talk to me; Monsieur Armand Gervase will perhaps go in and excuse
us for a few minutes to the Princess Ziska."

"With pleasure!" said Gervase; then, beckoning Denzil Murray
aside, he whispered:

"Tell me, have you won or lost?"

"Lost!" replied Denzil, fiercely, through his set teeth. "It is
your turn now! But, if you win, as sure as there is a God above
us, I will kill you!"

"SOIT! But not till I am ready for killing! AFTER TO-MORROW NIGHT
I shall be at your service, not till then!"

And smiling coldly, his dark face looking singularly pale and
stern in the moonlight, Gervase turned away, and, walking with his
usual light, swift, yet leisurely tread, entered the Princess's
apartment by the French window which was still open, and from
which the sound of sweet music came floating deliciously on the
air as he disappeared.




CHAPTER XIV.


In a half-reclining attitude of indolently graceful ease, the
Princess Ziska watched from beneath the slumbrous shadow of her