"James," she said, "you are behaving absurdly. That woman has nothing

to fear from me now, and she ought to know it!" And, as Ilse lifted

her head and stared at her: "Yes, you ought to know it!" she repeated.

"Your work is ended. It ended today at sunrise. And so did mine. War

is here. There is nothing further for you to do; nothing for me. The

end of everything is beginning. What would your death or mine signify

now, when the dawn of such a day as this is the death warrant for

millions? What do we count for now, Mademoiselle Minna Minti?"

"Do you not mean to give me up, madame?"

"Give you up? No. I mean to get you out of Paris if I can. Give me

your cat, mademoiselle. Please help her, James----"

"You--offer me your limousine?" stammered Ilse.

"Give that cat to me. Of course I do! Do you suppose I mean to leave

you in rags with your cat on the pavement here?" And, to Neeland:

"Where is Alak?"

"Gone home as fit as a fiddle. Am I to receive the hospitality of your

limousine also, dear lady? Look at the state I'm in to travel with two

ladies!"

The Princess Naïa's dark eyes glimmered; she tucked the cat

comfortably against her shoulder and motioned Ilse into the car.

"I'm afraid I'll have to take you, James. What on earth has happened

to you?" she added, as he put her into the car, nodded to the

chauffeur, and, springing in beside her, slammed the door.

"I'll tell you in two words," he explained gaily. "Prince Erlik and I

started for a stroll and landed, ultimately, in the Café des Bulgars.

And presently a number of gentlemen began to shoot up the place, and

Miss Dumont stood by us like a brick."

The Princess Mistchenka lifted the cat from her lap and placed it in

the arms of Ilse Dumont.

"That ought to win our gratitude, I'm sure," she said politely to the

girl. "We Russians never forget such pleasant obligations. There is a

Cossack jingle: "To those who befriend our friends

Our duty never ends."

Ilse Dumont bent low over the purring cat in her lap; the Princess

watched her askance from moment to moment, and Neeland furtively noted

the contrast between these women--one in rags and haggard disorder;

the other so trim, pretty, and fresh in her morning walking suit.




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