The Prince's lips drew to a thin line, but that was all.
"Still, who will disprove it?" he asked.
"If you will allow me," said a voice behind us.
We beheld the Princess framed in the doorway. There was a pallor and a look of utter weariness in her face. At the sight of her the Count uncovered and the Prince rose.
"Your arrival is quite timely," said he. "Here are two champions of yours. Come, which do you love?"
A fury sprang to my head, and I said, "You have too much confidence in our patience. I warn you that I have no fear of the sabres back of you."
The same sabres leapt from their scabbards and fell stiffly against their owners' shoulders, instinctively.
"Has it come to this," said the Princess, a superb scorn in her eyes, "that my honor must needs be defended by strangers and aliens?" For the briefest space her glance plunged into my eyes. She moved toward the Prince. "And you, sir, are to be my husband?"
"It is the will of the King," said the Prince, a mocking smile on his lips.
How I lusted for his blood!