“Not sorry you were rescued, Princess, but sorry—yes, desolated—that Colonel Wylie enjoyed the honour of rescuing you. Why, why was it not to the wretched Apolis that thus supreme distinction came?”
“Because he didn’t happen to be in the neighbourhood, I suppose,” said Zoe prosaically.
“Ah, Princess, do you imply that you blame this neglect of his? Not more than he does, I assure you. But from henceforth Apolis shall be the shadow of Zeto. Never shall she look round without beholding him!”
“Dear me, I hope not!” cried Zoe in alarm. “Think, Prince, your duty is at the front, not with the non-combatants. You came here to fight.”
“And does Zeto bid me fight? Then shall the sword of Apolis be doubly winged with victory! What trophies will he lay at her feet! in what imperishable poems shall be celebrated the fame of her who called upon a flâneur and sent a hero to the fight!”
“It’s very satisfactory to know from your own lips that you are a hero—or is it that you are going to be one?” said Zoe, much amused. “But you mustn’t ascribe the glory to me. We are on opposite sides, you know.”
“Ah, no, not on opposite sides. Apolis can be opposed to no family that numbers Zeto among its members. But there are possible arrangements—— Only yesterday I received encouragement—an actual promise of support—from the most unexpected quarter. Your brother is above all things a reasonable man; I have his pledge to allow matters to take their course.” Zoe was looking at him in utter bewilderment, but he did not see it. “In the fairy tales it is always the Prince who wins the Princess, is it not so?”
“Not a bit of it!” declared Zoe vigorously. “It is just as often the poor and nameless knight,” with a tender intonation the significance of which was lost upon Prince Romanos. “And really,” sudden indignation getting the better of her, “have you forgotten all that happened at Bashi Konak? I am not going to treat it as a dream, if you are.”
“Princess!” reproachfully, “do you forget that I am a basely deceived, an injured man?—that the woman to whom I gave my heart’s allegiance proved herself the tool of my enemies?”
“Of what enemies, pray? I remember you accused me before of having employed some one to keep you from following us. Who was it? I want this cleared up. Was it Donna Olimpia Pazzi?”