“Forgive me for trespassing on your good nature tonight, your Highness.

“The five thousand gavvos shall be yours tomorrow, Captain Quinnox,” she said, graciously.  “You have done your duty well.”  The faithful captain bowed deep and low and a weight was lifted from his conscience.

“Gentlemen, the door,” he said, and without a word the trio left the room.  She closed the door and stood like a statue until their footsteps died away in the distance.  As one in a daze she sat at the desk till the dawn, Grenfall Lorry’s revolver lying before her.

Through the halls, down the stairs and into the clammy dungeon strode the silent trio.

But before Lorry stepped inside the cell Gabriel asked a question that had been troubling him for many minutes.

“I am afraid I have—­ah—­misjudged her,” muttered Gabriel, now convinced that he had committed himself irretrievably.

“You will find she has not misjudged you,” said the prisoner, grimly.  “Can’t I have a candle in here, captain?”

“You may keep this lantern,” said Quinnox, stepping inside the narrow cell.  As he placed the lantern on the floor he whispered:  “I will return in an hour.  Read this!” Lorry’s hand closed over the bit of perfumed paper.

The Prince was now inside the cell, peering about curiously, even timorously.  “By the way, your Highness, how would you enjoy living in a hole like this all your life?”

“Horrible!” said Gabriel, shuddering like a leaf.

“Then take my advice:  don’t commit any murders.  Hire some one else.”

The two men eyed each other steadily for a moment or two.  Then the Prince looked out of the cell, a mad desire to fly from some dreadful, unseen horror coming over him.

Quinnox locked the door, and, striking a match, bade His Highness precede him up the stone steps.

In the cell the prisoner read and reread the incoherent message from Yetive: 

“It is the only way.  Quinnox will assist you to escape to-night.  Go, I implore you; as you love me, go.  Your life is more than all to me.  Gabriel’s story will not be entertained and he can have no proof.  He will be torn to pieces, Quinnox says.  I do not know how I can live until I am certain you are safe.  This will be the longest night a woman ever spent.  If I could only be sure that you will do as I ask, as I beg and implore!  Do not think of me, but save yourself.  I would lose everything to save you.”

He smiled sadly as he burned the “pardon.”  The concluding sentences swept away the last thought he might have had of leaving her to bear the consequences.  “Do not think of me, but save yourself.  I would lose everything to save you.”  He leaned against the stone wall and shook his head slowly, the smile still on his lips.

XXV

“Because I love him”