He could not leave her, and he could not stay. He never knew before that he loved her. She had been a mere comrade, this girl wife of his. Ah! he loved her now with all his heart and soul, and he knew it, only when it was too late. Too late? Why? Then he thought of that other one, binding her, linking her forever to the creature, who stood in danger of his life. With an oath he sprang to the door, but the door would not open⁠—or was it that he pressed it back⁠—locked it⁠—and flung himself on his knees beside the bed, knowing that he dared not for his life’s sake leave what was his all in life.