Page:Vance--Terence O'Rourke.djvu/66

 may—I fancy you will—find them uncongenial; I could almost hope that you would. I can only trust that you will be able to endure them, monsieur. You know what I—I expect of you; and will presently learn what other duties will be yours to perform. I think I may rely upon you to play your part."

"Madame," he returned lightly, yet with earnestness underlying his tone, "I realize that I am, in a way, a forlorn hope. But ye may trust me."

"I believe so," she said soberly. "I shall not—may not see you again for some time. You—you will—?" "I will do all that ye wish me to, madame, so far as lies in me power—and a trifle further, perhaps."

She smiled, amused by the gallant boast, and gave him her hand.

"Then," she breathed,—"then, good-night, my friend."

"Madame!" cried O'Rourke.

For the tenth part of a second her fingers rested in his, then were withdrawn. He sighed; but she merely turned and knocked gently upon the panels.

Almost immediately the door was opened; a man peered out, and, recognizing the princess, emerged, closing the door behind him.

"Oh, it's you, Beatrix," he greeted her languidly.

"Yes, Leopold. I have brought you the gentleman of whom I spoke: Colonel O'Rourke, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, once of the Foreign Legion in the Soudan—my brother, Monsieur Leopold Lemercier."

The young man turned to O'Rourke, offering his hand with a ready, feebly good-humored smile.

"Colonel O'Rourke!" he cried, with a vapid laugh. "The very man! I'm glad to meet you, monsieur; I have heard of you before."