The hound sprang away with a great bound, and in an instant Rêve de Noir was standing behind us. The dog did not appear again.
Honoria looked bewildered. "Of what dog were you speaking, Edward?"
"The hound that licked your face."
"You are joking. I saw no hound."
"See, gentlemen," exclaimed Lethal, "his Highness shows us tricks. He is a wizard."
The three women gave little shrieks,—half pleasure, half terror.
Denslow, who had fallen back in his chair asleep, awoke and rubbed his eyes.
"What is all this, Honoria?"
"That his Highness is a wizard," she said, with a forced laugh, glancing at Dalton.
"Will his Highness do us the honor to lay aside the mask, and appear in his true colors?" said Dalton, returning Honoria's glance with an encouraging look.