He wondered what would occur if by any ill-chance Eugen should die in that bed - how he would explain the affair to Posen and to the Emperor, how he would justify himself. He saw himself being tried for murder, sentenced (him - a Prince of the blood!), led to the scaffold . . . a scene unparalleled in Europe for over a century!
. . . Then he gazed anew at the sick man, and thought he saw death in every drawn feature of that agonized face. He could have screamed aloud. His ears heard a peculiar resonant boom. He started - it was nothing but the city clock striking twelve. But there was another sound - a mysterious shuffle at the door. He listened;then jumped from his chair. Nothing now! Nothing! But still he felt drawn to the door, and after what seemed an interminable interval he went and opened it, his heart beating furiously. Nella lay in a heap on the door mat. She was fully dressed, but had apparently lost consciousness. He clutched at her slender body, picked her up, carried her to the chair by the fire-place, and laid her in it. He had forgotten all about Eugen.
'What is it, my angel?' he whispered, and then he kissed her -kissed her twice. He could only look at her; he did not know what to do to succour her.
At last she opened her eyes and sighed.
'Where am I?' she asked. vaguely, in a tremulous tone. as she recognized him. 'Is it you? Did I do anything silly? Did I faint?'
'What has happened? Were you ill?' he questioned anxiously. He was kneeling at her feet, holding her hand tight.
'I saw Jules by the side of my bed,' she murmured; 'I'm sure I saw him; he laughed at me. I had not undressed. I sprang up, frightened, but he had gone, and then I ran downstairs - to you.'
'You were dreaming,' he soothed her.
'Was I?'
'You must have been. I have not heard a sound. No one could have entered.
But if you like I will wake Mr Racksole.'
'Perhaps I was dreaming,' she admitted. 'How foolish!'
'You were over-tired,' he said, still unconsciously holding her hand.
They gazed at each other. She smiled at him.
'You kissed me,' she said suddenly, and he blushed red and stood up before her. 'Why did you kiss me?'
'Ah! Miss Racksole,' he murmured, hurrying the words out.
'Forgive me. It is unforgivable, but forgive me. I was overpowered by my feelings. I did not know what I was doing.'
'Why did you kiss me?' she repeated.
'Because - Nella! I love you. I have no right to say it.'
'Why have you no right to say it?'
'If Eugen dies, I shall owe a duty to Posen - I shall be its ruler.'
'Well!' she said calmly, with an adorable confidence. 'Papa is worth forty millions. Would you not abdicate?'
'Ah!' he gave a low cry. 'Will you force me to say these things? Icould not shirk my duty to Posen, and the reigning Prince of Posen can only marry a Princess.'
'But Prince Eugen will live,' she said positively, 'and if he lives - '
'Then I shall be free. I would renounce all my rights to make you mine, if - if - '
'If what, Prince?'
'If you would deign to accept my hand.'
'Am I, then, rich enough?'
'Nella!' He bent down to her.
Then there was a crash of breaking glass. Aribert went to the window and opened it. In the starlit gloom he could see that a ladder had been raised against the back of the house. He thought he heard footsteps at the end of the garden.
'It was Jules,' he exclaimed to Nella, and without another word rushed upstairs to the attic. The attic was empty. Miss Spencer had mysteriously vanished.
