Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/158

 true, too, that though you failed in the act, you shall answer for the intent."

She was magnificent in her rage, as she stood at bay, staring open-eyed at me; and for many moments not a word was spoken by either of us.

"Let me see her!" she exclaimed at length.

"Not alone," said I significantly. I rang the bell.

"Tell the Princess Christina we will wait upon her," I said to the servant, and a minute later the two were face to face, while I looked on, all anxiety and apprehension as to the result.

They stood for a moment looking at one another; the Princess calm and dignified, in an attitude of queenly grace, her speaking, lustrous eyes alight with the hope with which she had sought the interview. But the hope was quickly clouded with a dash of anticipative disappointment, caused by the Countess Bokara's vehement passion and hate which envenomed her fiery glances, and spoke in every straining movement of her lithe sinuous body.

"Your Highness surely does me great honour in this reception," said the Countess scornfully, breaking the short silence.

"I am sorry we have not met before," was the mild, temporising reply. "I would have gladly seen you to remove your too evident prejudice against me."

"I have heard that you are accustomed to rely much upon the attractions of your beauty. But I am not a man."

"I am desirous only of disarming by mutual understanding so powerful and, as I have too much reason to know, so bitter an enemy. Tell me, Countess, why are you so bitter against me?" The tone was very gentle, almost solicitous, but I could see that the other's sneer had gone home.