Part 90 (1/2)
Every atom of colour left her face, and her ashy lips parted.
Otherwise, she made no sign of fear, no movement.
There was a second's absolute silence; then the dark eyes of the Princess turned on Neeland.
”Good heavens, James!” she said. ”What has happened to you?”
”Nothing,” he said gaily, ”thanks to Miss Dumont----”
”To _whom_?” interrupted the Princess sharply.
”To Miss Dumont. We got into a silly place where it began to look as though we'd get our heads knocked off, Sengoun and I. I'm really quite serious, Princess. If it hadn't been for Miss Dumont--” he shrugged; ”--and that is twice she has saved my idiotic head for me,” he added cheerfully.
The Princess Naa's dark eyes reverted to Ilse Dumont, and the pallid girl met them steadily enough. There was no supplication in her own eyes, no shrinking, only the hopeless tranquillity that looks Destiny in the face--the gaze riveted unflinchingly upon the descending blow.
”What are _you_ doing in Paris at such a time as this?” said the Princess.
The girl's white lips parted stiffly:
”Do you need to ask?”
For a full minute the Princess bent a menacing gaze on her in silence; then:
”What do you expect from _me_?” she demanded in a low voice. And, stepping nearer: ”What have you to expect from anyone in France on such a day as this?”
Ilse Dumont did not answer. After a moment she dropped her head and fumbled with the rags of her bodice, as though trying to cover the delicately rounded shoulders. A shaft of sunlight, reflected from the obelisk to the fountain, played in golden ripples across her hair.
Neeland looked at the Princess Naa:
”What you do is none of my business,” he said pleasantly, ”but--” he smiled at her and stepped back beside Ilse Dumont, and pa.s.sed his arm through hers: ”I'm a grateful beast,” he added lightly, ”and if I've nine lives to lose, perhaps Miss Dumont will save seven more of them before I'm entirely done for.”
The girl gently disengaged his arm.
”You'll only get yourself into serious trouble,” she murmured, ”and you can't help me, dear Neeland.”
The Princess Naa, flushed and exasperated, bit her lip.
”James,” she said, ”you are behaving absurdly. That woman has nothing to fear from me now, and she ought to know it!” And, as Ilse lifted her head and stared at her: ”Yes, you ought to know it!” she repeated.
”Your work is ended. It ended today at sunrise. And so did mine. War is here. There is nothing further for you to do; nothing for me. The end of everything is beginning. What would your death or mine signify now, when the dawn of such a day as this is the death warrant for millions? What do we count for now, Mademoiselle Minna Minti?”
”Do you not mean to give me up, madame?”
”Give you up? No. I mean to get you out of Paris if I can. Give me your cat, mademoiselle. Please help her, James----”
”You--offer me your limousine?” stammered Ilse.
”Give that cat to me. Of course I do! Do you suppose I mean to leave you in rags with your cat on the pavement here?” And, to Neeland: ”Where is Alak?”
”Gone home as fit as a fiddle. Am I to receive the hospitality of your limousine also, dear lady? Look at the state I'm in to travel with two ladies!”