Why, indeed? There seemed no adequate reason for being either
surprised or offended; yet surprised and offended most people
were, and scandal ran rife, and rumor wagged all its poisonous
tongues to spread evil reports against the Princess Ziska's name
and fame, till Denzil Murray, maddened and furious, rushed up to
his sister in her room and swore that he would marry the Princess
if he died for it.

"They are blackguarding her downstairs, the beasts!" he said
hotly. "They are calling her by every bad name under the sun! But
I will make everything straight for her; she shall be my wife! If
she will have me, I will marry her to-morrow!"

Helen looked at him in speechless despair.

"Oh, Denzil!" she faltered, and then could say no more, for the
tears that blinded her eyes.

"Oh, yes, of course, I know what you mean!" he continued, marching
up and down the room excitedly. "You are like all the others; you
think her an adventuress. I think her the purest, the noblest of
women! There is where we differ. I spoke to her last night,--I
told her I loved her."

"You did?" and Helen gazed at him with wet, tragic eyes,--"And she
..."

"She bade me be silent. She told me I must not speak--not yet. She
said she would give me her answer when we were all together at the