laughed very softly.

"So far as I am concerned," she murmured, "you very soon had your
wish."

"It was very kind of you," he said, "to take pity upon me."

"I think that I wanted to talk to you again," she said. "I am tired of
all these people. Tell me, Mr. Brand, how long will you stay on in
Theos?"

"I am not sure," he answered, "perhaps a week, perhaps a month. It
depends upon my paper. They may recall me at any time."

She frowned, and stopped fanning herself.

"Why do you go back?" she said, abruptly. "Why do you not stay in
Theos?"

"There is no place here for me," he answered. "I am a stranger."

"You say," she continued, "that in your own country the limits of life
are being drawn closer. Why do you not make for yourself a career in a
country like this? Theos has need of such men as you."

He shook his head.

"Theos has her own sons to direct her future. I am a stranger."

"So is the King!"

"But he is a Tyrnaus. The people have chosen him for their King."

"You are his friend," she said, "and to you I may not say very much.
But he is young, and he may make mistakes. He comes of a family who
have done much evil here."

Brand was startled.

"I thought that you and your brother were his chief supporters," he
said. "People are saying, too----"

Her fan stopped. Brand hesitated.

"Please to go on," she said, imperiously.

"It is not my affair," he continued, awkwardly. "I ought not to have
alluded to it. But they are speaking of the possibilities of a
marriage between you and him."

The slow waving of white feathers recommenced. He felt that she was
looking at him; almost in spite of himself their eyes met. He looked
away with hot cheeks and burning eyes. Was this girl a trained
coquette, or----

"I do not think," she said, "that you need consider that. I do not
think that I shall ever marry Ughtred of Tyrnaus."

Despite himself he spoke the thoughts which had filled his mind.

"You," he said, "are ambitious. Have you no desire to be a queen?"

"I love power," she answered, "but I am a woman--and I do not wish to
marry Ughtred of Tyrnaus."

Brand told himself fiercely that he was a fool. Yet the music was
suddenly sweeter, his vague antipathy to the King had vanished into
thin air, the taste of life was sweeter between his teeth.

"You may think me mad," he said, "but I am--not sorry--to hear it."

There was a short silence. It was evident that if she thought him mad
she was not d