have improved upon knights errant of old," she said slowly. "You
seize your guerdon before paying your devoir." She pointed to the
chasm, which was about eight feet across at the spot where they were
standing. "Your lady waits, Sir Knight."

The Prince pushed his hand through his hair and laughed.

"Miss Wellington--indeed, indeed, I appreciate your humor. It is well
caught. That is to say--ha, ha! Your father will enjoy your wit."

"I am waiting," said the girl, as though she had not heard.
"Knights--and gentlemen do not take from women that which they are not
willing to pay for."

"But--" the Prince glanced at the yawning hole. "You surely jest.
Why, my dear lady!" The Prince involuntarily stepped backward.

Anne smiled maliciously. Her meaning was clear and the Prince flushed.

"What man would attempt it!" he exclaimed. "What man indeed," he
added, "save one who would throw away his life to no purpose. Come,
Miss Wellington, I am sure you do not seek my life."

"By no means," said the girl beginning to relent, but still enjoying
the success of her _coup_. "But really that is a small leap for a man.
My driver, I believe--" Her face suddenly lighted with a new
inspiration. Hastily she walked to the top of the bluff. "McCall,"
she cried. "Will you come here a minute?"

As the two arrived at the chasm, she nodded to the opposite side.

"If you cleared that would it be a remarkable leap?"

Armitage surveyed the gap with his eye, looked behind him and studied
the ground.

"Not especially, Miss Wellington, so far as distance is concerned." He
had done his nineteen feet in the running broad jump.

"Ah, just so," broke in the Prince. "It is the condition which would
follow a slip or mistake in judgment."

Anne shook her head impatiently at Koltsoff's obvious eagerness.

"I do not believe McCall thought of that; nervous systems vary in their
intensity."

Some part of the situation Armitage grasped. It was clear that for
some reason she had dared the Prince to make the jump and that he had
declined. The ground upon which they were standing was a few feet
above the rocks on the other side of the chasm and the three stood
about a dozen feet from the mouth.

She turned to Armitage.

"Am I right, or do you share Prince Koltsoff's psychological views?"

Koltsoff, who from the beginning had chafed at the position in which
she had placed him, pitting him against a servant, walked to one side
w