“Once down from the balcony, the rest would be simple. A wild flight through the rose-garden, a perilous surmounting of the iron fence, a swift rush down the side yard here, and then a trusty steed in waiting,--you see, my dear, an automobile would be out of the question on these funny roads of yours,--and the wide world before us!” [Illustration] He lighted a cigarette and leaned out over the casement. The evening shadows were blurring the rose-blooms, and high overhead a half moon was sailing out of a bank of fleecy clouds. The Castle showed a solitary light in the window beyond the balcony. He blew a puff of smoke towards it. “Kitty--Kitty of the Roses,” he murmured, “do you want to be rescued, dear?” [Illustration] From the house came the sound of a girl’s voice in song, sweet, caressing; he could not distinguish the words, and in a moment the voice was stilled. He waited and listened, but the silence held. With a little laugh at himself, Burton arose and lighted his lamp. [Illustration] “I’m afraid you don’t, my dear,” he said. “You’re too happy. Don’t you know that real Princesses are never happy?” He lowered the shade with a last look into the darkened garden and resolutely took up his papers. [Illustration] [Illustration] III “Put it under the tree in the corner,” Burton directed, “and then bring me a chair.” “Mos’ pow’ful warm out hyar, sah,” remonstrated the negro. “Warm? Nonsense, Robert! Feel that breeze fresh from the river. Isn’t that cool enough?” “Ah ain’ feelin’ no breeze; an’ anyways it doan come from no river, sah; river’s over that a-ways.” “Robert, I fear you’re deficient in imagination,” answered Burton, shaking his head. “I insist that there is a breeze and that it is coming from the river. Geography mustn’t interfere with imagination; if it does, why, so much the worse for geography, Robert.” [Illustration] “Yessah.” Having set table and chair in place, Robert retired, only pausing at the side door long enough to throw a last dubious glance behind him. “He’s plum’ crazy,” he muttered with a shake of the head. [Illustration]