"Then I ask you only to suspend judgment until you do, sire. A regent there must be, I, or another if I die—"
"I would rather have you than any one else in the world."
"There is no one—I speak knowing our court—no one else whose pride and honor so compel him to loyalty. And I stand in grievous need of your protection, my imperial cousin."
Adrian's head lifted haughtily.
"Of my protection! You, now?"
"I, now. Through you, if you lend your name to their use, my enemies can make the task I have set myself difficult beyond description."
The kindling fire had caught, at last; with the first boyish impulsiveness of the interview Adrian's response flashed to meet the appeal.
"You need not fear that! You need not fear me."
"Thank you, sire," Stanief answered, simply and gravely.
There was a pause. Allard wondered, as he discreetly observed the two, just what would have been the result if Stanief had brought less convincing seriousness to answer his cousin's sensitive pride and incredulity.