itated. The memory of Reist's outburst in London
was still before him. But Domiloff had already opened the door.

"Come," he said, softly, "I know that Reist is alone."

CHAPTER XLV

It seemed to Reist that this was the supreme moment of his indignity.
He stood before the two men, white-faced, hollow-eyed, speechless. And
Marie, who had joined their councils, watched him anxiously.

"Nicholas," she said, "this may sound to you a terrible thing. Indeed,
I myself wish that there were another way. But there are many things
to be considered. It will save bloodshed, and it will end the war.
With Theos lost, Ughtred and the Solika army must surrender. After
that----"

"Aye, after that," Reist interrupted, fiercely. "Let me hear what
Domiloff has to say. After that!"

"The rest is simplicity itself," Domiloff said, coolly. "A meeting of
the House of Laws shall be called, and the Turkish army shall be
withdrawn across the frontier. Sentence of banishment shall be passed
upon Ughtred of Tyrnaus, and you, Nicholas of Reist, shall be
proclaimed King. Then there shall be peace in Theos--peace, and I
hope, prosperity. We have gone over all this before, Reist. You must
trust us. Our alliance is useless if every few minutes you lose
faith."

"A passive treason was all that I promised," Reist said. "I undertook
to break with the King, to give up my command in the army, and remain
here. Nothing more! Surely that is enough for my share!"

"Under ordinary circumstances it would have been enough," Hassen
said, "but in one or two instances the unexpected has intervened. This
Englishman, whom you all seemed to have welcomed amongst you, has been
indeed a firebrand. His letters have been read everywhere. In England
they have done terrible mischief. In Germany, too, they have made
trouble. We have therefore to end this matter swiftly--with one coup.
We cannot now wait for the inevitable end. From your point of view,
Duke, surely this is better so. The prosecution of this war would
simply mean a devastated and depopulated Theos. Unless Ughtred of
Tyrnaus surrendered quickly the bloodshed would be terrible, the end
of course certain. Surely what we propose is the better way. You, Duke
of Reist, who are a Thetian and a patriot, must----"

"Stop!"

A sudden fire burst in Reist's dark eyes, the deep colour rushed into
his cheeks. There was a breathless silence in the little room.

"Not that word," he said, slowly. "For God's s