“I see,” said the other, but he did not see.

“So I’ve come to ask if it will be all right with you and her ladyship, sir.  We don’t want to do anything that would seem forward and out of place, sir.”

“It’s very considerate of you, Saunders; but what the devil are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you heard, sir?”

“That we are to die?  Certainly.”

“That’s not all, sir.  Miss—­Miss Pelham and I have decided to get—­er—­get married before it is too late.”

Deppingham stared hard for a moment and then grinned broadly.

“You mean, before you die?”

“That’s it exactly, my lord.  Haw, haw!  It would be a bit late, wouldn’t it, if we waited till afterward?  Haw, haw!  Splendid!  But seriously, my lord, we’ve talked it all over and it strikes us both as a very clever thing to do.  We had intended to wait till we got to London, but that seems quite out of the question now.  Unless we do it up pretty sharp, sir, we are likely to miss it altogether.  So I have come to ask if you think it will interfere with your arrangements if—­if we should be married to-night.”

“I’m sure, Saunders, that it won’t discommode me in the least,” said his lordship genially.  “By all means, Saunders, let it be to-night, for to-morrow we may die.”

“Will you kindly speak to her ladyship, sir?”

“Gladly.  And I’ll take it as an honour if you will permit me to give away the bride.”

“Thank you, my lord,” cried Saunders, his face beaming.  His lordship shook hands with him, whereupon his cup of happiness overflowed, notwithstanding the fact that his honeymoon was likely to be of scarcely any duration whatsoever.  “I’ve already engaged Mr. Bowles, sir, for half past eight, and also the banquet hall, sir,” he said, with his frank assurance.

“And I’ll be happy, Saunders, to see to the wedding supper and the rice,” said his lordship.  “Have you decided where you will go on your wedding journey?”

“Yes, sir,” said Saunders seriously, “God helping us, we’ll go to England.”

The wedding took place that night in the little chapel.  It was not an imposing celebration; neither was it attended by the gladsome revelry that usually marks the nuptial event, no matter how humble.  The very fact that these two were being urged to matrimony by the uncertainties of life was sufficient to cast a spell of gloom over the guests and high contracting parties alike.  The optimism of Hollingsworth Chase lightened the shadows but little.

Chase deliberately took possession of the Princess after the hollow wedding supper had come to an end.  He purposely avoided the hanging garden and kept to the vine-covered balcony overlooking the sea.  Her mood had changed.  Now she was quite at ease with him; the taunting gleam in her dark eyes presaged evil moments for his peace of mind.

“I’m inspired,” he said to her.  “A wedding always inspires me.”