the jewels. If not, he
says I will die."

"Mercy on us!" Dickson exclaimed.

"There will be no mercy for us," she said solemnly. "He and his kind
think as little of shedding blood as of spilling water. But I do not
think he will kill me. I think I will kill him first, but after that I
shall surely die. As for Cousin Eugenie, I do not know."

Her level matter-of-fact tone seemed to Dickson most shocking, for he
could not treat it as mere melodrama. It carried a horrid conviction.
"We must get you out of this at once," he declared.

"I cannot leave. I will tell you why. When I came to this country I
appointed one to meet me here. He is a kinsman who knows England well,
for he fought in your army. With him by my side I have no fear. It is
altogether needful that I wait for him."

"Then there is something more which you haven't told us?" Heritage
asked.

Was there the faintest shadow of a blush on her cheek? "There is
something more," she said.

She spoke to Heritage in French, and Dickson caught the name "Alexis"
and a word which sounded like "prance." The Poet listened eagerly and
nodded. "I have heard of him," he said.

"But have you not seen him? A tall man with a yellow beard, who bears
himself proudly. Being of my mother's race he has eyes like mine."

"That's the man she was askin' me about yesterday," said Dougal, who
had squatted on the floor.

Heritage shook his head. "We only came here last night. When did you
expect Prince--your friend."

"I hoped to find him here before me. Oh, it is his not coming that
terrifies me. I must wait and hope. But if he does not come in time
another may come before him."

"The ones already here are not all the enemies that threaten you?"

"Indeed, no. The worst has still to come, and till I know he is here I
do not greatly fear Spidel or Leon. They receive orders and do not
give them."

Heritage ran a perplexed hand through his hair. The sunset which had
been flaming for some time in the unshuttered panes was now passing
into the dark. The girl lit a lamp after first shuttering the rest of
the windows. As she turned up the wick the odd dusty room and its
strange company were revealed more clearly, and Dickson saw with a
shock how haggard was the beautiful face. A great pity seized him and
almost conquered his timidity.

"It is very difficult to help you," Heritage was saying. "You won't
leave this place, and you won't claim the protecti