The Dark Star

"I'm a scandal; I know it," he admitted, as the car swung into the rue

Soleil d'Or.

The Princess turned to the drooping girl beside her and laid a gloved

hand lightly on her shoulder.

"My dear," she said gently, "there is only one chance for you, and if

we let it pass it will not come again--under military law."

Ilse lifted her head, held it high, even tilted back a little.

The Princess said: "Twenty-four hours will be given for all Germans to leave France.

But--you took your nationality from the man you married. You are

American."

The girl flushed painfully: "I do not care to take shelter under his name," she said.

"It is the only way. And you must get to the coast in my car. There is

no time to lose. Every vehicle, private and public, will be seized for

military uses this morning. Every train will be crowded; every foot of

room occupied on the Channel boats. There is only one thing for you to

do--travel with me to Havre as my American maid."

"Madame--would you do that--for me?"

"Why, I've got to," said the Princess Mistchenka with a shrug. "I am

not a barbarian to leave you to a firing squad, I hope."

The car had stopped; the chauffeur descended and came around to open

the door.

"Caron," said the Princess, "no servants are stirring yet. Take my

key, find a cloak and bring it out--and a coat for Monsieur

Neeland--the one that Captain Sengoun left the other evening. Have you

plenty of gasoline?"

"Plenty, madame."

"Good. We leave for Havre in five minutes. Bring the cloak and coat

quickly."

The chauffeur hastened to the door, unlocked it, disappeared, then

came out carrying a voluminous wrap and a man's opera cloak. The

Princess threw the one over Ilse Dumont; Neeland enveloped himself in

the other.

"Now," murmured the Princess Naïa, "it will look more like a late

automobile party than an ambulance after a free fight--if any early

servants are watching us."

She descended from the car; Ilse Dumont followed, still clasping the

cat under her cloak; and Neeland followed her.

"Be very quiet," whispered the Princess. "There is no necessity for

servants to observe what we do----"

A small and tremulous voice from the head of the stairs interrupted

her: "Naïa! Is it you?"

"Hush, Ruhannah! Yes, darling, it is I. Everything is all right and

you may go back to bed----"