r the surface of the pearl was
sufficient; he swallowed it in a gulp! For a double reason, Count, there
should be a cur quartered on the royal arms of this country after
to-night."

His voice dropped off into silence. The carriage containing madame had
swung out through the gateway, and its shadow no longer blotted the
broad, unbroken space of moonlit avenue. He turned and looked far out,
over the square of the Aquisola, along the light-lined esplanade, to the
palace gates and the fluttering flag that streamed against the sky above
and beyond them.

"Oh, Mauravania!" he said. "An Englishman's heritage! Dear country, how
beautiful! My love to your Queen--my prayers for you."

"Monsieur!" exclaimed the Count, "monsieur, what juggle is this? Your
face is again the face of that other night--the face that stirs memory
yet does not rivet it. Monsieur, speak, I beg of you. What are you? Who
are you?"

"Cleek," he made answer. "Just Cleek! It will do. Oh, Mauravania, dear
land of desolated hopes, dear grave of murdered joys!"

"Monsieur!"

"Hush! Let me alone. There are things too sacred; and this--" His
hands reached outward as if in benediction; his face, upturned, was as a
face transfigured, and something that shone as silver gleamed in the
corner of his eye. "Mauravania!" he said. "Oh, Mauravania! My
country--my people--good-bye!"

"Monsieur! Dear Heaven--_Majesty!_"

Then came a rustling sound, and when Cleek had mastered himself and
looked down, a figure with head uncovered knelt on one knee at his feet.

"Get up, Count," he said, with a little shaky laugh. "I appreciate the
honour, but--your fancy is playing you a trick. I tell you I never set
foot in Mauravania before, my friend."

"I know--I know. How should you. Majesty, when it was as a child at
Queen Karma's breast Mauravania last saw--Don't leave like this!
Majesty! Majesty! 'God guard the right'--the pearl and the kingdom are
here."

"Wrong, my good friend. The kingdom is there--where you found me--in
England; and so, too, is the pearl. For there is no kingdom like the
kingdom of love, no pearl like a good woman. Good night, Count, and
many thanks for your hospitality. You are a little upset to-night, but
no doubt you will be all right again in the morning. I will walk to the
station and--alone, if it is all the same to you."

"Majesty!"

"Dreams, Count, dreams. The riddle is solved, my friend. Good luck to
your country and--good-bye!"

And, se