Hillars; you are a brave gentleman!"
The door closed and the vehicle sped away into the darkness.
I stood looking after it, bewildered. Her last words were spoken in
pure English.
With the following evening came the dinner; and I as a guest, a
nervous, self-conscious guest, who started at every footstep. I was
presented to the King, who eyed me curiously. Seeing that I wore a
medal such as his Chancellor gives to men who sometimes do his country
service, he spoke to me and inquired how I had obtained it. It was an
affair similar to the Balkistan; only there was not an army, but a mob.
The Princess was enchanting. I grew reckless, and let her read my eyes
more than once; but she pretended not to see what was in them. At
dinner a toast was given to his Majesty. It was made with those steins
I showed you, Jack.
The Princess said softly to me, kissing the rim of the stein she held:
"My toast is not to the King, but to the gentleman!" I had both steins
bundled up and left with the host, together with my address.
It was not long after that the eventful moment for our flight arrived.
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