laughed uncertainly.

"What nonsense is this?" he demanded. "Whose sorry trick is
this? The lie is not even ingenious."

General Renauld had not spoken since he had entered the room,
but now he advanced in front of Kalonay and faced him with a
threatening gesture.

"The President of Messina does not lie, sir," he said,
sternly. "I myself saw the Countess Zara write out that
paper, which I and others signed, and in which we agreed to
pay to her and to you the money you asked for betraying your
King."

Father Paul pressed his hand heavily on Kalonay's shoulder.
"Do not answer him," he commanded. Gordon had moved to
Kalonay's other side, and the three men had unconsciously
assumed an attitude of defence, and stood back to back in a
little group facing the angry circle that encompassed them.
The priest raised his arm to command a hearing.

"Where is Madame Zara?" he cried.

"Ah, where indeed?" echoed the King, sinking back into his
chair. "She has fled. It is all too evident now; she has
betrayed us and she has fled."

But on his words, as if in answer to the priest's summons, the
curtains that hid the door into the King's private room were