ably of those who are
helpless to resist or to resent. Therefore Count Sagan employed the
interval before going to the Palace to procure the signature of the Duke
to Rallywood's death-warrant in paying a flying visit to his wife, whom
he had not seen since the morning of the boar-hunt at the Castle.

He found several other people calling upon Madame de Sagan, who was not
fond of solitude. Numbers gave the pretty Countess courage. She took no
notice of her husband's entrance, although the soft colour left her face
instantly as a candle-flame is blown out. But Count Simon had only five
minutes to spare and something to say in them. Isolde's feeble rebellion
escaped him; he strode to her side, and with a single glance dispersed
the little coterie of guests about her, the only one who kept his
position being Baron von Elmur.

Sagan stood before his wife, an evil smile on his coarse bearded mouth.
He nodded at Elmur.

'I have news of interest for both of you.'

'Ah! it is over then?' Elmur asked at once. He discerned the Count's
intention and would have averted its fulfilment if possible. The thought
that he was about to make a woman unhappy never deterred Elmur from any
course of action whatsoever, but he preferred not to see them so. He
delighted in pretty women, and Isolde of Sagan was exceptionally pretty;
therefore, for the sake of the next half hour of her society he would
have spared her the tidings her husband's malice designed to thrust upon
her in public. Afterwards the deluge might come, but what matter? Have
we not all our deluges in private that submerge our world in tears?
'Madame has kindly promised to assist in the _tableaux vivants_ next
week,' he added hastily.

The Count grinned his contempt.

'You should reproduce the death of a traitor. Come to see Rallywood shot
in the morning by way of an object lesson.'

Madame de Sagan's hand flew to her throat with a quick gasp of horror;
for a second the room seemed to swing round, then slowly settle again.

'Why, what has he done?' she asked; her lips were dry but she spoke
deliberately.

'Nothing new, only he happened to be found out this time. Well, au
revoir!'

Elmur stood up and followed him.

'The signature of his Highness?' he asked in a low voice.

'I go to get it and other things also. I have arranged the interview
with Selpdorf.'

Elmur bowed and returned to his place by the side of the Countess.
Isolde's blue eyes, dewy as a child's with