“Prince,” I replied earnestly, “I as their ambassador as one of their leaders, appeal to you to know and to protect them.  They can defend themselves at need, and, it may be, might prevail though matched one against a thousand.  For their weapons are those against which no distance, no defences, no numbers afford protection.  But in such a strife many of their lives must be lost, and infinite suffering and havoc wrought on foes they would willingly spare.  They are threatened with extermination by secret spite or open force; but open force will be the last resort of enemies well aware that those who strike at the Star have ever been smitten by the lightning.”

A slight change in his countenance satisfied me that the Emblem was not unknown to him.

“You say,” he replied, “that there is an organised scheme to destroy these people by force or fraud?”

“The scheme, Prince, was confessed in my own hearing by one of its instruments; and in proof thereof, my own life, as a Chief of the Order, was attempted this morning.”

The Prince sprang to his feet in all the passion of a man who for the first time receives a personal insult; of an Autocrat stung to the quick by an unprecedented outrage to his authority and dignity.

“Who has dared?” he said.  “Who has taken on himself to make law, or form plans for carrying out old law, without my leave?  Who has dared to strike at the life over which I have cast the shadow of my throne?  Give me their names, my guest, and, before the evening mist closes in to-morrow, pronounce their doom.”

“I cannot obey your royal command.  I have no proof against the only man who, to my knowledge, can desire my death.  Those who actually and immediately aimed at my life are shielded by the inviolable weakness of sex from the revenge and even the justice of manhood.”

“Each man,” returned the Prince, but partially conceiving my meaning, “is master at home.  I wish I were satisfied that your heart will let you deal justly and wisely with the most hateful offspring of the most hateful of living races—­a woman who betrays the life of her lord.  But those who planned a general scheme of destruction—­a purpose of public policy—­without my knowledge, must aim also at my life and throne; for even were their purpose such as I approved, attempted without my permission, they know I would never pardon the presumption.  I do not sit in Council with dull ears, or silent lips, or empty hands; and it is not for the highest more than for the lowest under me to snatch my sceptre for a moment.”

“Guard then your own,” I said.  “Without your leave and in your lifetime, open force will scarcely he used against us; and if against secret murder or outrage we appeal to the law, you will see that the law does justice?”

“I will,” he replied; “and I pardon your advice to guard my own, because you judge me by my people.  But a Prince’s life is the charge of his guards; the lives of his people are his care.”