signify. I am an Englishman and can scramble out of the mess somehow. For these men here there is no great danger either. Old Kolfort won't deal harshly with servants who can plead that I forced them into it. But with you it is all different. You are an officer, and to fight against the troops is an act of deadly treason—mutiny probably, punishable with Heaven knows what penalties. Now, as my friend, will you let me ask you to stay here and guard our interests in Sofia?"
He heard me impatiently and looked at me keenly.
"Are you serious, Count?" he asked.
"Yes, my friendship"
"Stop, please, or I may say something I should regret, Count," he broke in, bluntly. "I should not reckon that man a friend who would urge me to be a coward. Were you any other man I would not brook it once, and even you will put a strain on our friendship if you breathe a word of this again. We are wasting time. Let us to horse. I have not deserved this of you, Count, and if I thought I had I'd shoot myself for a cur. Are you the only man that can love the Princess?"
"Forgive me, friend. I beg your pardon," I cried, vastly moved by his words; and I held out my hand.
"I am no rival of yours," he said earnestly, as he wrung it. "But if a hair of her head be injured I will know by whom, and if it does not go hard with him I am no man. Come, I am hot to be away."
As we were mounted, Spernow dashed up on horse-*back, pale of face and wild of manner.
"Nathalie has gone, too," he exclaimed, and I told him very briefly what we believe had occurred.
In another minute we started, riding in couples and
