"

"I am sorry to hear you talk like this," he answered. "The King has
not willingly affronted you. It was your brother to whom he owes his
throne. He has not forgotten it--he is never likely to forget it. He
regarded you both as his best friends here. As for Sara Van Decht, the
King would take no step without the sanction and consent of his
people. She will be one of the richest women in Europe, and the whole
of her dowry would be spent for the good of Theos. Even then if the
voice of the people were against it the King would yield. The one aim
of his life is the welfare of Theos and her people."

"So far in his care of them," she said, scornfully, "he has met with
but little success. When before have the Turks crossed the frontier of
our territory? When before have we been in such grievous straits as
these?"

"For these things," he answered, "the King is blameless. This invasion
of Theos is a long planned undertaking. Nothing could have stopped it.
I believe that no other man in the world would have met the situation
with so much skill and so resourcefully."

She was silent for a moment. Her very calmness seemed ominous. It
seemed to him that underneath she was trembling with passion.

"Marie," he said, "I wonder that you are so blinded by this senseless
prejudice against the King. But leave him for the moment out of the
question. You love your country. For centuries the name of your family
has been a great one in the history of Theos. Yet to-day both you and
your brother are making a terrible mistake. You are drifting towards
her enemies."

"Enough!" she cried. "I can see that you are still for the King."

"Most surely," he answered.

"You will not discontinue those letters?"

"No!"

She pointed to the door.

"Find your way out--if you can," she ordered, furiously. "I do not
care what becomes of you. Only leave me!"

He took a quick step towards her, and grasped her wrists.

"Marie," he said, with a sudden hoarse passion, "you can send me out
to be shot if you like, but you shall kiss me first."

Her anger passed away like magic. Her slender arms drew his face down
to hers. Her eyes were soft with tears.

"Dear," she murmured, "you shall not leave me like this. I thought
that you had come here to join us--because you knew that I wanted you.
And you speak only of the King as your friend--who is our enemy. Will
you not be reasonable? There are brighter days in store for Theos.
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