"Sire, he ordered me to bring an account of the affair to your Imperial Majesty. He can be sent for," Allard suggested eagerly, catching a daring hope from the apparent emotion.
Adrian favored him with a saber-keen glance.
"Why should I wish to see him?" he demanded harshly. "If he is uninjured, very good; we will send our congratulations. You are exhausted, Monsieur Allard; go to your apartments and recover yourself. Alisof," he turned upon the group of listeners, "you will inform the chief of police that I shall replace him next week if he completes this exhibition of inefficiency by letting the assassin escape. And when he captures the man, he will report to me, not to the Regent."
Scarlet enough now under the streaks of grime, Allard moved aside to let him pass. All his self-control could not smother the blazing indignation in his gray eyes. But Adrian brushed past without regarding him, and went alone into the room beyond.
CHAPTER XVI
FIRE LILIES
Through the uproar, between the crowding people, Stanief at last gained his own hall and partly quelled the confusion by his mere presence.
"Tell madame that I have returned and will visit her as soon as this smoke is removed," was his first direction on setting foot upon the steps.
But when he reached the head of the great staircase a white figure flashed down the hall to meet him.