Arms and the Woman

And the glamour fell away like the last leaves of the year.

I had to wake up the driver, who had fallen asleep.

"Where shall I say?" I asked.

"To your hotel. I shall give the driver the remaining instructions."

"But you haven't told me," said I, as I took my place in the carriage,

"how I am to become a guest at the dinner to-morrow evening."

"I spoke to the King this morning. I said that I had a caprice. He

replied that if I would promise it to be my last he would grant it. I

promised. I said that it was my desire to bring to the dinner a person

who, though without rank, was a gentleman--one who would grace any

gathering, kingly or otherwise. My word was sufficient. I knew before

I asked you that you would come. Twenty-four hours from now we, that

is, you and I, will be on the way to the French frontier. I shall be

ever in your debt."

Silence fell upon us. I knew that I loved her with a love that was

burning me up, consuming me. And the adventure was all so unheard of

for these prosaic times! And so full of the charm of mystery was she

that I had not been a man not to have fallen a victim. What

possibilities suggested themselves to me as on we rode! Once across

the frontier I should be free to confess my love for her. A Princess?

What of that? She would be only a woman--the woman I loved. I

trembled. Something might happen so that she would have to turn to me.

If the King refused to forgive her, she was mine! Ah, that plain

carriage held a wonderful dream that night. At length--too shortly for

me--the vehicle drew up in front of my hotel. As I was about to alight

her hand stretched toward me. But instead of kissing it, I pressed my

lips on her round white arm. As though my lips burned, she drew back.

"Have a care, monsieur; have a care," she said, icily. "Such a kiss

has to be won."

I stammered an apology and stepped out. Then I heard a low laugh.

"Good night, Mr. Hillars; you are a brave gentleman!"

The door closed and the vehicle sped away into the darkness.

I stood looking after it, bewildered. Her last words were spoken in

pure English.

With the following evening came the dinner; and I as a guest, a

nervous, self-conscious guest, who started at every footstep. I was

presented to the King, who eyed me curiously. Seeing that I wore a

medal such as his Chancellor gives to men who sometimes do his country

service, he spoke to me and inquired how I had obtained it. It was an

affair similar to the Balkistan; only there was not an army, but a mob.

The Princess was enchanting. I grew reckless, and let her read my eyes

more than once; but she pretended not to see what was in them. At

dinner a toast was given to his Majesty. It was made with those steins

I showed you, Jack.