'
And while she spoke I thought how Elzevir had gone to shoot her father,
and only failed of it by a hair's-breadth, and yet she spoke so well I
thought he never really meant to shoot at all, but only to scare the
magistrate. And what a whirligig of time was here, that I should have
saved Elzevir from having that blot on his conscience, and then that he
should save my life, and now that Maskew's daughter should be the one to
praise Elzevir when he lay dead! And still I could not speak.
And again she said: 'John, have you no word for me? have you forgotten?
do you not love me still? Have I no part in your sorrow?'
Then I took her hand in mine and raised it to my lips, and said, 'Dear
Mistress Grace, I have forgotten nothing, and honour you above all
others: but of love I may not speak more to you--nor you to me, for we
are no more boy and girl as in times past, but you a noble lady and I a
broken wretch'; and with that I told how I had been ten years a
prisoner, and why, and showed her the iron ring upon my wrist, and the
brand upon my cheek.
At the brand she stared, and said, 'Speak not of wealth; 'tis not wealth
makes men, and if you have come back no richer than you went, you are
come back no poorer, nor poorer, John, in honour. And I am rich and have
more wealth than I can rightly use, so speak not of these things; but be
glad that you are poor, and were not let to profit by that evil treasure.
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