k to life from the clutches of pneumonia. There was
a doctor brought from Mezo Laborcz, who stayed in the castle for a week
until the danger point had passed, and then came every few days until
the patient was well upon the road to recovery. Marishka did not learn
of this until much later when, convalescent, she sat by the window,
looking out over the sunlit mountains beyond the gorge, and then in
wonder and something of disappointment that Goritz had not permitted her
to die. And when the old woman, who bore the name of Ena, related that
the Herr Hauptmann had himself driven the automobile which brought the
doctor in the dead of night to Szolnok, the wonder grew. Marishka had
learned to think of Goritz as one interested only in her death or
imprisonment, and after Sarajevo she had even believed that her life
while in his keeping had hung by a hair. He had killed Hugh, brought her
into this far country against her will, had even drugged her that he
might avoid a repetition of her attempt at escape. And now he was
sparing no pains to bring her back to health, daily sending her messages
of good will and good wishes, with flowers from the garden in the
courtyard, which, as Ena had reported, he had plucked with his own hand.
It was monstrous!

A few mornings ago he had written her a note saying that he awaited her
pleasure, craving the indulgence of a visit at the earliest moment that
she should care to see him. Marishka, much to Ena's chagrin, had sent no
reply. The very thought of kindness from such a man as Goritz--a
kindness which was to pay for Hugh's death and her favor, made a mockery
of all the beauties of giving--a mockery, too, of her acceptance of
them, whether tacitly or otherwise. A man who could kill without
scruple, a woman-baiter, courteous that he might be cruel, tolerant that
he might torment! By torture of her spirit and of her body he had
brought her near death that he might gain the flavor of saving her from
it.

He was of a breed of being with which her experience was unfamiliar. The
note of sentiment in his notes, while it amazed, bewildered and
frightened her a little. She was completely in the man's power. What was
Schloss Szolnok? Who was its owner? Ena would not talk; she had
received instructions. Before her windows was spread a wonderful vista
of mountains and ravines, which changed hourly in color, from the
opalescent tints of the dawn, through the garish spectrum of daylight to
the deep purp