"
"But you told me that Don Antonio was your man of business."
"Well, then--no--this time it is not a matter of business. I wanted
to prepare a surprise for you." She seated herself on his knee, and
laying her cheek to his, she whispered: "I have been trying to have
myself naturalized in Belgium, and then, as a Belgian subject, get a
divorce from Count Pozaldez. In that way I might have become your
wife before the law as well."
He looked at her with a face expressive rather of alarm and
astonishment than joy, and she went on with a sigh, "However, Don
Antonio has just told me I must give up that pleasant dream--it
cannot be realized."
He kissed her lips and brow, and stroked her silky hair. She laid
her head on his shoulder, and remained long in silent thought.
Presently she rose, walked up and down the room once or twice, and
finally seated herself on a footstool at Wilhelm's feet. "But
something I must do to bind you to me," she said. "I shall not rest
till there is some written bond, something legal between us. I shall
alter my will, and give you the place in it you occupy in my life."
"Pilar," exclaimed Wilhelm, "if you love me, and if you wish that we
should remain what we are to one another, never say such a word
again.
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