Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/78

 reply, that I should gladly accept his command, I called to mind her declaration that our next meeting would be at the Prince's palace.

"I am glad to welcome you to the regiment, Count," said the major; but he spoke in a tone I did not like, and I conceived an instinctive but invincible prejudice against him. "And, as I have been so long waiting, I will get you to excuse my hurrying away."

I did not attempt to stay him; for I wished to be alone to think over this new development.

If I accepted the captaincy, what could it mean except that I committed myself to the Prince's side? And this at the very moment when the other and vastly more congenial plan had begun to take shape in my mind.

I thought I could see again the alluring but cruel face of the Countess Bokara, and hear the ring of triumph in her voice as she had turned to me after her cold-blooded deed:

"Now you will have to join us!"