She caught and checked a horrid arraignment of herself.  Such conditions as Neenah presented were not unknown to her.  With the swiftness of lightning, she recalled the things that had been said of more than one grand dame in Europe—­aye, of women at her own court.  Even a princess she had known who—­but for shame! she cried in her heart.  It could not be!  Despite herself, a cruel, distressing shyness came over her as he approached, his eyes glowing with the light she feared yet craved.  Was this man to remain in her life? Was he? Would he come to her and wage the unfair war?  Was he honest?  Was he even now coveting her as other men had coveted the women she knew and despised?  She found herself confronted by the shocking conviction that he knew she could never be his wife.  He knew she was to wed another, and yet—­It was unbelievable!

She met his eager advance with a quick, shrill laugh of defiance, and noted the surprise in his eyes.  Dim as the light was, she could have sworn that the look in those eyes was honest.  Ah, that silly Neenah!  The reaction was as sudden as the revolt had been.  Her smile grew warm and shy.

“Von Blitz has been here,” he was saying, half diffidently, still searching deep in her eyes.  “He’s played hob.  And he’s likely to return at any minute.”

“Then let us go quickly.  I have no desire to meet the objectionable Mr. Von Blitz.  Isn’t it dreadfully dangerous here, Mr. Chase?” He mistook the slight tremour in her voice for that of fear.  A quaint look came into his face, the lines about the corners of his mouth drooping dolefully.

“Mr. Chase?” he said, with his winning smile.  “Now?”

“Yes, now and always, Mr. Chase,” she said steadily.  “You know that it cannot be otherwise.  I can’t always be a fool.”

His face turned a deep red; his lips parted for retort to this truculent estimate, but he controlled himself.

“Yes, it is dangerous here,” he said quietly, answering her question.  “As soon as Selim bars that door upon the inside, we’ll go.  I was a fool to bring you here.”

“How could you know what the dangers would be?” she asked.

“I’ll confess I didn’t expect Von Blitz,” he said drily.

“But you did expect—­” she began, with a start, biting her lips.

“There’s a vast difference between expectation and hope, Princess.”  Neenah had joined Selim at the door when the men re-entered the chamber.  Now she was approaching with her husband.

“May Allah bless you and profit for Himself, excellencies,” said the good Selim.  Neenah plainly had advanced her suspicions to the brown body-servant.  Genevra blushed and then her eyes blazed.  She gave the girl a scornful look; Neenah smiled happily, unreservedly in return.

“Allah help us, you should say, if Von Blitz returns,” interposed Chase hastily.  “Is the door barred?”

“No, excellency.  The bars have sprung, I cannot drop them in place.  As you know, the lock has been blown away.  The charge sprung the bolts.  We must go at once.”