slope of the pine wood just above the Ingern precipice. She swears he
meant to kill them!'

'She was frightened. That's all.'

'It was about a certainty they'd be dashed to pieces. And look here----'
the young fellow looked oddly at Rallywood, 'she hinted that the
Count----'

'Nonsense!' Rallywood forced a laugh. 'She was badly frightened, I tell
you.'

'I'll take my oath there's something in it though! She refuses to let us
take her back to the Castle to-night.'

'What have you given them--tea or anything?'

'Faith, no! I made them each take a nip of _bizutte_--far better, too.
But we'll have some tea made now if you think they would like it.'

'Of course. It will give them something to do. By the way, you might as
well ask them if they would see me.'

On second thought and in view of the Countess's refusal to go back to
Sagan, he felt he must offer his assistance.

'Yes, ask them if they will see me now,' he continued, looking at his
watch; 'I have not much time to spare.'

The next moment Isolde's high sweet voice could be heard distinctly
through the open door.

'Captain Rallywood! Pray tell him we should like to see him.'

Madame de Sagan was lying on a narrow camp bed supported by wraps and
pillows, a brilliant red spot on each cheek, and her eyes darker than
ordinary under the influence of the alternate fright and stimulation of
the last two hours. She waited till the door was shut, then she put out
both hands to Rallywood.

'Thank Heaven, we are safe and together again, Jack! Come here! I want
to know that you are alive and this is not all a dream,' she began
impulsively, yet behind the impulse lay a calculated design. She owed
her life to Valerie's courage, but that weighed as nothing in comparison
with the knowledge that in some indefinite manner the girl stood between
Rallywood and herself, that Rallywood for some reason held Valerie in
special regard.

Rallywood bowed, still standing by the door.

'Thank Heaven you are safe, Madame,' he said. 'I saw you somewhere this
side of the pine woods, but lost you in the mist.'

'Oh, I did not see you! I saw nothing after that murderer leaped off. I
had a horrible instant during which I imagined myself swinging between
the gorge and the sky--after that I knew no more!' exclaimed Isolde, a
sort of complacency mixing with her agitation. 'They tell me that
Valerie was very brave and that she saved our lives, but for me these
heroisms are impossible