“I shall live with Carl and Gretchen,” she said musingly, when they had turned a corner in the tunnel and had again caught sight of the candle in Eingen’s hand. “We will go to some quiet spot and till the soil and forget the treachery that drove us from our fatherland. I shall be happy in their happiness—and forget—forget—forget!”
Bennett bent down until his face almost touched hers.
“You must not forget,” he whispered, “that there lives a man whose only wish on earth is to know that your heart is light, that your eyes are bright with the joy of life, that no shadows fall across your path.”
Suddenly through the tunnel came the shrill voice of the dwarf, chanting mischievously the refrain, “Two of a kind.” Then a mocking laugh followed the words into the echoing vaults far behind the fugitives.
The Princess Hilda shuddered, and placed a light hand upon Bennett’s arm.
“Do you know what he did to them?” she asked nervously.
“He won’t tell me,” answered Bennett; “all that he will say is that they were ‘a small pair’ and he ‘discarded’ them.”
Again the princess shuddered, and quickened her steps. Suddenly the candle carried by Carl Eingen flickered vigorously, and almost succumbed to a damp draught. The princess glanced up at Bennett joyfully.
“Look at Carl’s candle,” she exclaimed. “Do you know what that means, Herr Bennett? We are near the entrance, or rather, the exit to the tunnel. The Rhine, Herr Bennett, the dear, old Rhine is waiting to take us to its heart.”
Her voice trembled with excitement and she stumbled as she darted ahead. By a quick movement Bennett’s arm caught her as she fell forward. Forgetful of everything but his burning love, he held her pressed against him as he rained passionate kisses upon her lips and cheeks.