"You know that
you lie."
The Prince's lips drew to a thin line, but that was all.
"Still, who will disprove it?" he asked.
"If you will allow me," said a voice behind us.
We beheld the Princess framed in the doorway. There was a pallor and a
look of utter weariness in her face. At the sight of her the Count
uncovered and the Prince rose.
"Your arrival is quite timely," said he. "Here are two champions of
yours. Come, which do you love?"
A fury sprang to my head, and I said, "You have too much confidence in
our patience. I warn you that I have no fear of the sabres back of
you."
The same sabres leapt from their scabbards and fell stiffly against
their owners' shoulders, instinctively.
"Has it come to this," said the Princess, a superb scorn in her eyes,
"that my honor must needs be defended by strangers and aliens?" For
the briefest space her glance plunged into my eyes. She moved toward
the Prince. "And you, sir, are to be my husband?"
"It is the will of the King," said the Prince, a mocking smile on his
lips.
How I lusted for his blood!
"And though my honor is doubtful," went on the woman I loved, "you
still would marry me?"
"Your Highness," said the Prince, with a bow which entailed the
sweeping of his hands, "I would marry you were your honor as--"
"Hell!" roared Hillars in English.
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