“Quinnox, give me your hand—­don’t mind the blood!  You have been my friend, and you have served her almost to the death.  I injured and would have killed you in that cell, but it was not in anger.  Will you be my friend in all that is to follow?”

“She has said that she loves you,” said the captain, returning the hand clasp.  “I am at your service as well as hers.”

A few moments later Lorry was in her presence.  What was said or done during the half hour that passed between his entrance and the moment that brought them side by side from the room need not be told.  That the interview had had its serious side was plain.  The troubled, anxious eyes of the girl and the rebellious, dogged air of the man told of a conflict now only in abeyance.

“I will never give you up,” he said, as they came from the door.  A wistful gleam flickered in her eyes, but she did not respond in words.

Near the head of the stairway an animated group of persons lingered.  Harry Anguish was in the center and the Countess Dagmar was directly in front of him, looking up with sparkling eyes and parted lips.  The Count and Countess Halfont, Gaspon, the Baron Dangloss, the Duke of Mizrox, with other ladies and gentlemen, were being entertained by the gay-spirited stranger.

Here he comes,” cried the latter, as he caught sight of the approaching couple.

“I am delighted to see you, Harry.  You were the friend in need, old man,” said Lorry, wringing the other’s hand.  Yetive gave him her hand, her blue eyes overflowing.

“Mr. Anguish had just begun to tell us how he—­how he—­” began Dagmar, but paused helplessly, looking to him for relief.

“Go ahead, Countess; it isn’t very elegant, but it’s the way I said it.  How I ‘got next’ to Gabriel is what she wants to say.  Perhaps your Highness would like to know all about the affair that ended so tragically.  It’s very quickly told,” said Anguish.

“I am deeply interested,” said the Princess, eagerly.

“Well, in the first place, it was all a bluff,” said he, coolly.

“A what!” demanded Dagmar.

“Bluff,” responded Harry, briefly; “American patois, dear Countess.”

“In what respect,” asked Lorry, beginning to understand.

“In all respects.  I didn’t have the slightest sign of proof against the festive Prince.”

“And you—­you did all that ’on a bluff’?” gasped the other.

“Do I understand you to say that you have no evidence against Gabriel?” asked Halfont, dumbfounded.

“Not a particle.”

“But you said his confederate had confessed,” protested Dangloss.

“I didn’t know that he had a confederate, and I wasn’t sure that he was guilty of the crime,” boasted Anguish, complacently enjoying the stupefaction.

“Then why did you say so?” demanded Dangloss, excited beyond measure.

“Oh, I just guessed at it!”