The Princess Dehra

. "Tell me, Your Excellency," she s

ite as sure of them, a

sure-I saw the truth in hi

"I didn't-I never saw t

why should he plead

should he admit it?"

s more misleading than a lie-he h

most amazing I ever heard, and should have been instantly decisive of his guilt or innocence; instead, it has only

ed to me," said Deh

deliberately asked you what

r Adolph I don't care-I'm gla

e. Imprisonment would only make a martyr of him and strengthen him enormously

t, Your Highness, let me ask, why should he have it now? Armand admitted to the Council he is ineligible with

zen is a knave but I won't believe that of him.... A Dalberg

Book of Laws, you think he would chose t

Laws-he wouldn't destr

eached over an

otzen a Dalberg-he isn't; he's a vicious mongrel; if

shook

appeal to me to-day. I'm as sure he won't destroy the Laws as I a

ve a y

or your crowning, Sire," she bro

ressing lightly the small fi

Kingmaker,

rtney is your Warwick and Valeria's

man," the Archduke remarked; "there'

er gravely; he was q

resent, I would advise that we sit tight and give the enemy a chance to blunder. And in the mea

one ten d

the Princess remarked; "they al

-one can never know," the Ambassador answered. "Leastwis

here and at the Castle, is filled with records and other valuables, and upon both I chang

ination that the Duke of Lotze

ite, including his library, allotted to him for quarters. This, also, was at the Archduke's personal order-he, himself, might not be there always to guard Dehra, so he ga

chuckled and read it to Rosen at the Club-"Thank Heaven we shan't have the oth

loyalty against the fetish of the Laws. So it was for him alone to obtain it; and now the task-delicate enough at best-had become almost impossible for one man. Under every precedent, the King's suite should have remained unoccupied, awaiting his successor; but, instead, this

. And, on the whole, the recklessness was rather more appealing than the care. If he could not easily recover the Book, he could, at least, adventure leaving it where it was-and let the Regent's Adjutant g

g's effects had been removed from it, and the box might also have been taken; and, if so, it might be lying in some room, quite unguarded. Yet he deluded himself little on that score; the chance was too slight

ridor at the end farthest from the King's suite, Colonel Moore came

kly around. The shades were half drawn, but there was enough light for him to see that the room was empty. Going swiftly to the vault, he whirled the knob through the combination that Adolph had given him, dropped it at the final number and

ror as had gripped Adolph at that moment. He stared at the vault and at the paper ... and, then, of a sudden, he understood-the combination had been changed.... Why-by whom, did not matter now. Enough, that behind that iron door the Book was surely lying, and he powerless to obtain it.... Well, so be it-he must chance the risk; the reckless game had been forced upon him by his e

or opposite, in the Princess' suite, op

e said, dropping hi

hand; then motioned behind him. "Who occ

al Highness," she answer

rgot. Colonel Moore has plea

ousehold and Moore was her most persistent suitor. She made no p

d, "yet they won't be his for lon

driving her to the choice bet

ed her e

lord," she answered, looking

fear me, when my other comes, the dashing Colonel

ighness," she retorted. "When you move in, Colone

ds to the Regent, as though he had actually struck her in the face. And, for a little while

or," his voice soft and very kind-"I shall s

r Highness has been seeing to that with fine success, these many

lout Ferdinand of Lotzen to his face. His mouth hardened. Damn the woman who played with statecraft-who meddled with the things she knew nothing of-who would impose

purs sounded on the stairway, and th

ooking at His late Majesty's portrait; I wish to have a copy made-the door was open, so I assumed I might go in," and with a pleasant smi

after him t

are you up to now," he muttered; "and wh

corridor Moore m

ther away?" he asked, sweep

swered, making to pass by,

ell me that so often-have so

d! which heart? An Irishman has a hundr

illion hearts-and the

arasol to the wall, and

hearts has s

y. "None-none-not the

nd tightened the bow of

he smiled-"another man--" and the merry e

e man-and s

"And does she know, also, you

at, too-and likes

ttle-as it should be.... My par

pt hi

aid; "I don't know why I

s. "Nor I why I walk-the way is surel

p and down t

"I believe that hat is so big I

e sun-shade an

-and I believe you actual

, and drew the circle

ent on, "but I think, if you don't struggle

y toward her-

cease this foolishness ...

not a

exclaimed, "a

is head an

er. She lifted her skirts with both hands, and backed do

e halted at the top; "I n

pt me once too often.... Here, take your su

him a kiss from her finger tips-"and you take that-I

hers?" h

raising the parasol s

ts," she answered, and r

corridor, had caught, in a mirror, the reflection of

y picture," he said, as they met; "and most cha

ent red as flame, as

experienced judge," and dropping the parasol in his fa

h while-he must take a hand in the Irishman's game-that hair, those e

rd the terrace and to business. He had learned of the alfresco luncheon near the pergo

tched her lavish upon Armand the adorable smile that should have been his; and knew, afresh, that, come what may, the glorious woman yonder was lost to him forever-his anger welled so high he

ssed; and again he was the man of cold, calm hate and ruthless purpose. So he turned aside, and to his enemies-her and the foreigner-deliberating how

face to his part, and made his answer, and went his way; whistling softly, and all unknowingly, a little

im whose the song was, and where

, "an omen! On to Lotzen