Hagané's eyes lowered themselves, as if in embarrassment, to the table. He toyed with the brittle stem of a wine-glass. "It is unfortunate you are so excitable. For it was just about--Yuki--no, never mind the pistol--that I was thinking to take you into my confidence." Le Beau stared. The prince continued thoughtfully: "You have been her friend--" "I _am_ her friend!" "Exactly. I thought you ought to be told. After to-day there will be--_no_ Princess Hagané. She leaves my roof and must publicly relinquish my name." The prince spoke blandly. Pierre's eyes seemed to protrude. The shock of this menace counteracted the coffee. "She is innocent--" He corrected himself. "Why? What has she done?" Hagané smiled pleasantly. "Her innocence, as you call it, is too dangerous. My duties, you know. She distracts me, tires me. A mere child!" "You never cared for her. You took her from me to show your hellish power. Now you will cast her out, dishonor her--relentlessly, for a new whim!" "Monsieur should know best why I cannot trust her." A wild thought leaped like flame about Pierre's distorted fancy. "Can you mean that she goes utterly free--free to be happy--back to her father's home?" Hagané lowered his eyes. When he spoke his tone was conciliatory, even regretful. "Onda, being my kerai, will scarcely consent to receive her." "Monsters! both of you. I see--I might have known. But the Todds, thank God, are her friends!" Hagané half lifted heavy lids. "Minister Todd,--who has signed that stolen paper,--may--er--hesitate." "Mother of Christ! What will you have me think? What is to be her fate? Some foul black thought still bubbles behind those reptile eyes of yours! Out with it! Is she to be cast forth helpless, friendless, at the mercy of the first charitable stranger--" Hagané lifted a hand. "Now we approach reason though by a somewhat frenzied path. You are the succoring knight. Merely return to me, with unbroken seal, the document I saw you take, and for reward I ask you to receive free, and untrammelled, the person of the present Princess Hagané." Suspicion drove back into shadow a host of eager thoughts. After one incredulous look Pierre burst into a clamor of mirthless laughter. "So it is a bribe! What fools you must truly think all foreigners. Give the princess to me bodily? This is melodrama. Even had I the paper and should return it--I still deny, damn you!--you would take powerful precaution that she did not come." "Do you so greatly distrust your powers of attraction?" "No, nor her love, God bless her! But I distrust you and your Oriental subtleties. She would come--she loves me--but you would not let her. What guarantee can you offer?" Hagané looked pained. "No one has ever doubted my word. But if you need it, take Japan's most sacred oath--by the life of our Emperor! Prevent her? Oh, no. I shall urge--compel."