h in me be affected by
this deeply-to-be-deplored incident. To do so would be to play into
the hands of those who have poisoned the mind of the Duke of Reist
against me. Give me your trust a little longer, I beg of you."

General Dartnoff stood in front of his officers, and he did not
hesitate. The cloud had passed from his face.

"Your Majesty," he said. "We accept. Yet with your permission I would
ask you this question. No man in Theos loves his country better than
Nicholas of Reist. If he should desire to recall his words----?"

The King held out his hand.

"I would offer it to him," he said, "as freely as I offer it now to
you."

The cloud passed in substance away. Metterbee--a senior
officer--respectfully intervened.

"Your Majesty," he said, "there is Reist's command."

The King looked around him.

"I am going to make one more demand upon your loyalty," he said
gravely. "General Dartnoff, it is my wish that you take over the
command of the Duke of Reist's corps. The chief command I am prepared
to assume in person."

General Dartnoff smiled.

"If your Majesty makes no more serious demands upon our loyalty than
this he will be well served," he answered. "There is no one more fit
to command than you, sir. The present admirable disposition of our
forces is yours, not mine; so far I have been no more than a
figurehead. Your plan of entrenchments has been a revelation to all of
us."

There arose a little murmur of approval. Reist's defection was
amazing, but this was the man who alone could save Theos. Ughtred felt
a glow of pride and gratitude as he shook hands with his chief
officers.

"And now, General," he said, "I must ask you to transfer your staff to
me in order that I may give some instructions. The Turkish lines are
clearly in view from our positions, I believe?"

The General bowed.

"We have reports every twenty minutes, your Majesty," he answered.
"Anything in the nature of a surprise is impossible."

"Very well," Ughtred said. "Now, General, will you let me have in the
course of half-an-hour an escort of two hundred picked men. I am going
to enter Solika."

Dartnoff dispatched an officer with instructions. Then he turned to
the King.

"Your Majesty is aware of the state of affairs within the walls?"

Ughtred nodded.

"Yes. I want the help of two or three residents of the city whose
loyalty is above suspicion. Can you point out such to me?"

"More than two or three, I think, your