The Lighted Match

"I fancy," he told himself, "he will go to the Countess. I fancy she

will corroborate me--and then--!" He dismissed the matter with his

habitual shrug.

* * * * *

Two weeks had passed since the tragedy in Stamboul, and the Isis

cruised aimlessly westward. The Mediterranean stretched to the horizon,

so placid that the froth from the wake washed languidly, almost

lifelessly, on the surface, and a single cloud hung stationary in the

softer blue of the sky. Wrapped in a steamer rug, her figure, more

slender in the simple lines of her black gown, Cara sat gazing toward

the receding coast-line of Malta. So she had spent most of the hours

since they had weighed anchor at Constantinople. On the deck at her feet

sat Benton.

At Piræus Von Ritz had secured a copy of the Figaro several days old,

and the men had read its report of the Regency of Louis in Puntal. Then

the yacht had called at Malta where the gray fortresses of Valetta frown

out to sea, and Von Ritz had once more gone in quest of news.

That had been yesterday. By common consent the two men refrained from

allusions to State matters in the girl's presence. Now the former

adviser of the King uneasily paced the deck. Over his usually

sphinx-like face brooded the troubled expression of one who confronts an

unwelcome necessity. Suddenly he halted before the girl's deck-chair,

and, schooling his voice with an apparent effort, spoke in his old-time

even modulation, but for once he found it difficult to meet the eyes of

the person he addressed.

"We have heretofore not spoken of things which we would all give many

years of life to forget," he began. Then he added with feeling: "Only

the sternest necessity could force me to do so now."

As he paused for permission to continue, the girl raised her eyes with a

sad smile that had grown habitual.

"I have come," said Von Ritz, "to stand for an implacable Nemesis to

you, and yet I should wish to be identified only with happiness in your

thoughts. To me one thing always comes first. The House of Galavia is my

gospel; has been my gospel since Karyl's father mounted its throne." He

paused and added gravely: "Louis Delgado has reaped his reward--he is

dead."

Benton's voice broke out in an explosive "Thank God!"

Von Ritz stood a moment silent, then, dropping to one knee, he took the

fingers which fell listlessly over the arm of Cara's steamer-chair and

raised them to his lips.