And as she stood thus, a very ardent voice it was that whispered in her ear: "Valentina, by my soul, I love you!" And there that whisper, which filled her with an ecstasy that was almost painful in its poignancy, ended sharply as if throttled.

Again his hand sought hers, which was yielded to him as she would have yielded her whole life at his sweet bidding, and now his voice came less passionately.
"Why delude ourselves with cruel hopes, my Valentina ?" he was saying.
"There is the future.

There is the time when this siege shall be done with, and when, Gian Maria having got him home, you will be free to depart.

Whither will you go ?" She looked at him as if she did not understand the question, and her eyes were troubled, although in such light as there was he could scarce see this.
"I will go whither you bid me.

Where else have I to go ?" she added, with a note of bitterness.
He started.