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"Surely she ency of quick action in this s to be kicked out of the castle We have a right to be treated fairly--"

"We cannot censure the Princess, Harry," said Lorry, calmly "We have come because ould befriend her, and she sees fit to reject our good offices There is but one thing left for us to do--depart as we carowled the other

"If you only knew, Mr Anguish, you would not be so harsh and unjust," re to Lorry she said: "She asked me to hand you this and to bid you retain it as a token of her undying esteem"

She handed hiold inlaid with rubies He took it duers, but dared not look at the portrait it contained With what ht have seemed disrespect he dropped the treasure into his coat pocket

"Tell her I shall always retain it as a token' of her--esteem," he said "And now may I ask whether she handed my note to her uncle, the Count?"

The Countess blushed in a most unaccountablethe presence of mind she apparently had lost

"She destroyed it, I presu harshly

"I saw her place it in her bosoht hand," cried the Countess, as if betraying a state secret

"In her--you are tellingup

"Now, see here, Lorry, don't begin to question the Countess's word I won't stand for that," interposed Anguish, good-humoredly

"I should beso absurd," said the Countess, indignantly

"Where is she now?" asked Lorry

"In her boudoir The Prince Lorenz is with her--alone"

"What!" he cried, jealousy darting into his existence He had never known jealousy before

"They are betrothed," said she, with an effort There was a dead silence, broken by Lorry's deep groan as he turned and walked blindly to the opposite side of the roo and stared at it, but did not see a line or a tint

"You don't uish

"Nothing less"

"Thank God, you are only a Countess," he said, tenderly

"Why--hat difference can it make! I mean, why do you say that?" she stammered, crimson to her hair

"Because you won't have to sell yourself at a sacrifice," he said, foolishly Lorry came back to them at this juncture, outwardly calm and deliberate