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She staggered to her feet and was in his arms before the breath of her exclamation had died away Had he not supported her she would have dropped to the floor Her hands, her face were like ice, her breast was pulseless and there was the wildest terror in her eyes

"My darling--my queen!" he cried, passionately "At last I am with you! Don't look at me like that! It is really I--I could not stay away--I could not permit this sacrifice of yours Speak to me Do not stare like that!"

Her wide blue eyes sloept his face, piteous wonder and doubt struggling in their depths

"A his face with her bewildered, questioning hands "Is it truly you?" A smile illumined her face, but her joy was short-lived An expression of terror caers that clasped his arm "Why do you come here?" she cried "It is hed like a delighted boy and hastily narrated the events of the past twenty-four hours, ending with the trick that gave him entrance to her room

"And all this to see me?" she whispered

"To see you and to save you I hear that Gabriel has been annoying you and that you are to give up half of the kingdo It is another reason forbeside him on the divan, she told of Gabriel's visit and his disht to convince him of the happiness it afforded her to protect him from an undeserved death He obtained for Quinnox the royal pardon and lauded hi were the moments, so ecstatic the sensations that possessed theht of the consequences if he were to be discovered in her rooot the real import of his reckless visit until she coht see what h, he leaped to his feet and stood before her--attention! She leaned back a, impassioned eyes which slowly closed as if to shut out temptation

"You are a perfect soldier," she said, her lashes parting ever so slightly

"No more perfect than you," he cried She re, but it was unkind of hihts into the channel through which they had been surging so turbulently up to theat her door