But a little later she caught Allard's eye and summoned him by a scarcely perceptible movement of her hand. He came with pleasure and saluted her with that direct friendliness of regard which had carried him safely past many a shoal and undercurrent during his continental life. "The Count Donoseff has been telling me the history of your wounded arm, monsieur," she said. "Let me add my poor admiration to all you receive, realizing that you saved the Emperor, soon to be my sovereign also." "You are too gracious, madame," Allard protested lightly. Gaiety came very easily to him since that day when he had saved Adrian's life and Stanief's honor. It seemed to him that John Allard had not only paid; he had re-earned the right to existence, justified his liberty. "If all the world knows of it--" "Oh, pardon; I only meant to say that the Grand Duke was present and did as much as I." Something in the words brought her soft smile. "Is not the Grand Duke usually where you are, monsieur?" she queried. "I am with him whenever he and my service of the Emperor permit, madame." "Only then?" she doubted. Surprised, he shrugged his shoulders laughingly. "Some one has been telling tales of me, Princess. I confess I am with him more than is strictly warranted." "I have heard so much of his coldness, his severity," she ventured, her lashes sweeping her round young cheeks. "He, he cares for nothing, no one, they say." "Oh, no, madame," Allard denied, warmly enlisted in the defense. "That is most unjust. Consider only those from whom such reports come; there is no one living who has more undeserved enemies. I know him capable of love; I have seen it, felt it, lived it. And he works, madame; how he works! The country under his rule gains new life, new hope. Madame, if I might presume, I would implore you to believe nothing of him except what he himself will show you." She crimsoned before his fervor, but her delicate face expressed no anger at the daring. "I will not," she assented, still with that strange timidity. "I was frightened at first, but not now, not any more. The Regent is fair, with gray eyes, is he not, monsieur?" "No, madame; he is very dark," he assured her hastily, his thoughts on Stanief's much-loved face. Iría smiled, bending her head still lower. "He is perhaps--fanciful, monsieur? He might do something quite useless and romantic, just for a caprice?" "Hardly, madame. I think he does nothing without a purpose. He--I believe he has not been very happy, Princess." "And, is he now?" she asked faintly. Allard recalled himself to gallantry with charming grace. "Madame, he should be happier than any one living." "Thank you, monsieur," she breathed, and let him retire presently, her bosom heaving under its white linen and lace.