第20章

"Touchingthatrequest，sir。WhenIhaveleftyouandtheVoivode——

andtheVoivodin，ofcourse——atVissarion，togetherwithsuchothersasyoumaychoosetobringtherewithyou，mayIbringtheyachtbackhereforaspell？Iratherthinkthatthereisagooddealofcleaninguptobedone，andthecrewofTheLadywithmyselfarethementodoit。Weshallbebackbynightfallatthecreek。"

"Doasyouthinkbest，AdmiralRooke，"Isaid。

"Admiral？"

"Yes，Admiral。AtpresentIcanonlysaythattentatively，butbyto—morrowIamsuretheNationalCouncilwillhaveconfirmedit。I

amafraid，oldfriend，thatyoursquadronwillbeonlyyourflagshipforthepresent；butlaterwemaydobetter。"

"SolongasIamAdmiral，yourhonour，IshallhavenootherflagshipthanTheLady。Iamnotayoungman，but，youngorold，mypennonshallfloatovernootherdeck。Now，oneotherfavour，Mr。SentLeger？Itisacorollaryofthefirst，soIdonothesitatetoask。

MayIappointLieutenantDesmond，mypresentFirstOfficer，tothecommandofthebattleship？Ofcourse，hewillatfirstonlycommandtheprizecrew；butinsuchcasehewillfairlyexpecttheconfirmationofhisranklater。Ihadbetter，perhaps，tellyou，sir，thatheisaverycapableseaman，learnedinallthesciencesthatpertaintoabattleship，andbredinthefirstnavyintheworld。"

"Byallmeans，Admiral。Yournominationshall，IthinkImaypromiseyou，beconfirmed。"

Notanotherwordwespoke。IreturnedwithhiminhisboattoTheLady，whichwasbroughttothedockwall，wherewewerereceivedwithtumultuouscheering。

IhurriedofftomyWifeandtheVoivode。Rooke，callingDesmondtohim，wentonthebridgeofTheLady，whichturned，andwentoutatterrificspeedtothebattleship，whichwasalreadydriftingupnorthwardonthetide。

FROMTHEREPORTOFCRISTOFEROS，SCRIBEOFTHENATIONALCOUNCILOFTHE

LANDOFTHEBLUEMOUNTAINS。

July8，1907。

ThemeetingoftheNationalCouncil，July6，wasbutacontinuationofthatheldbeforetherescueoftheVoivodinVissarion，themembersoftheCouncilhavingbeenduringtheinterveningnighthousedintheCastleofVissarion。When，intheearlymorning，theymet，allwerejubilant；forlateatnightthefire—signalhadflamedupfromIlsinwiththegladnewsthattheVoivodePeterVissarionwassafe，havingbeenrescuedwithgreatdaringonanaeroplanebyhisdaughterandtheGospodarRupert，asthepeoplecallhim——MisterRupertSentLeger，asheisinhisBritishnameanddegree。

WhilsttheCouncilwassitting，wordcamethatagreatperiltothetownofIlsinhadbeenaverted。Awar—vesselacknowledgingtononationality，andthereforetobedeemedapirate，hadthreatenedtobombardthetown；butjustbeforethetimefixedforthefulfilmentofherthreat，shewasshakentosuchanextentbysomesub—aqueousmeansthat，thoughsheherselfwasseeminglyuninjured，nothingwasleftaliveonboard。ThustheLordpreservesHisown！Theconsiderationofthis，aswellastheotherincident，waspostponeduntilthecomingVoivodeandtheGospodarRupert，togetherwithwhowerealreadyontheirwayhither。

THESAME（LATERINTHESAMEDAY）。

TheCouncilresumeditssittingatfouro’clock。TheVoivodePeterVissarionandtheVoivodinTeutahadarrivedwiththe"GospodarRupert，"asthemountaineerscallhim（Mr。RupertSentLeger）onthearmouredyachthecallsTheLady。TheNationalCouncilshowedgreatpleasurewhentheVoivodeenteredthehallinwhichtheCouncilmet。

Heseemedmuchgratifiedbythereceptiongiventohim。Mr。RupertSentLeger，bytheexpressdesireoftheCouncil，wasaskedtobepresentatthemeeting。Hetookaseatatthebottomofthehall，andseemedtoprefertoremainthere，thoughaskedbythePresidentoftheCounciltositatthetopofthetablewithhimselfandtheVoivode。

WhentheformalitiesofsuchCouncilshadbeencompleted，theVoivodehandedtothePresidentamemorandumofhisreportonhissecretmissiontoforeignCourtsonbehalfoftheNationalCouncil。Hethenexplainedatlength，forthebenefitofthevariousmembersoftheCouncil，thebroadresultsofhismission。Theresultwas，hesaid，absolutelysatisfactory。Everywherehehadbeenreceivedwithdistinguishedcourtesy，andgivenasympathetichearing。SeveralofthePowersconsultedhadmadedelayingivingfinalanswers，butthis，heexplained，wasnecessarilyduetonewconsiderationsarisingfromtheinternationalcomplicationswhichwereuniversallydealtwiththroughouttheworldas"theBalkanCrisis。"Intime，however（theVoivodewenton），thesemattersbecamesofardeclaredastoallowthewaitingPowerstoformdefinitejudgment——which，ofcourse，theydidnotdeclaretohim——astotheirownultimateaction。Thefinalresult——ifatthisinitialstagesuchtentativesettingforthoftheirownattitudeineachcasecanbesonamed——wasthathereturnedfullofhope（founded，hemightsay，uponajustifiablepersonalbelief）thattheGreatPowersthroughouttheworld——North，South，East，andWest——wereinthoroughsympathywiththeLandoftheBlueMountainsinitsaspirationsforthecontinuanceofitsfreedom。

"Ialsoamhonoured，"hecontinued，"tobringtoyou，theGreatCouncilofthenation，theassuranceofprotectionagainstunworthyaggressiononthepartofneighbouringnationsofpresentgreaterstrength。"

Whilsthewasspeaking，theGospodarRupertwaswritingafewwordsonastripofpaper，whichhesentuptothePresident。WhentheVoivodehadfinishedspeaking，therewasaprolongedsilence。ThePresidentrose，andinahushsaidthattheCouncilwouldliketohearMr。RupertSentLeger，whohadacommunicationtomakeregardingcertainrecentevents。

Mr。RupertSentLegerrose，andreportedhow，sincehehadbeenentrustedbytheCouncilwiththerescueoftheVoivodePeterofVissarion，hehad，byaidoftheVoivodin，effectedtheescapeoftheVoivodefromtheSilentTower；alsothat，followingthishappyevent，themountaineers，whohadmadeagreatcordonroundtheTowersosoonasitwasknownthattheVoivodehadbeenimprisonedwithinit，hadstormeditinthenight。Asadeterminedresistancewasofferedbythemarauders，whohaduseditasaplaceofrefuge，noneoftheseescaped。HethenwentontotellhowhesoughtinterviewwiththeCaptainofthestrangewarship，which，withoutflyinganyflag，invadedourwaters。HeaskedthePresidenttocallonmetoreadthereportofthatmeeting。This，inobediencetohisdirection，Idid。

TheacquiescentmurmuringoftheCouncilshowedhowthoroughlytheyendorsedMr。SentLeger’swordsandacts。

WhenIresumedmyseat，Mr。SentLegerdescribedhow，justbeforethetimefixedbythe"pirateCaptain"——sohedesignatedhim，asdideveryspeakerthereafter——thewarshipmetwithsomeunder—seaaccident，whichhadadestructiveeffectonallonboardher。Thenheaddedcertainwords，whichIgiveverbatim，asIamsurethatotherswillsometimewishtorememberthemintheirexactness：

"Bytheway，PresidentandLordsoftheCouncil，ItrustImayaskyoutoconfirmCaptainRooke，ofthearmouredyachtTheLady，tobeAdmiraloftheSquadronoftheLandoftheBlueMountains，andalsoCaptain（tentatively）Desmond，lateFirst—LieutenantofTheLady，tothecommandofthesecondwarshipofourfleet——theasyetunnamedvessel，whoseformerCaptainthreatenedtobombardIlsin。MyLords，AdmiralRookehasdonegreatservicetotheLandoftheBlueMountains，anddeserveswellatyourhands。Youwillhaveinhim，I

amsure，agreatofficial。Onewhowilltillhislastbreathgiveyougoodandloyalservice。"

Hehadsatdown，thePresidentputtotheCouncilresolutions，whichwerepassedbyacclamation。AdmiralRookewasgivencommandofthenavy，andCaptainDesmondconfirmedinhisappointmenttothecaptaincyofthenewship，whichwas，byafurtherresolution，namedTheGospodarRupert。

InthankingtheCouncilforaccedingtohisrequest，andforthegreathonourdonehiminthenamingoftheship，Mr。SentLegersaid：

"MayIaskthatthearmouredyachtTheLadybeacceptedbyyou，theNationalCouncil，onbehalfofthenation，asagiftonbehalfofthecauseoffreedomfromtheVoivodinTeuta？"

InresponsetothemightycheeroftheCouncilwithwhichthesplendidgiftwasacceptedtheGospodarRupert——Mr。SentLeger——

bowed，andwentquietlyoutoftheroom。

Asnoagendaofthemeetinghadbeenprepared，therewasforatime，notsilence，butmuchindividualconversation。InthemidstofittheVoivoderoseup，whereupontherewasastrictsilence。Alllistenedwithanintensityofeagernesswhilsthespoke。

"PresidentandLordsoftheCouncil，Archbishop，andVladika，I

shouldbutillshowmyrespectdidIhesitatetotellyouatthisthefirstopportunityIhavehadofcertainmatterspersonalprimarilytomyself，butwhich，intheprogressofrecentevents，havecometoimpingeontheaffairsofthenation。UntilIhavedoneso，IshallnotfeelthatIhavedoneaduty，longduetoyouoryourpredecessorsinoffice，andwhichIhopeyouwillallowmetosaythatIhaveonlykeptbackforpurposesofstatecraft。MayIaskthatyouwillcomebackwithmeinmemorytotheyear1890，whenourstruggleagainstOttomanaggression，lateronsosuccessfullybroughttoaclose，wasbegun。Weweretheninadesperatecondition。Ourfinanceshadrunsolowthatwecouldnotpurchaseeventhebreadwhichwerequired。Nay，more，wecouldnotprocurethroughtheNationalExchequerwhatwewantedmorethanbread——armsofmoderneffectiveness；formenmayendurehungerandyetfightwell，asthegloriouspastofourcountryhasprovedagainandagainandagain。

Butwhenourfoesarebetterarmedthanweare，thepenaltyisdreadfultoanationsmallasourownisinnumber，nomatterhowbravetheirhearts。InthisstraitImyselfhadtosecretlyraiseasufficientsumofmoneytoprocuretheweaponsweneeded。TothisendIsoughttheassistanceofagreatmerchant—prince，towhomournationaswellasmyselfwasknown。Hemetmeinthesamegenerousspiritwhichhehadshowntootherstrugglingnationalitiesthroughoutalongandhonourablecareer。WhenIpledgedtohimassecuritymyownestates，hewishedtotearupthebond，andonlyunderpressurewouldhemeetmywishesinthisrespect。LordsoftheCouncil，itwashismoney，thusgenerouslyadvanced，whichprocuredforusthearmswithwhichwehewedoutourfreedom。

"Notlongagothatnoblemerchant——andhereItrustyouwillpardonmethatIamsomovedastoperhapsappeartosufferinwantofrespecttothisgreatCouncil——thisnoblemerchantpassedtohisaccount——leavingtoanearkinsmanofhisowntheroyalfortunewhichhehadamassed。Onlyafewhoursagothatworthykinsmanofthebenefactorofournationmadeitknowntomethatinhislastwillhehadbequeathedtome，bysecrettrust，thewholeofthoseestateswhichlongagoIhadforfeitedbyeffluxionoftime，inasmuchasI

hadbeenunabletofulfilthetermsofmyvoluntarybond。ItgrievesmetothinkthatIhavehadtokeepyousolonginignoranceofthegoodthoughtandwishesandactsofthisgreatman。

"Butitwasbyhiswisecounsel，fortifiedbymyownjudgment，thatI

wassilent；for，indeed，Ifeared，ashedid，lestinourtroubloustimessomedoubtingspiritwithoutourboundaries，orevenwithinit，mightmistrustthehonestyofmypurposesforpublicgood，becauseI

wasnolongeronewhosewholefortunewasinvestedwithinourconfines。Thisprince—merchant，thegreatEnglishRogerMelton——lethisnamebeforevergravenontheheartsofourpeople！——keptsilentduringhisownlife，andenjoinedonotherstocomeafterhimtokeepsecretfromthemenoftheBlueMountainsthatsecretloanmadetomeontheirbehalf，lestintheireyesI，whohadstriventobetheirfriendandhelper，shouldsufferwrongrepute。But，happily，hehasleftmefreetoclearmyselfinyoureyes。Moreover，byarrangingtohave——undercertaincontingencies，whichhavecometopass——theestateswhichwereoriginallymyownretransferredtome，IhavenolongerthehonourofhavinggivenwhatIcouldtothenationalcause。

Allsuchnowbelongstohim；foritwashismoney——andhisonly——

whichpurchasedournationalarmament。

"Hisworthykinsmanyoualreadyknow，forhehasnotonlybeenamongstyouformanymonths，buthasalreadydoneyougoodserviceinhisownperson。Heitwaswho，asamightywarrior，answeredthesummonsoftheVladikawhenmisfortunecameuponmyhouseinthecapturebyenemiesofmydeardaughter，theVoivodinTeuta，whomyouholdinyourhearts；who，withachosenbandofourbrothers，pursuedthemarauders，andhimself，byadeedofdaringandprowess，ofwhichpoetsshallhereaftersing，savedher，whenhopeitselfseemedtobedead，fromtheirruthlesshands，andbroughtherbacktous；whoadministeredcondignpunishmenttothemiscreantswhohaddaredtosowrongher。Heitwaswholatertookme，yourservant，outoftheprisonwhereinanotherbandofTurkishmiscreantsheldmecaptive；

rescuedme，withthehelpofmydeardaughter，whomhehadalreadyfreed，whilstIhadonmypersonthedocumentsofinternationalsecrecyofwhichIhavealreadyadvisedyou——rescuedmewhilstIhadbeenasyetunsubjectedtotheindignityofsearch。

"BeyondthisyouknownowthatofwhichIwasinpartialignorance：

howhehad，throughtheskillanddevotionofyournewAdmiral，wroughtdestructiononahecatombofourmalignantfoes。Youwhohavereceivedforthenationthesplendidgiftofthelittlewarship，whichalreadyrepresentsanewerainnavalarmament，canunderstandthegreat—souledgenerosityofthemanwhohasrestoredthevastpossessionsofmyHouse。OnourwayhitherfromIlsin，RupertSentLegermadeknowntomethetermsofthetrustofhisnobleuncle，RogerMelton，and——believemethathedidsogenerously，withajoythattranscendedmyown——restoredtothelastmaleoftheVissarionracethewholeinheritanceofanobleline。

"Andnow，myLordsoftheCouncil，Icometoanothermatter，inwhichIfindmyselfinsomethingofadifficulty，forIamawarethatincertainwaysyouactuallyknowmoreofitthanevenImyselfdo。ItisregardingthemarriageofmydaughtertoRupertSentLeger。ItisknowntomethatthematterhasbeenbroughtbeforeyoubytheArchbishop，who，asguardianofmydaughterduringmyabsenceontheserviceofthenation，wishedtoobtainyoursanction，astillmyreturnheheldhersafetyintrust。Thiswasso，notfromanymeritofmine，butbecauseshe，inherownperson，hadundertakenfortheserviceofournationataskofalmostincredibledifficulty。MyLords，wereshechildofanotherfather，Ishouldextoltotheskiesherbravery，herself—devotion，herloyaltytothelandsheloves。

Why，then，shouldIhesitatetospeakofherdeedsinfittingterms，sinceitismyduty，myglory，toholdtheminhigherhonourthancananyinthisland？Ishallnotshameher——orevenmyself——bybeingsilentwhensuchadutyurgesmetospeak，asVoivode，astrustedenvoyofournation，asfather。AgeshenceloyalmenandwomenofourLandoftheBlueMountainswillsingherdeedsinsongandtelltheminstory。Hername，Teuta，alreadysacredintheseregions，whereitwasheldbyagreatQueen，andhonouredbyallmen，willhereafterbeheldasasymbolandtypeofwoman’sdevotion。Oh，myLords，wepassalongthepathoflife，thebestofusbutalittletimemarchinginthesunlightbetweengloomandgloom，anditisduringthatmarchthatwemustbejudgedforthefuture。ThisbravewomanhaswonknightlyspursaswellasanyPaladinofold。Soisitmeetthatereshemightmatewithoneworthyofheryou，whoholdinyourhandsthesafetyandhonouroftheState，shouldgiveyourapproval。ToyouwasitgiventositinjudgmentontheworthofthisgallantEnglisher，nowmyson。Youjudgedhimthen，beforeyouhadseenhisvalour，hisstrength，andskillexercisedonbehalfofanationalcause。Youjudgedwisely，oh，mybrothers，andoutofagratefulheartIthankyouoneandallforit。Wellhashejustifiedyourtrustbyhislateracts。When，inobediencetothesummonsoftheVladika，heputthenationinablazeandrangedourboundarieswitharingofsteel，hedidsounknowingthatwhatwasdearesttohimintheworldwasatstake。Hesavedmydaughter’shonourandhappiness，andwonhersafetybyanactofvalourthatoutviesanytoldinhistory。HetookmydaughterwithhimtobringmeoutfromtheSilentToweronthewingsoftheair，whenearthhadformenopossibilityoffreedom——I，thathadeventheninmypossessionthedocumentsinvolvingothernationswhichtheSoldanwouldfainhavepurchasedwiththehalfofhisempire。

"Henceforthtome，LordsoftheCouncil，thisbravemanmusteverbeasasonofmyheart，andItrustthatinhisnamegrandsonsofmyownmaykeepinbrighthonourthenamewhichingloriousdaysofoldmyfathersmadeillustrious。DidIknowhowadequatelytothankyouforyourinterestinmychild，Iwouldyielduptoyoumyverysoulinthanks。"

ThespeechoftheVoivodewasreceivedwiththehonouroftheBlueMountains——thedrawingandraisingofhandjarsFROMRUPERT’SJOURNAL。

July14，1907。

FornearlyaweekwewaitedforsomemessagefromConstantinople，fullyexpectingeitheradeclarationofwar，orelsesomeinquirysocouchedastomakewaraninevitableresult。TheNationalCouncilremainedonatVissarionastheguestsoftheVoivode，towhom，inaccordancewithmyuncle’swill，Ihadpreparedtore—transferallhisestates。Hewas，bytheway，unwillingatfirsttoaccept，anditwasonlywhenIshowedhimUncleRoger’sletter，andmadehimreadtheDeedofTransferpreparedinanticipationbyMr。Trent，thatheallowedmetopersuadehim。Finallyhesaid：

"Asyou，mygoodfriends，havesoarranged，Imustaccept，beitonlyinhonourtothewishesofthedead。Butremember，Ionlydosobutforthepresent，reservingtomyselfthefreedomtowithdrawlaterifIsodesire。"

ButConstantinoplewassilent。Thewholenefariousschemewasoneofthe"put—upjobs"whicharepartofthedirtyworkofacertainorderofstatecraft——tobeacceptedifsuccessful；tobedeniedincaseoffailure。

Thematterstoodthus：Turkeyhadthrownthedice——andlost。Hermenweredead；hershipwasforfeit。Itwasonlysometendaysafterthewarshipwasleftderelictwitheverylivingthing——thatis，everythingthathadbeenliving——withitsneckbroken，asRookeinformedme，whenhebroughttheshipdownthecreek，andhouseditinthedockbehindthearmouredgates——thatwesawaniteminTheRomacopiedfromTheConstantinopleJournalofJuly9：

"LOSSOFANOTTOMANIRONCLADWITHALLHANDS。

"NewshasbeenreceivedatConstantinopleofthetotalloss，withallhands，ofoneofthenewestandfinestwarshipsintheTurkishfleet—

—TheMahmoud，CaptainAliAli——whichfounderedinastormonthenightofJuly5，somedistanceoffCabrera，intheBalearicIsles。

Therewerenosurvivors，andnowreckagewasdiscoveredbytheshipswhichwentinrelief——thePeraandtheMustapha——orreportedfromanywherealongtheshoresoftheislands，ofwhichexhaustivesearchwasmade。TheMahmoudwasdouble—manned，asshecarriedafullextracrewsentonaneducationalcruiseonthemostperfectlyscientificallyequippedwarshiponserviceintheMediterraneanwaters。"

WhentheVoivodeandItalkedoverthematter，hesaid：

"Afterall，TurkeyisashrewdPower。Shecertainlyseemstoknowwhensheisbeaten，anddoesnotintendtomakeabadthingseemworseintheeyesoftheworld。"

Well，’tisabadwindthatblowsgoodtonobody。AsTheMahmoudwaslostofftheBalearics，itcannothavebeenherthatputthemaraudersonshoreandtrainedherbiggunsonIlsin。Wetakeit，therefore，thatthelattermusthavebeenapirate，andaswehavetakenherderelictinourwaters，sheisnowoursinallways。

Anyhow，sheisours，andisthefirstshipofherclassinthenavyoftheBlueMountains。Iaminclinedtothinkthatevenifshewas——

orisstill——aTurkishship，AdmiralRookewouldnotbeinclinedtolethergo。AsforCaptainDesmond，Ithinkhewouldgostraightoutofhismindifsuchathingwastobeevensuggestedtohim。

Itwillbeapityifwehaveanymoretrouble，forlifehereisveryhappywithusallnow。TheVoivodeis，Ithink，likeamaninadream。Teutaisideallyhappy，andtherealaffectionwhichsprangupbetweenthemwhensheandAuntJanetmetisajoytothinkof。I

hadpostedTeutaabouther，sothatwhentheyshouldmeetmywifemightnot，byanyinadvertence，receiveorcauseanypain。ButthemomentTeutasawhersheranstraightovertoherandliftedherinherstrongyoungarms，and，raisingherupasonewouldliftachild，kissedher。Then，whenshehadputhersittinginthechairfromwhichshehadarisenwhenweenteredtheroom，shekneltdownbeforeher，andputherfacedowninherlap。AuntJanet’sfacewasastudy；Imyselfcouldhardlysaywhetheratthefirstmomentsurpriseorjoypredominated。Buttherecouldbenodoubtaboutittheinstantafter。Sheseemedtobeamwithhappiness。WhenTeutaknelttoher，shecouldonlysay：

"Mydear，mydear，Iamglad！Rupert’swife，youandImustloveeachotherverymuch。"Seeingthattheywerelaughingandcryingineachother’sarms，Ithoughtitbesttocomeawayandleavethemalone。AndIdidn’tfeelabitlonelyeitherwhenIwasoutofsightofthem。Iknewthatwherethosetwodearwomenweretherewasaplaceformyownheart。

WhenIcameback，TeutawassittingonAuntJanet’sknee。Itseemedratherstupendousfortheoldlady，forTeutaissuchasplendidcreaturethatevenwhenshesitsonmyownkneeandIcatchaglimpseofusinsomemirror，Icannotbutnoticewhatanobly—builtgirlsheis。

MywifewasjumpingupassoonasIwasseen，butAuntJanetheldhertighttoher，andsaid：

"Don’tstir，dear。Itissuchhappinesstometohaveyouthere。

Ruperthasalwaysbeenmy’littleboy，’and，inspiteofallhisbeingsuchagiant，heissostill。Andsoyou，thatheloves，mustbemylittlegirl——inspiteofallyourbeautyandyourstrength——andsitonmyknee，tillyoucanplacetherealittleonethatshallbedeartousall，andthatshallletmefeelmyyouthagain。WhenfirstIsawyouIwassurprised，for，somehow，thoughIhadneverseenyounorevenheardofyou，Iseemedtoknowyourface。Sitwhereyouare，dear。ItisonlyRupert——andwebothlovehim。"

Teutalookedatme，flushingrosily；butshesatquiet，anddrewtheoldlady’swhiteheadonheryoungbreast。

JANETMACKELPIE’SNOTES。

July8，1907。

IusedtothinkthatwheneverRupertshouldgetmarriedorstartonthewaytoitbygettingengaged——IwouldmeethisfuturewifewithsomethingofthesameaffectionthatIhavealwayshadforhimself。

ButIknownowthatwhatwasreallyinmymindwasjealousy，andthatIwasreallyfightingagainstmyowninstincts，andpretendingtomyselfthatIwasnotjealous。HadIeverhadthefaintestideathatshewouldbeanythingtheleastlikeTeuta，thatsortoffeelingshouldneverhavehadevenafoothold。Nowondermydearboyisinlovewithher，for，truthtotell，Iaminlovewithhermyself。I

don’tthinkIevermetacreature——awomancreature，ofcourse，I

mean——withsomanysplendidqualities。Ialmostfeartosayit，lestitshouldseemtomyselfwrong；butIthinksheisasgoodasawomanasRupertisasaman。AndwhatmorethanthatcanIsay？IthoughtIlovedherandtrustedher，andknewherallIcould，untilthismorning。

Iwasinmyownroom，asitisstillcalled。For，thoughRuperttellsmeinconfidencethatunderhisuncle’swillthewholeestateofVissarion，Castleandall，reallybelongstotheVoivode，andthoughtheVoivodehasbeenpersuadedtoaccepttheposition，he（theVoivode）willnotallowanythingtobechanged。Hewillnotevenhearawordofmygoing，orchangingmyroom，oranything。AndRupertbackshimupinit，andTeutatoo。SowhatamItodobutletthedearshavetheirway？

Well，thismorning，whenRupertwaswiththeVoivodeatameetingoftheNationalCouncilintheGreatHall，Teutacametome，and（afterclosingthedoorandboltingit，whichsurprisedmealittle）cameandkneltdownbesideme，andputherfaceinmylap。Istrokedherbeautifulblackhair，andsaid：

"Whatisit，Teutadarling？Isthereanytrouble？Andwhydidyouboltthedoor？HasanythinghappenedtoRupert？"WhenshelookedupIsawthatherbeautifulblackeyes，withthestarsinthem，wereoverflowingwithtearsnotyetshed。Butshesmiledthroughthem，andthetearsdidnotfall。WhenIsawhersmilemyheartwaseased，andIsaidwithoutthinking："ThankGod，darling，Rupertisallright。"

"IthankGod，too，dearAuntJanet！"shesaidsoftly；andItookherinmyarmsandlaidherheadonmybreast。

"Goon，dear，"Isaid；"tellmewhatitisthattroublesyou？"ThistimeIsawthetearsdrop，assheloweredherheadandhidherfacefromme。

"I’mafraidIhavedeceivedyou，AuntJanet，andthatyouwillnot——

cannot——forgiveme。"

"Lordsaveyou，child！"Isaid，"there’snothingthatyoucoulddothatIcouldnotandwouldnotforgive。Notthatyouwouldeverdoanythingbase，forthatistheonlythingthatishardtoforgive。

Tellmenowwhattroublesyou。"

Shelookedupinmyeyesfearlessly，thistimewithonlythesignsoftearsthathadbeen，andsaidproudly：

"Nothingbase，AuntJanet。Myfather’sdaughterwouldnotwillinglybebase。Idonotthinkshecould。Moreover，hadIeverdoneanythingbaseIshouldnotbehere，for——for——IshouldneverhavebeenRupert’swife！"

"Thenwhatisit？TellyouroldAuntJanet，dearie。"Sheansweredmewithanotherquestion：

"AuntJanet，doyouknowwhoIam，andhowIfirstmetRupert？"

"YouaretheVoivodinTeutaVissarion——thedaughteroftheVoivode——

Or，rather，youwere；youarenowMrs。RupertSentLeger。ForheisstillanEnglishman，andagoodsubjectofournobleKing。"

"Yes，AuntJanet，"shesaid，"Iamthat，andproudtobeit——prouderthanIwouldbewereImynamesake，whowasQueenintheolddays。

ButhowandwheredidIseeRupertfirst？"Ididnotknow，andfranklytoldherso。Sosheansweredherquestionherself：

"Isawhimfirstinhisownroomatnight。"Iknewinmyheartthatinwhatevershedidhadbeennothingwrong，soIsatsilentwaitingforhertogoon：