"Liar! Dog! I'll kill you for that!" he cried, but, before he could clutch the Prince's throat, Yetive had frantically seized his arm.
"Not that!" she shrieked. "Do not kill him! There must be no murder here!"
He reluctantly hurled Gabriel from him, the Prince tottering to his knees in the effort to keep from falling. She had saved her maligner's life, but courage deserted her with the act. Helplessly she looked into the blazing eyes of her lover and faltered: "I--I do not know what to say or do. My brain is bursting!"
"Courage, courage!" he whispered, gently.
"You shall pay for this," shrieked Gabriel. "If you are not a prisoner you shall be. There'll be scandal enough in Graustark to-morrow to start a volcano of wrath from the royal tombs where lie her fathers. I'll see that you are a prisoner!" He started for the door, but Lorry's pistol was leveled at his head.
"If you move I'll kill you!"
"The world will understand how and why I fell by your hand and in this room. Shoot!" he cried, triumphantly. Lorry's hand trembled and his eyes filled with the tears of impotent rage. The Prince held the higher card.
A face suddenly appeared at the door, which had been stealthily opened from without. Captain Quinnox glided into the room behind the Prince and gently closed the door, unnoticed by the gloater.
"A prisoner?" sneered Gabriel. "Where is your captor, pray?"
"Here!" answered a voice at his back. The Prince wheeled and found himself looking at the stalwart form of the captain of the guard. "I am surely privileged to speak now, your Highness," he went on, addressing the Princess significantly.
"How came you here?" gasped Gabriel.
"I brought my prisoner here. Where should I be if not here to guard him?"
"When--when did you enter this room?"
"An hour ago."
"You were not here when I came!"
"I have been standing on this spot for an hour. You have been very much excited, I'll agree, but it is strange you did not see me," lied Quinnox.
Gabriel looked about helplessly, nonplussed.
"You were here when I came in?" he asked, wonderingly.
"Ask Her Royal Highness," commanded the captain, smiling.
"Captain Quinnox brought the prisoner to me an hour ago," she said, mechanically.
"It is a lie!" cried Gabriel. "He was not here when I entered!"
The captain of the guard laid a heavy hand on the shoulder of the Prince and said, threateningly: "I was here and I am here. Have a care how you speak. Were I to do right I should shoot you like a dog. You came like a thief, you insult the ruler of my land. I have borne it all because you are a Prince, but have a care--have a care. I may forget myself and tear out your black heart with these hands. One word from Her Royal Highness will be your death warrant."