offered him every encouragement, and had placed herself in a
position which to his understanding of the world could have
but one interpretation. What Kalonay's sudden infatuation
might mean he could not foresee; whether it promised good or
threatened evil, he could only guess, but he decided that the
young man's unwonted show of independence of the morning must
be punished. His claim to exclusive proprietorship in the
young girl struck the King as amusing, but impertinent. It
would be easy sailing in spite of all, he decided; for
somewhere up above them in the hotel sat the unbidden guest,
the woman against whom Father Paul had raised the ban of
expulsion, but who had, nevertheless, tricked both him and the
faithful Jackal.

The breakfast was drawing to an end and the faithful Niccolas
was the only servant remaining in the room. The talk had
grown intimate and touched openly upon the successful visit of
the two ambassadors to the island, and of Barrat's mission to
Paris. Of Madame Zara's visit to the northern half of the
island, which was supposed to have been less successful, no
mention was made.

Louis felt as he listened to them like a man at a play, who
knows that at a word from him the complications would cease,
and that were he to rise in the stalls and explain them away,
and point out the real hero and denounce the villain, the
curtain would have to ring down on the instant. He gave a
little purr of satisfaction, and again marshalled his chances
before him and smiled to find them good. He was grandly at
peace with himself and with the world. Whatever happened, he