； but it was exactly what I needed to put blood and strength in me。 And Harry and Desiree； too； for that matter。
Again I had to withstand Harry's eager demands for action。 He began within two hours to insist on exploring the cave； and would hardly take a refusal。
〃I won't stir a foot until I am able to knock you down；〃 I declared finally and flatly。 〃Never again will I attempt to perform the feats of a Hercules when I am fit only for an invalid's chair。〃 And he was forced to wait。
As I say； however； my strength was not long in returning； and when it started it came with a rush。 My wounds were healing perfectly； only one remained open。 Harry； with his usual phenomenal luck； had got nothing but the merest scratches。
Desiree improved very slowly。 The strain of those four days in the cavern had been severe； and her nerve