Their attendants were creeping shamefacedly back to their posts, seeing all was over. The line of soldiers swept down upon the carriage, a very pale officer in command. "I will do," said Allard, "anything you want." If the uproar had been great at the attack, it trebled as the furious crowd surged back in search of the assailant. The guards were obliged to close around the Regent to shield him from the frenzied and hysterical joy of the people at his safety. The slow return to his home was one continuous ovation, almost the cheering masses prevented advance. Long before Stanief reached his goal, Allard had arrived at the palace. No less excitement reigned there. Without need of explanation, Allard was hurried to the Emperor, questioned and congratulated on every side. He met Adrian in the hall, and at sight of his messenger, blackened with smoke, hatless, still pale with the strain of those perilous moments, the Emperor sprang forward and caught his arm. "Feodor?" he cried fiercely, his voice ringing through the lofty corridors. "Speak, speak; where is Feodor?" "Sire, he has returned to madame the Grand Duchess." "Safe? You are not deceiving me, he is safe?" "He is unhurt; he destroyed the bomb before it exploded," Allard explained incoherently. "His hands are cut, no more." Adrian dropped the other's arm and drew back; for hours Allard felt the bruise of that feverish grasp. "To madame," he repeated. "Sire, he ordered me to bring an account of the affair to your Imperial Majesty. He can be sent for," Allard suggested eagerly, catching a daring hope from the apparent emotion. Adrian favored him with a saber-keen glance. "Why should I wish to see him?" he demanded harshly. "If he is uninjured, very good; we will send our congratulations. You are exhausted, Monsieur Allard; go to your apartments and recover yourself. Alisof," he turned upon the group of listeners, "you will inform the chief of police that I shall replace him next week if he completes this exhibition of inefficiency by letting the assassin escape. And when he captures the man, he will report to me, not to the Regent." Scarlet enough now under the streaks of grime, Allard moved aside to let him pass. All his self-control could not smother the blazing indignation in his gray eyes. But Adrian brushed past without regarding him, and went alone into the room beyond. CHAPTER XVI FIRE LILIES Through the uproar, between the crowding people, Stanief at last gained his own hall and partly quelled the confusion by his mere presence. "Tell madame that I have returned and will visit her as soon as this smoke is removed," was his first direction on setting foot upon the steps. But when he reached the head of the great staircase a white figure flashed down the hall to meet him.