But he smiled to think of the anger and scorn with which Osra would receive the tidings when the steward delivered them to her. In this respect the event did not fall short of his expectations, for she was so indignant and aghast that, thinking of nothing but the tidings, she flung away the book and cried: "Send the Count here to me," and stood waiting for him there in her chamber, in her white gown and with her hair unbound and flowing down over her shoulders. And when he came she cried: "What is this, my lord?" and listened to his story with parted lips and flashing eyes, and thus read the King's letter and saw the King's seal. And her eyes filled with tears, but she dashed them away with her hand. Then the Count said, bowing to her as mockingly as he had bowed to her brother: "It is the fortune of the dice, madame." "Yes, my lord, as you play the game," said she. His eyes were fixed on her, and it seemed to him that she was more beautiful in her white gown and with her hair unbound over her shoulders, than he had ever felt her to be before, and he eyed her closely. Suddenly she looked at him, and for a moment he averted his eyes; but he looked again and her eyes met his. For several moments she stood rigid and motionless. Then she said: "My lord, the King has lost the Castle of Zenda, which is the home and cradle of our House. It was scarcely the King's alone to lose. Have I no title in it?" "It was the King's, madame, and now it is mine," smiled Nikolas. "Well, then, it is yours," said she, and taking a step towards him, she said: "Have you a mind to venture it again, my lord?" "I would venture it only against a great stake," said he, smiling still, while his eyes were fixed on her face and marked every change in the colour of her cheeks. "I can play dice as well as the King," she cried. "Are we not all gamblers, we Elphbergs?" And she laughed bitterly. "But what would your stake be?" he asked sneeringly. Princess Osra's face was now very pale, but her voice did not tremble and she did not flinch; for the honour of her House and of the throne was as sacred to her as her salvation, and more than her happiness. "A stake, my lord," said she, "that many gentlemen have thought above any castle in preciousness." "Of what do you speak?" he asked, and his voice quivered a little, as a man's does in excitement. "For, pardon me, madame, but what have you of such value?" "I have what the poorest girl has, and it is of the value that it pleased God to make it and pleases men to think it," said Osra. "And all of it I will stake against the King's Castle of Zenda and its demesne." Count Nikolas's eyes flashed and he drew nearer to her; he took his dice-box from his pocket, and he held it up before her, and he whispered in an eager hoarse voice: "Name this great stake, madame; what is it?" "It is myself, my lord," said Princess Osra. "Yourself?" he cried wondering, though he had half guessed.