And she was gone.

When Valerie returned to Madame de Sagan half an hour later she was
still white and breathless. Isolde, in a fever of impatient terror,
caught her by the arm.

'Where is he? When is he coming! Valerie--'

Valerie made a supreme effort to control herself.

'He is on guard.'

'Yes, I know. I know! But he is coming!'

'It was impossible! He could not leave His Highness. Isolde, you would
not wish it!'

'What does anything matter unless it's found out?' cried Isolde, giving
in her adherence to a common creed. 'Did you give him all my message?
Did you make him understand? Then, when all else failed, you asked him
for the cigarette case? That would remind him----' Madame de Sagan spoke
in growing agitation.

Valerie looked into her wild eyes.

'I forgot that,' she admitted.

Isolde shook the arm she held.

'You have killed him! Valerie, you have been jealous of me, and by your
jealousy you have killed him! Had you spoken as I told you he would be
here now--and safe! As it is he is lost!' she flung herself down among
the cushions.

Her slender hands were clenched, her turquoise eyes stared wide and
blind from her white face. She seemed to hold her breath as if waiting
for the inevitable blow to fall. Valerie, greatly moved, knelt down
beside her.

'What does it matter if we die to-night or a month hence?' Isolde spoke
in a low voice; her heart had unconsciously been gathering up bitterness
against Valerie, and she had no longer the strength to conceal it under
this unbearable strain. 'Valerie, you have stooped to meanness--you who
have so scorned meanness in others. You knew long ago what--Rallywood's
love was to me. You have known my life, and much that I have to bear.
Amongst all who pretend to love me there is not one like him, not one!
He would be always kind and true. I think these are English qualities,
for in another way there is Major Counsellor----' the weary voice broke
off as if too tired for more.

It was well Counsellor never heard that little expression of opinion
concerning himself; it might have proved the thorn in a somewhat callous
diplomatic memory.

'You have betrayed me! You!' she repeated with a bitter laugh; then,
springing up, she ran towards the spot where her sables lay heaped upon
the floor just as Valerie had dropped them from her shoulders.

'It may be too late, but I will go myself. I will save him if I can!'

Valerie wrapped the cloak around her.

'Iso