o is it?' A new coldness crept into Valerie's voice as she listened.

'Can you not guess? It is Captain Rallywood.'

Valerie had braced herself to meet this, and it only added proof to her
own fears for his safety. Come what might, she would undertake any
message from Isolde to get the opportunity of warning the Duke's guard
of the coming danger, and to tell the fate of that gallant figure
tossing to and fro in the battering rush of the Kofn. She drew herself
away from Isolde's embrace with a shudder.

'What is the matter with you?' Isolde peered up at her with a quick
scrutiny. 'You are shaking all over. Valerie, is it because of him?'

'I am very cold,' returned the girl with a smile. 'I am quite willing to
bring--Captain Rallywood. But where is he?'

'He is on guard in the Duke's ante-room.' She turned her head away.

'Then, Isolde, you know it is impossible! He cannot come!'

'Even if it costs my life?' said the Countess bitterly. 'Oh, how cheap
you hold other people's lives, Valerie! You are a true Maasaun!'

Valerie thought a moment. The request of Madame de Sagan fell in with
her own plan. It would enable her to solve the doubt that was agonising
her; yet if she found him safe, how could she lend herself to tempt him
to his own dishonour? A cruel question rose within her. Should she put
him to the supreme test of life and love--would she not rather know him
dead in the cold river, than living and false to her dim ideal of him?

'There is no time to spare.' Isolde's voice broke in upon her. 'If you
could make him know the danger I stand in, he must come! Remind him of
his promise to me.'

'But if he will not come?' Valerie forced the words.

'Then ask him to give you the cigarette case of Maasaun leather-work.
That will remind him of many things. But he will come,' she ended more
confidently.

Valerie rose.

'I am ready. I know the passages are watched. I saw no one, yet I felt
the shadows were full of eyes. Lend me your sable cloak, Isolde;
everyone will recognize that, and with this lace about my head, I shall
be free to go where I please as the Countess Sagan.'

'Valerie'--Madame de Sagan held the girl back--'listen to me, you must
make him come! I must tell you all. Rallywood is in danger, nothing can
save him unless you separate him from the Duke----' she stopped,
panting, then bared her arm. 'Remind him how he promised me--with his
lips upon the hurt! Now go!'

The next second Valerie Selpdo