"
"No man ever had a better friend than Lady Laura has been to me.
Malice, wicked and false as the devil, has lately joined our names
together to the incredible injury of both of us; but it has not been
her fault."
"You are energetic in defending her."
"And so would she be in defending me. Circumstances threw us together
and made us friends. Her father and her brother were my friends. I
happened to be of service to her husband. We belonged to the same
party. And therefore--because she has been unfortunate in her
marriage--people tell lies of her."
"It is a pity he should--not die, and leave her," said Madame Goesler
slowly.
"Why so?"
"Because then you might justify yourself in defending her by making
her your wife." She paused, but he made no answer to this. "You are
in love with her," she said.
"It is untrue."
"Mr. Finn!"
"Well, what would you have? I am not in love with her. To me she is
no more than my sister. Were she as free as air I should not ask her
to be my wife. Can a man and woman feel no friendship without being
in love with each other?"
"I hope they may," said Madame Goesler.
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