His expression was like a death-mask, his brows drawn tight in a little
frown and his jaw rigid.

'Madam,' he said, 'I ask you to tell your business quick and to tell it
in English. My friends must hear it as well as me.'

'Your friends!' she cried. 'What has a prince to do with these
hirelings? Your slaves, perhaps, but not your friends.'

'My friends,' Sandy repeated grimly. 'You must know, Madam, that I am
a British officer.'

That was beyond doubt a clean staggering stroke. What she had thought
of his origin God knows, but she had never dreamed of this. Her eyes
grew larger and more lustrous, her lips parted as if to speak, but her
voice failed her. Then by an effort she recovered herself, and out of
that strange face went all the glow of youth and ardour. It was again
the unholy mask I had first known.

'And these others?' she asked in a level voice.

'One is a brother officer of my regiment. The other is an American
friend. But all three of us are on the same errand. We came east to
destroy Greenmantle and your devilish ambitions. You have yourself
destroyed your prophets, and now it is your turn to fail and disappear.
Make no mistake, Madam; that folly is over. I will tear this sacred
garment into a thousand pieces and scatter them on the wind. The
people wait today for the revelation, but none will come. You may kill
us if you can, but we have at least crushed a lie and done service to
our country.'

I would not have taken my eyes from her face for a king's ransom. I
have written that she was a queen, and of that there is no manner of
doubt. She had the soul of a conqueror, for not a flicker of weakness
or disappointment marred her air. Only pride and the stateliest
resolution looked out of her eyes.

'I said I came to offer terms. I will still offer them, though they
are other than I thought. For the fat American, I will send him home
safely to his own country. I do not make war on such as he. He is
Germany's foe, not mine. You,' she said, turning fiercely on me, 'I
will hang before dusk.'

Never in my life had I been so pleased. I had got my revenge at last.
This woman had singled me out above the others as the object of her
wrath, and I almost loved her for it.

She turned to Sandy, and the fierceness went out of her face.

'You seek the truth,' she said. 'So also do I, and if we use a lie it
is only to break down a greater. You are of my household in spirit,
and you alo