“But as rapidly as he had moved, the prince had not been able to prevent the incision which the dagger’s point made in his wrist and from which a thin stream of blood issued.
“‘Ah, ha, my beauty!’ he cried as he released the struggling girl and retreated a step, the better to enjoy her discomfiture; ‘ah, ha! I like thy spirit. I would not have thee mar the lovely casket which contains it. Here!’ he called to the waiting-woman, who had witnessed the episode and into whose quick eyes, which had detected the slight wound upon the wrist of the prince, there crept a strange, inexplicable expression of leering triumph, ‘here, guard this maiden for a space. Your life shall pay the penalty if aught befalls her in my absence.
“‘I shall return presently with the help I need to overcome such elevated objection’; and turning abruptly, the prince hastened toward the doorway, pausing a second to regain possession of the dagger which he had cast from him during the brief struggle.
“‘Alas!’ cried the unhappy girl, ‘what shall I do? He has gone to get some of his creatures to help him in his evil purposes.’
“For a moment a tense silence prevailed.
“The next instant, with eerie, jubilant interruption, the waiting-woman made the very air shudder with a laugh of such shrill exultation and riotous abandon that Lal Lu, for a moment forgetful of her own extremity, gazed with unconcealed amazement and alarm upon the almost hysterical creature.
“‘Ha, ha!’ she raved; ‘be not afraid, Lal Lu. This royal pest, this insolent prince, will trouble you no more; you will never see him again.’
“‘Ha!’ exclaimed Lal Lu. ‘You seem strangely positive. What do you mean?’
“‘Did you see that scratch which the point of your dagger made upon the wrist of the prince?’
“‘No,’ replied Lal Lu, shrinking from the picture presented to her mind.