he meaning of the prophetic
words.

With a profound bow to the lady and a leer for King, he departed,
bolting the door behind him. Instantly King was at her side.

"An idea has come to me," he whispered eagerly. "I think I see a way. By
George, if it should only happen as I hope it may!"

"Tell me!" she insisted.

"Not now. I must think it all out carefully. It won't do to get your
hopes up and then fail."

Whatever the thought was that had come to him, it certainly had put new
life and hope into him. She nibbled at the unwholesome food, never
removing her eyes from his tall, restless figure as he paced the floor,
his brows knit in thought. Finally he sat down beside her, calmly
helping himself to a huge slice of bread and a boiled carrot.

"I've never liked carrots before. I love 'em now. I'm taking them for my
complexion."

"Don't jest, Mr. King. What is it you intend to do? Please tell me. I
must know. You heard what he said about taking me to the Count's. He
meant Marlanx. I will die first."

"No. I will die first. By the way, I may as well tell you that I wasn't
thinking altogether of how we are to escape. There was something else on
my mind." He stopped and looked at her puzzled face. "Why should I save
you from Marlanx just to have you hurry off and get married to Vos Engo?
It's a mean thought, I know," hastily, "and unworthy of a typical hero,
but, just the same, I hate to think of you marrying some one--else."

"Some one else?" she questioned, a pucker on her forehead.

"Oh, I know I wouldn't have a ghost of a chance, even if there wasn't a
Vos Engo. It isn't that," he explained. "I recognise the--er--difference
in our stations and--"

"Are you crazy, Mr. King?"

"Not now. I was a bit touched, I think, but I'm over it now. I dare say
it was caused by excessive reading of improbable romances. Life rather
takes it out of a fellow, don't you know. It's all simple enough in
books, but in--"

"What has all this got to do with your plan to escape?"

"Nothing at all. It merely has to do with my ambition to become a true
hero. You see, I'm an amateur hero. Of course, this is good practice for
me; in time, I may become an expert and have no difficulty in winning a
duchess or even a princess. Don't misunderstand me. I intend to do all I
can toward rescuing you to-night. The point I'm trying to get at is
this: don't you think it's pretty rough on a hero to save the girl for
some other fellow to snap up a