ve themselves into a single, solid, uncompromising whole. Out
of the two grew an aggressive determination not to be thwarted. Love
and fear combined to give him strength; from his eyes fled the hopeless
look, from his brain the doubt, from his blood the chill.

"Quinnox, give me your hand--don't mind the blood! You have been my
friend, and you have served her almost to the death. I injured and would
have killed you in that cell, but it was not in anger. Will you be my
friend in all that is to follow?"

"She has said that she loves you," said the captain, returning the hand
clasp. "I am at your service as well as hers."

A few moments later Lorry was in her presence. What was said or done
during the half hour that passed between his entrance and the moment
that brought them side by side from the room need not be told. That the
interview had had its serious side was plain. The troubled, anxious eyes
of the girl and the rebellious, dogged air of the man told of a conflict
now only in abeyance.

"I will never give you up," he said, as they came from the door. A
wistful gleam flickered in her eyes, but she did not respond in words.

Near the head of the stairway an animated group of persons lingered.
Harry Anguish was in the center and the Countess Dagmar was directly in
front of him, looking up with sparkling eyes and parted lips. The Count
and Countess Halfont, Gaspon, the Baron Dangloss, the Duke of Mizrox,
with other ladies and gentlemen, were being entertained by the
gay-spirited stranger.

"Here he comes," cried the latter, as he caught sight of the approaching
couple.

"I am delighted to see you, Harry. You were the friend in need, old
man," said Lorry, wringing the other's hand. Yetive gave him her hand,
her blue eyes overflowing.

"Mr. Anguish had just begun to tell us how he--how he--" began Dagmar,
but paused helplessly, looking to him for relief.

"Go ahead, Countess; it isn't very elegant, but it's the way I said
it. How I 'got next' to Gabriel is what she wants to say. Perhaps
your Highness would like to know all about the affair that ended so
tragically. It's very quickly told," said Anguish.

"I am deeply interested," said the Princess, eagerly.

"Well, in the first place, it was all a bluff," said he, coolly.

"A what!" demanded Dagmar.

"Bluff," responded Harry, briefly; "American patois, dear Countess."

"In what respect," asked Lorry, beginning to understand.

"In all respects. I didn't