“I have not trusted you in vain,” she said, after the pause. “Your Majesty has but to speak your wishes; it is for me to obey;” and she gave me one of her sweet, frank smiles.
I felt meaner than ever; but I was in up to the neck, and deliberately plunged deeper. Under an impulse I could not control, for her smile and words of trust carried me away, I took her hand.
“Is it the Emperor you trust, Helga, or the man?” I asked, in a voice low with passion.
“It is you, monsieur;” and again she lifted her glorious eyes to my face, and then withdrew them on meeting my look.
“May God deal with me as I merit, if I desert you.”
We stood thus for a moment, when, at the sound of some one approaching the room, she drew away from me, with a glance and a sigh.
It was Ivan with news.
“We have heard the sound of some one driving furiously toward the house, my lord. What shall we do?”
“I will come,” I answered, and he hurried away.
“You will run no risks, monsieur?” cried Helga swiftly and anxiously.