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"Say it!"

"That I had not been--offended!" she gasped, standing stiff and straight, with eyes glued upon the obedient guard

"You were not?" he rapturously cried

"I said it only to save your life!" she cried, turning fiercely upon hio--you must leave here at once! Do you hear? I cannot have you near iven you the right to say of me?"

"Stop! It is as sacred as--"

"Yes, yes--I understand! I trust you, but you o to-day! Go now!" she cried, intensely, first putting her hands to her te to hear his relided swiftly toward the curtains, allowing him to follow at his will Dazed and crushed at the sudden end to everything, he dragged his footsteps after At the door she spoke in low, imperative tones to the motionless Allode, who dropped to his knees and muttered a reverential response As Lorry passed beneath the hand that held the curtain aside, he glanced at the face of thestraight ahead, and, from his expression, it could not have been detected that he knew there was a man on earth save himself In the hall she turned to hiuards about me now Allode has said he did not see you in the throne room He will die before he will say otherwise," she said, her lips tre with shame

"By your command?"

"By my request I do not command my men to lie"

Side by side they passed down the quiet hall, silent, thoughtful, the strain of death upon their hearts

"I shall obey the only coiven, then This day I leave the castle You will let ain--to see you? There can be no harm--"

"No! You must leave Graustark at once!" she interrupted, the tones low

"I refuse to go! I shall re as I feel that I may be of service to you"

"I cannot drive you out as I would a thief," she said, pointedly

At the top of the broad staircase he held out his hand and hness!"

"Good-by," she said, si her hand in his after a moment's hesitation Then she left hiely subdued, the other curious, excited and ie Count Halfont ith the them to re Lorry assured hih on the Court's hospitality, and that he would feel uish looked narrowly at his friend's face, but said nothing He was beginning to understand