Only Rudolf's hand bore her up.

Thus for a moment, too short to reckon, they stood.
Then he, a smile of great love and pity coming on his lips, drew her to him, and passing his arm about her waist, thus supported her.

Then, smiling still, he looked down on her, and said in a low tone, yet distinct enough for all to hear: "All is well, dearest." My wife gripped Bernenstein's arm, and he turned to find her pale-faced too, with quivering lips and shining eyes.

But the eyes had a message, and an urgent one, for him.

He read it; he knew that it bade him second what Rudolf Rassendyll had done.