ld make him look at her as she
desired--yet. It was but a matter of time.

'I think you may count upon me,' said Rallywood at last. He believed in
her, which was good; moreover, he meant what he said; yet the speech was
wholly lacking in the flavour which to the Countess Sagan was the
flavour of life.

'After all, it is little to promise, and I may not need your friendship
for very long,' she replied, plucking a glittering firefly from her fan
and laying it on his sleeve with her sweet light laugh. 'Like a firefly
I shall dance out my short night, and die quickly before life grows
stale!'

Rallywood took out his cigarette case of Alfaun leather-work, and
dropped the firefly with its sparkle of diamond-dust into it.

'I don't like to hear you say that,' he said in his quiet way, which the
listener decided might mean so much or so little. 'We must all go out
some time, I suppose, but one always wants the beautiful things to live
for ever.... Meanwhile, can you spare me another dance?'

CHAPTER VI.

THE CLOISTER OF ST. ANTHONY.

The night was drawing to a close. The long supper room was almost
deserted. Amongst the lingerers were a few officers in the uniform of
the Guard, who stood talking together in one corner.

'The fellow has given you no chance,' Adolf was saying gloomily.

'Have him in here! Kick him in here, if necessary!' said Colendorp.

'I don't think you will find him reluctant, drawled Unziar. 'I have
spoken with him already this evening, and I--ah--rather liked what he
said.'

'Then why haven't you arranged it? To-morrow he joins--and he must never
be permitted to join the Guard! We might have asked Abenfeldt to remove
him, but the Guard has up to the present day been able to set its own
house in order,' added Colendorp with a sour glance at Unziar. 'Has his
Excellency the Chancellor thrown out too powerful a hint about the
fellow?--I saw Mademoiselle dancing with him this evening--I mean a hint
too powerful to be disregarded by those who wish to retain the good
opinion of M. Selpdorf!'

Unziar scowled.

'I permit no one--not one of my own regiment--to insult me,' he rejoined
with a white blaze of anger on his pale face, and the wine in his hand
trembled.

Adolf suddenly stretched across to take up a decanter, and catching the
glass with the edge of his heavy epaulet, knocked it from Unziar's
fingers.

'We are losing sight of the main question,' he said. 'May I suggest,
sir,' to C