"I have given you your chance.
I have played fair with you. Now, we are quits."
"And you don't want my aid?" he asked.
"Not unless it's given before noon to-morrow."
He raised his hands.
"There are only two people in the world who could get you out of
Dornlitz by noon to-morrow--the King and the Governor."
"Exactly," said she. "And, to one of them, I shall go in the morning."
"Better try Frederick," Lotzen laughed. "He has a weak side for a
pretty woman."
(I did not look at the King--but I heard him sniff angrily.)
"No--I shall try the Governor," she returned. "He told me, one day, in
his office, that, when I acknowledged that I was not his wife and that
the marriage certificate was false, I would be permitted to leave the
Kingdom." She paused, a moment. "Does Your Highness wish me to go to
the Governor?"
I thought the Duke would weaken--but, as usual, I got a surprise.
"My dear girl," said he, "I shall be heartbroken if you leave
Valeria--but, if that is all you need to do to be free to go--and you
are not, in fact, Armand Dalberg's wife--then I am surprised that you
have not done it long ago."
She smiled, rather sadly.
"Yes, I fancy you are.
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