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for he saw that his daughter loved the man with a love that would be stayed by
no obstacle or bound by no man-made law, or social custom.
The Chinaman's indictment of von Horn had come as an added blow to Professor
Maxon, but it had brought its own supporting evidence in the flood of
recollections it had induced in the professor's mind. Now he recalled a hundred
chance incidents and conversations with his assistant that pointed squarely
toward the man's disloyalty and villainy. He wondered that he had been so blind
as not to have suspected his lieutenant long before.
Virginia had at last succeeded in adjusting her rude bandage and stopping the
flow of blood. Bulan had risen weakly to his feet. The girl supported him upon
one side, and Sing upon the other. Professor Maxon approached the little group.
"I do not know what to make of all that Sing has told us," he said. "If you are not
Number Thirteen who are you? Where did you come from? It seems very strange
indeed--impossible, in fact. However, if you will explain who you are, I shall be
glad to--ah--consider--ah--permitting you to pay court to my daughter."
"I do not know who I am," replied Bulan. "I had always thought that I was only
Number Thirteen, until Sing just spoke. Now I have a faint recollection of drifting
for days upon the sea in an open boat--beyond that all is blank. I shall not force
my attentions upon Virginia until I can prove my identity, and that my past is one
which I can lay before her without shame--until then I shall not see her."
"You shall do nothing of the kind," cried the girl. "You love me, and I you. My
father intended to force me to marry you while he still thought that you were a
soulless thing. Now that it is quite apparent that you are a human being, and a
gentleman, he hesitates, but I do not. As I have told you before, it makes no
difference to me what you are. You have told me that you love me. You have
demonstrated a love that is high, and noble, and self-sacrificing. More than that
no girl needs to know. I am satisfied to be the wife of Bulan--if Bulan is satisfied
to have the daughter of the man who has so cruelly wronged him."
An arm went around the girl's shoulders and drew her close to the man she had
glorified with her loyalty and her love. The other hand was stretched out toward
Professor Maxon.
"Professor," said Bulan, "in the face of what Sing has told us, in the face of a
disinterested comparison between myself and the miserable creatures of your
experiments, is it not folly to suppose that I am one of them? Some day I shall
recall my past, until that time shall prove my worthiness I shall not ask for
Virginia's hand, and in this decision she must concur, for the truth might reveal
some insurmountable obstacle to our marriage. In the meantime let us be
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