He had been proud of his kingship--very proud of his royal blood and his
mission to his little kingdom. But of late he had known some rebellious
thoughts, quite foreign to his mental habit.

And to-day, as he looked at Opal Ledoux, he thought, "After all, how
much of a real man can I ever be? What am I but a petty pawn on the
chessboard of the world, moved hither and yon, to gain or to lose, by
the finger of Fate!"

As Opal Ledoux passed him, she met his glance, and slightly flushed by
the _rencontre_, looked back over her shoulder at him and--smiled! And
_such_ a smile! She passed on, leaving him tingling in every fibre with
the thrill of it.

It was Fate. He had felt it from the very first, and now he was sure of
it.

How would it end? How _could_ it end?

Paul Zalenska was very young--oh, very young, indeed!




CHAPTER VII


The next day Verdayne and his young companion were introduced to Mr.
Ledoux and his guest.