Part 54 (2/2)

There wasof a new day; would her eyes behold its setting? What thoughts would be in her brain as the golden light faded once ht?

She turned from thesharply as she heard quick footsteps in the corridor

Long hours had she waited for them, and now they had come Her heart see taken one hurried step toward the door, she paused as it opened, and Des forward to thisit had seemed to Frina Mavrodin that in it her life must reach a crisis; but the reality fitted none of her preconceived notions of what thiswould be like Ellerey's dress was travel-stained; there was a rent in his sleeve, and he looked as though he had cole She noted all this, but it was the expression on his face which fixed her attention It was stern, unyielding, desperate; and her frah she were angry at his intrusion

”The Princess, Countess?” said Ellerey

”Is sleeping,” she answered

”I would see her”

”She has need of your counsel Come”

She swept past hi at him even, and led the way

Dumitru stood at the door, doubly alert at the sound of approaching footsteps One hand was thrust inside his cloak, and it was easy to guess what his fingers played with there He smiled as he saho the newcomer was

”Welcome, Captain,” he whispered

”Is all well?”

”Sleeping,” was the loer

Frina opened the door softly, and then she motioned Ellerey to enter; but he came no farther than the threshold The Princess lay on a couch sleeping peacefully, drea pleasantly it may be, for her lips were half parted in a sers thrust through her bright curls, and over her feet Hannah had spread a leopard-skin rug A lalow froazed upon the sleeper, taking in the whole picture

”Shall I wake her?” asked Frina ”No, let her sleep awhile,” said Ellerey, as he went back into the corridor Then he turned to Dumitru

”Is there a way of escape open?”

”Yes”

”When will you go?”

”When the Princess commands, unless it should be necessary suddenly,”

Du ill letof the tale which had been told concerning the Countess

Frina had closed the door and stood beside them, but she did not speak

As Ellerey turned and showed that he had no other question to ask Dumitru, she led the way back, but at the door of her room she paused

”You have come to protect the Princess, Captain Ellerey You are welcome Use my house and ive me leave to speak to you a few moments? You must”