Again that hard shudder went through Chris. She was silent for a little, them "Oh, Bertie," she whispered, "I wish--I wish--it hadn't been he who--who--" she broke off--"you know what I mean. You--saw!"
Yes, he knew. It was what Mordaunt himself had suspected, and loyally he entered the breach on his friend's behalf.
"_Chérie_--pardon me--that is not a good wish--not worthy of you. That which he did was most merciful, most brave, and he did it himself because he would not trust another. I wish it had been my hand--not his. Then you would have understood."
"I almost wish it had been!" whispered Chris; and then, her words scarcely audible, "But--but do you think--he--knew?"
"_Le pauvre Cinders_?" Very softly Bertrand spoke the dog's name. "No, Christine. He did not know. His head was turned the other way. His eyes regarded only you. And Mr. Mordaunt was so quiet, so steady. He aim his revolver quite straight, and his hand tremble--no, not once. Oh, believe me, _petite_, it was better to end it so."
"Yes, I know, only--only"--convulsively her hands closed upon his--"Bertie--Bertie--dogs do go to heaven, don't they?"
"You do really--not just because I want you to?"
He drew her gently to her feet. "_Chérie_, I believe it, because I know that all love is eternal, and death is only an incident in eternity. Where there is love there is no death. Nothing that loves can die. It is the Divine Spark that nothing can ever quench."
He spoke with absolute conviction, almost with exultation; and the words went straight to Chris's heart and stayed there.
"I only tell you the truth," he made answer, "as I see it. We do not yet know the power of Love. We only know that it is the greatest of all. It is _le bon Dieu_ in the world. And we meet Him everywhere--even in the heart of a dog."
Her hand still clung to his as they groped their way across the room. At the door for a moment she stayed him.
"I shall never forget your goodness to me, Bertie, never--never!" she said, very earnestly.
"Ah, bah!" he answered quickly. "But we are--pals!"
And with that he opened the door, almost as if impatient, and made her pass before him into the hall.
The lamplight dazzled Chris, and she stood for a moment uncertain. Then, as her eyes became accustomed to the change, she discovered her husband, standing a few yards away, looking at her.