An Imperial Marriage

nd three men there, two o

is here?" aske

aid, and t

see him

Dormund sat with von Felsen. "Some of

ble, the visit was a rare stroke of luck. He had left word where he was to be found, and

minute later he and the others had left

ormund has been recalled to his o

satisfied that it was your sister whom he sa

k it wasn

aliciously. "He describ

ght I had mis

is dark," he repl

might have been doing a good turn for any

know what

hraim Ziegler's

e you dr

r to my turn to l

arply. "You helped her to get out of Dormund's clutc

ere you going to gain by putting Dormund on the track? I want the truth, you know. Suppo

ur own business,"

If you don't I shall turn hunter myself, with you as the quarry. You are not worth quarrelling with

He started nervously as he read it, changed colour

hat's one reason why I want to know your reason for what you are doing against Fr?ulein Althea. You p

ny reply to make to my jibe. He dropped back into his seat and s

getting to be my turn to laugh. But I'm ready to come to an understan

with an oath. Then he laughed and

t wa

to seem to wish it. I

listically," I retorted drily

ime comes. I've no choice"; and he

h you to marry a poor gi

to do it, what d

ose. "We'll call a halt on both sides. I shan't talk so long as

ould play pretty safely, and his change of manner on reading the letter had convinced

She loved him--Heaven knows there is no accounting for the vagaries of

t. Not if the Emperor himself and the whole Court were set upon it. What the real reason might be

thea to leave the house, and elated with my

or, and was sitting by the window buried in thought, her

ooked round hurriedly. "I am afr

ook for some place to which I can go on leaving here. She declares she w

oided that, indeed, for fear lest some sign of my love for her should escape me. While she remained in our care I could not, of course, give e

ly it will not be necessary for either

ve been able to help me yet further. Te

describe von Felsen's trick of bringing Dormund to the house, and how

e will marry

father, and that the Jew holds h

and then shook her head. "Will you tel

him?" I asked

am bound to tell you everything. I am sure you will not betray me?" S

at the contact. "I

; and you know the dream of every Pole--national independence. We have been foully wronged, and deep down in every Polish heart burns the desire for retribution. In that I, too, am a true Pole." Her eye

ve part in any movement, sur

scious of the wrong they have done us that that very knowledge urges them farther along the road of oppression. I am my father's daughter and so am suspect. But I have not plotted, as

venture to

urselves with every disaffected element in the Empire, to stir discontent, to band together every section of malcontents

ture to remain h

er hand on my arm. "No, Mr. Bastable, we Poles are

ake that mistak

know. I would trust my life to you. I have never in

voice, averting my eyes that she might

nd my heart was beating so lustily t

y concerned?" I asked, to

brooded so long upon his wrongs that his mind has been affected. He was then indeed an enemy to be counted with, but he is no more his old self. Things are done in his name because of the influence he once wie

the

p. "Failure, of course, with its accompaniment of m

yours

Besides, have I not found a friend in

end see you safe out of the co

fly; but if ever it should come to that and

cried, all my heart in my voic

Herr Bastable," s

d you," she said. "Glad because it is good to share confidence with a friend, and glad, too, because you will see why it is not right for me to

l not le

of it. And yet why should I hesitate? You will understand now. I would gladly stay, ah, so gladly! But I have had to l

nsider you," I b

ny discordant note from you. You are not angry that I sp

hat I said it, sin

otives would drive me to leave you at once. You will think it str

he have anything to do

that he wishes to make me his--his wife." Her

el

friend I ever had, am I not? To one who understands that I have to think of both those who love and trust to me--my father and Chalice? You w

I would I could not make

econcilables. And by the influence of his father, the Count von Felsen, a pardon for my father can be obtained, and o

use. "There is the

that which baffles me," she repli

that what he has

st before this attempt to arrest me, he urged me vehemently to marry him at once and secretly. I would not; I could not, I despise h

ndrel," I

e sighed heavily. "It is my turn to-day, to-morrow it will be Chalice's, and

"If there were a way

second, and then fell again.

that. Will you let

mpulsively. "With all my

I rose. "We are a long way from being beaten yet. But you must let me t

that freely. But the power

, with a very official

this for you, Paul, as I was co

the following morning with von Felsen's father. As I slipped i

with a smile: "I think it should

place for us to go to,

at all, Bess, and certai

do you

rything," and with that I went of