The Lady Thalia looked up, and as her eyes fell upon Sir James they opened to their fullest width and the rich color faded from her cheeks. The next instant it came pouring back again, considerably deeper in tone, while her long lashes fell.
The man to whom she had been talking, and who was looking into her face at the time, observed the flash of emotion, and, swinging in his chair, glanced up curiously at Sir James. The two were slightly acquainted, having previously met at the same house. Sir James crossed the room in his usual calm and cheerful manner, bowed before the girl, then, with a pleasant word, turned to shake hands with the Frenchman.
"And how do you find yourself, mademoiselle," said he in French, "after our little accident of last evening?" Without waiting for her reply, and in order to give her the cue, he turned to the Frenchman and continued; "While motoring last night with a friend, we had the misfortune to come in collision with the Prince Emilio and Baron Rosenthal."
"Indeed! And was there any damage?"
"None whatever to the cars," replied Sir James placidly. "The prince, my friend, and myself were thrown about a little and slightly shaken up."
The lips of the Lady Thalia began to twitch, and the Frenchman, suspecting some understanding between the two, murmured his felicitations on their escape from serious injury, and, with a comment on the dangers of motoring, excused himself.
When he had gone, the girl leaned back in her fauteuil and looked at Sir James smilingly.
"Awfully jolly, finding you here," said Sir James cheerfully. "Saves such a lot of trouble."
"Are you quite sure?" she answered.
"Positive. We had set ourselves to comb Paris to find you."
"And now that you have found us?" asked the girl.
"We can make our plans," answered Sir James, in his most matter-of-fact tone.
"Indeed!" The hazel eyes opened a little wider. "How is Mr. Dallas?"
"Quite furious. You see, the chauffeur sat on him."
"No!"
"Really. And I'm not quite sure that the brute did not cuff him once or twice. Stephen would not admit it, but I noticed that one ear was a trifle puffed up, and when he brushed his hair he swore."
The Lady Thalia leaned back in her chair and laughed until her eyes were misty. Then her lovely face grew serious.
"And how are you?" she asked. "I have been horribly anxious. When we left, you were quite unconscious."
"Merely a little nap," replied Sir James calmly. "The baron knows his work. When I awoke, quite refreshed, I found Dallas raving with a thirst for revenge and a deep appreciation for the charms of a certain lady."
"And you?"
"Um—ah—my own emotions were not so complicated. I harbor no ill will against Rosenthal."
The girl's eyes fell. "Paula is very fascinating, is she not?"
"So Stephen tells me. No doubt he is quite right."
The rich color deepened in the cheeks of the Lady Thalia, and her long lashes swept down to hide what was in the amber-colored eyes.
"But about our plans," said Sir James. "We have undertaken to get you out of the hands of the prince and Rosenthal and land you safely in—ah"
"Novibazar?"
"Quite so." Sir James adjusted his monocle, and, taking a small gold pencil from his pocket, scribbled something upon his cuff. The girl's lips twitched.
"We must give these chaps the slip," said Sir James. "Then we'll run you two ladies down through Switzerland and across to the Dalmatian coast. Get into your country by the back door, so to speak."
The girl's face became grave, and she shook her head.
"That is very dear and chivalrous of you," said she, "but it is quite impossible. We are leaving in two days for Belgrade, and Rosenthal has threatened to inform the police of Paula's identity if we try to run away in the meantime. It would not be safe."
Sir James knit his brows and spun his monocle around his finger.
"Besides," said the Lady Thalia slowly, "we could not think of letting you put yourself to so much trouble and expense."
"As for the trouble," said Sir James, "that doesn't count, because, you see, we've neither of us a blessed thing to do, and as far as expense is concerned, Dallas swears that he would cheerfully put up forty thousand pounds against old Rosenthal's, just to get even. He's shockingly rich. What will happen when you get to Belgrade?"
The Lady Thalia's face clouded. "I have no idea," she answered. "To tell the truth, the thought is a little terrifying. Servia is a very wild country, and Emilio has great influence there."
"You mean that he might do something nasty?"