"It means you will be branded as traitor, that your name,
your property--"
"If you will pardon me, your Highness," she interrupted, "the power that
I have used was given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter to be
settled between me and my government, and as far as it affects my person
is of no consequence now. You will destroy the compact."
"Nine minutes!" said Mr. Grimm monotonously.
Again the babel broke out.
"Do we understand that you want to see the compact?" one of the cowled
men asked suddenly of Mr. Grimm as he turned.
"No, I don't want to see it. I'd prefer not to see it."
With hatred blazing in his eyes the prince made his way toward the lamp,
holding a parchment toward the blaze.
"There's nothing else to be done," he exclaimed savagely.
"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interposed quickly. "Miss Thorne, is
that the compact?"
She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then the flame caught the
fringed edge of paper. It crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, a
thing of ashes, was scattered on the floor. Mr. Grimm rose.
"That is all, gentlemen," he announced courteously.
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