nd
withdrew. Charles looked up at Brilliana. "Sir Rufus will be loath to
lose his prey," he said. "He is a fierce hawk that clings to his
quarry."

"He was once my friend," Brilliana said, sadly. The King smiled his
melancholy smile.

"If I were in his place," he said, gravely, "I think I might be
tempted to play his part. You are a very fair maiden."

Brilliana shook her head. "The love that makes a man base is no good
love. He will never be my friend again."

"Here, as I think, he comes," Charles said. The door opened and Sir
Rufus entered the room. He was so amazed at facing Brilliana that for
a moment he forgot to render salutation to the King. Charles's eyes
brightened as they used to brighten at the playhouse. Here was a
living play being played before him, tragical, comical--man and woman
fighting for a man's life.

"Sir Rufus," he ordered, "send to our presence the prisoner, the
Parliament officer."

Rufus glanced at Brilliana's stern, averted face; he read something
like mockery on the thin, royal lips. For an instant he ventured to
protest.

"But, your Majesty--" he began, but he got no further. The King
checked him with a frown and a raised hand. It was easy to make him
obstinate in crossing a follower.

"You have heard my commands," he said, sternly.

Sir Rufus bowed his head and retreated. There was nothing else for
him to do. He just glanced at Brilliana as he went out. If Brilliana
had seen the glance she would have read his rage and hate in it. But
she did not see it, for her head was still averted. The King saw it,
however, and he felt that the situation was alive. He turned to
Brilliana.

"I am a complaisant monarch, as I think," he said. "Now, lady, do
your best to make your sweetheart see reason. Honestly, I do not
think he is worth so many words, but you think otherwise, and for
your sake I wish you a winning tongue."

Brilliana bowed deeply. "I humbly thank your Majesty," she said, and
felt that the King had done much for her. From offering the
impossible he had come to offering the possible. It seemed a little
task to persuade a lover committed to a wrongful cause to lay aside
his sword and wait the issue.

The King's eyes had fallen on his papers again, and he did not lift
them thence nor take heed of Brilliana again until the tread of feet
was heard in the corridor. In another moment Evander, escorted by two
royal troopers, entered the room. There was a sudden gladness in his