I have worked, schemed, suffered for this in ways you could never imagine.

I thought myself invincible.
I believed that if the devil himself stood in my way it would not deter me.

And now you--a frail girl--have wrecked the scheme!" He paused again, leaning towards her in sudden unconscious appeal for comprehension.
"I won't say it hasn't been a struggle to come to you like this--to make my confession.

It has.

My conscience and I have been struggling night and day.