His honor could not save the king.

All she had said was true.

If he held to his word there would be war and bloodshed.
On the other hand, if he surrendered, less harm would befall the king, and the loss of his honor--was it honor ?--would be well recompensed for the remainder of his days by the love of this woman.

His long years of loneliness came back; he wavered.

He glanced first at her, then at the door; one represented all that was desirable in the world, the other more loneliness, coupled with unutterable regret.