"Ah, my boy Jack," he grasped my hands, forgetting his ill humor to beam on me. "For lack of opportunity I have not expressed my gratitude! Azuria is your debtor! I, who have the authority, say it!" "Thank you," I replied, "but that debt was cancelled early this morning when its Princess saved me from assassination." "Good Lord," Tommy cried, in despair, "he's spilled the beans! Jack, you bone-head, we----" "Be quiet, sir," she commanded, turning beautifully pink and giving me ten thousand messages in a single look. "Then come on," Tommy said, beginning to draw her away by the hand, "let's go off and think up another!" "My boy Tommy," the professor sternly reproved him, "she is of royal blood!" "You said something that time," he imperturbably replied. "Come on, Princess!" And laughingly she went with him. "_Pardieu_," the old fellow pulled at his beard, "that sex is like a cyclone--the nearer I get the faster I am twisted! But just as her mother was at that age--yes, quite!" He sighed. "Is she going back with you?" I asked, feeling a malicious joy in the question after the last look she gave me. "_Certainement_, there is no other way! Thus far I have not tried to persuade her, but merely presented a few minor facts. Yes, she will go." I confess that my malicious joy sank somewhat. "You are a gentleman," he continued, "and that presupposes a delicate sense of honor. I know how you feel toward her--yet would you have her remain with you if she one day regretted it? Great things rest on her return, I assure you. Let us start even! You have had two days to persuade her your way; let me have two days to persuade her mine! After that, we fight in the open--you and I!" There was something straightforward in his appeal that impressed me. I had had two days, and it would be giving her destiny, those great things he spoke of, a square deal to comply. I had misgivings, of course, but these were overruled by--why deny it?--the masculine conceit that becomes assertive after a few feminine favors. At any rate, it was a fair sporting proposition, and I said: "All right, for two days--provided I explain to her how we made this bargain." He smiled and hugged me as of yore, crying: "Almost you would make me sorry when I win! So we fight to the last ditch, eh?" "To the last ditch," I smiled, shaking hands with him.