Princess Zara

She thanked him, and was proceeding to explain some of the

circumstances which had brought us there when he stopped her with a

gesture.

"It is true that I do not understand," he said, "but Dubravnik is my

best friend and he will tell me all that is necessary to tell. In the

meantime, I am commanded by his majesty, the czar, to remain at the

palace for a few days. Let me entreat you to regard everything here as

your own."

"Twenty-four hours will suffice, prince," I said. "After that time the

princess can return in safety to her own home."

"Then, if you will excuse me," he murmured, bowing low over Zara's

hand, "I will proceed at once to the palace, where I am even now

expected. I will await you there, Dubravnik," he added, and the glance

that he cast upon me made me wonder if I had not, perhaps, trusted--or,

rather, tried--this chivalrous man too far, in taking the princess to

his house.

Zara saw and correctly interpreted the glance, for as he left the room

upon my assurance that I would follow him at once she put her hands in

mine and said: "Are you indeed assured of your own safety, Dubravnik? Ah, yes, I shall

always call you by that name. Are you assured of your own safety? Tell

me truly."

"Perfectly; and of yours, also. Have no fears."

Then I raised her hands to my lips, and kissed them both, first one and

then the other, again and again; and she, standing on tiptoe, pressed

her lips to my forehead.

"Love, honor, and obey," I murmured; and she repeated after me: "Love, honor, and obey."

Then I left her.

It was still early in the day, but at that time of the year darkness

settles over the earth while yet the day is young, and night was

already abroad in the streets. I had much to do ere the dawn of another

day, for the time had come when the power of the Fraternity of Silence

must be asserted; when I felt that the work that I had agreed to do for

the czar was nearly completed. My drag net was ready, and the time had

come to cast it.