and affable landlord, and to be assured that they would find their
rooms comfortable, and also that "Madame la Princesse Ziska"
expected them to dine with her that evening. At this message,
Denzil Murray made a sign to Gervase that he wished to speak to
him alone. Gervase move aside with him.

"Give me my chance!" said Denzil, fiercely.

"Take it!" replied Gervase listlessly. "Let to-night witness the
interchange of hearts between you and the Princess; I shall not
interfere."

Denzil stared at him in sullen astonishment.

"You will not interfere? Your fancy for her is at an end?"

Gervase raised his dark, glowing eyes and fixed them on his would-
be rival with a strange and sombre expression.

"My 'fancy' for her? My good boy, take care what you say! Don't
rouse me too far, for I am dangerous! My 'fancy' for her! What do
you know of it? You are hot-blooded and young; but the chill of
the North controls you in a fashion, while I--a man in the prime
of manhood--am of the South, and the Southern fire brooks no
control. Have you seen a quiet ocean, smooth as glass, with only a
dimple in the deep blue to show that perhaps, should occasion
serve, there might arise a little wave? And have you seen the wild
storm breaking from a black cloud and suddenly making that quiet
expanse nothing but a tourbillon of furious elements, in which the
very sea-gull's cry is whelmed and lost in the thunder of the