It was no longer the tiger cat, but the woman who gasped out a surprised response.
"No; oh, no! that is what makes it harder." "Harder to aid me ?" "To see you unjustly condemned, and--and to realize that perhaps I am disloyal to my country." Something about these simple words of confession, wrung from her lips by my insistence, held me silent.

I failed to realize then the full significance of this acknowledgment, and she gave me no opportunity.
"This is ungenerous," she broke in quickly.

"I do feel friendly toward you; surely I need not be ashamed of this, even though our interests are unlike, our causes opposed.

Everything has conspired to make us friends.
But you must not presume, or take advantage of my position.

Now listen--I am here for one purpose: to give you an opportunity of escape.
After that we are strangers; do you accept my terms ?" "You offer no others ?" "None." "Then I accept--until Fate intervenes." "You believe in Fate ?" "When aided by human persistence, yes; I intend to represent that goddess." She drew back a step, her hand on the door.
"You almost make me regret my effort," reproachfully.