"I--I
am Lancelot Vane. I must speak with you."
CHAPTER XXIV
"FOR THE SECOND TIME VANE HAD RISKED HIS LIFE FOR HER"
Lavinia stopped and turned, not completely round but half way. She was
in a flutter, though outwardly calm. She made no attempt to recognise
Vane, and indeed had Lancelot not announced himself, recognition would
have been difficult, so greatly had he changed.
"You've forgotten me. You're right," he went on agitatedly. "I deserve
to be forgotten, though if you knew of the dastardly plot to crush me I
believe even _you_ would forgive me."
"Even _I_? Am I, then, so hard-hearted?"
"No, I don't believe you are, but everything looked so black against me
I could scarce hope that you would listen to what I have to say. And
there's so great a difference between our fortunes. Mine's blighted.
Yours--I heard you sing to-night. 'Twas ravishing. You're destined to be
famous. Mr. Gay confided to me his hopes about you. Did he say how good
he was to visit me in Newgate--that hell upon earth?"
"Yes, Mr. Gay is the best man living. I owe everything to him."
"I know--I know. He went over your story. You're wonderful. But I always
thought that, though I knew so little about you."
He paused. His glistening eyes scanned her face eagerly. He would have
given worlds to know what was in her mind and heart. But she gave him no
chance. She remained impassive.
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