Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/48

 "This is a somewhat unusual scene. What does it mean?"

I was watching the Princess closely, and saw an expression of some disconcertment and alarm rush into her eyes, to be as quickly forced down and followed by what I half dared to hope was a look of solicitude on my account. The eyes seemed to beg me to leave while the way was still open.

But I would not have gone for a fortune. I was ten thousand times more eager to stay.

Major Zankoff gave an expressive shrug of the shoulders as he said in reply to the question: "There has been a little misunderstanding, General."

The small, alert, piercing eyes seemed to take in the situation at one sweeping glance that dwelt lastly on my face.

"Princess, can I have a word with you? Major Zankoff, close the door and guard it. We want no one in—or out," he let the last two words drop from his lips as though they were an after-thought and not intended to be spoken aloud.

"I am telling this gentleman that he is at liberty to leave here, General," she answered, lifting her head with what I read as an intentional assertion of authority, not made, however, without an effort.

"Very good of you, very good indeed," he replied drily. "But as the gentleman does not seem disposed to go, suppose we close the door. There is a draught for one thing, and pretty situations should never be strained. Besides, I wish to have a word with him myself."

My wits had been somewhat mazed by the unexpected character of the meeting with the Princess and the whirl of strange and disturbing thoughts which she