The Lighted Match

Manuel dropped on one knee. At a gesture from Cara he rose and waited

for her to speak. Karyl himself halted at the door for a moment, then

came slowly back into the room. He picked up from a tabouret a

decoration of the Star of Galavia, and, crossing over, pinned it to the

Spaniard's lapel.

"There!" he said, with a good-humored laugh. "You made me a somewhat

valueless present a few days back. You will find that equally useless,

Sir Manuel. You may tell Mr. Benton that I envy him such an ally."

With a bow to the Queen, the King left the apartment.

For a moment the girl stood at the door, with the same expression and

the same silence, unbroken by her since her entrance, then she turned to

the Spaniard and spoke directly. Her voice held a tremor.

"How is he?"

"I have not seen him since the day on the mountain," returned Manuel.

"He has, in you, a very true friend."

"Your Majesty, I am his servant," deprecated the toreador.

"If I had friends like you," she smiled, "it would matter little what

they called themselves. And yet, if there is but one like you, I had

rather that that one be with him. I want you to go to him now and remain

with him."

"Your Majesty, Señor Benton left me here to watch for recurring

dangers. I am now satisfied that nothing threatens, at least for the

present. I might, as Your Majesty suggests, better be with him."

"Yes--yes--with him!" she eagerly agreed; then her voice took on the

timbre of anxiety. "I am afraid. Sometimes I am afraid for him. He is

not a coward, but there are times when we all become weak. I appoint

you, Sir Manuel--" the girl smiled wanly--"I appoint you my Ambassador

to be with him and watch after him--and, Sir Manuel--" her voice shook a

little with very deep feeling--"I am giving you the office I had rather

have than all the thrones in Christendom! Will you accept it?"

She held out her hand, and taking it reverently in his own, the

Andalusian bowed low over it. He did not kneel, for now he was the

Ambassador in the presence of his Sovereign. "With all the Saints for my

witnesses," he declared fervently, "I swear it to Your Majesty."

There was gratitude in her eyes as they met the whole-heartedness of the

pledge in his. For a moment she seemed unable to speak, though there was

no dimness of tear-mist in her pupils. She stood very upright and

silent, and her breathing was deep. Then slowly her hands came up and

loosened the flower at her breast.

"The King has decorated you, Sir Manuel," she said. "I don't think Mr.

Benton would care for knighthood--and I could not confer it--but

sometime--not now--some day after you have both departed from Galavia,

give him this. Tell him it may have a message which I may not put in

words. If he can read the heart of a rose deeply enough, perhaps he can

find it there."