He pitied her now most truly, though he guessed rightly that to show his pity would be but to add fuel to the blazing flame.
Then, in the interval of a second, as she drew breath to weep afresh, he fancied that he heard sounds below as of the great door being opened and closed again.

With a quick, strong movement, stooping low he put his arms about her and raised her from the floor.

At his touch, her sobbing ceased for a moment, as though she had wanted only that to soothe her.
In spite of him she let her head rest upon his shoulder, letting him still feel that if he did not support her weight with his arm she would fall again.

In the midst of the most passionate and real outburst of despairing love there was no artifice which she would not use to be nearer to him, to extort even the semblance of a caress.
"I heard some one come in below," he said, hurriedly.

"It must be he.
Decide quickly what to do.