"You, also, care for a man; don't you?"
She bent her head in wordless assent.
"What are _you_ going to do about it, Clelia?"
"Whatever _he_ wishes."
"Marry him?"
"If he wishes."
"You are an astounding girl!"
"I am an astounded girl. I never supposed I should take such a view of
life, of its obligations, of my own position in the world.... Lately,
in the probable imminence of sudden death, I became a little
reckless--perhaps excited--willing to learn in these brief hours the
more innocent elements of love--curious to experience even the least
real of its mysteries--to play coquette in the pretty comedy--even with
you----"
She gave me a vague smile and slowly shook her head.
"All the while," she said, "I was in love with him. I didn't know it
because I didn't know him. When I felt frivolous and wished to laugh he
was serious. His solemnity stirred me to audacity; and when I said a lot
of silly things I didn't mean he preached at me; and I bullied him and
was impudent and showed my contempt for a man who would endure such
tyranny.... That is how it began.... And all the while, not knowing
it, I was falling more completely in love. Isn't it odd?"
She smiled, pressed my hands, shook her head as though at a loss to
account for her behavior.
"The first hint of it I had," she said, "was when he coolly warned me
that he would thwart me. And I looked into his eyes and knew him for
the first time--knew him to be the stronger, the wiser, the more
capable,--and the more powerful.
"And I realized, all in a moment, that he had endured my contempt and
tyranny merely because he chose to; that he was a real man, in cool
possession of his own destiny; that, if he chose, he could clear his
mind of me, and presently his heart; that I was not essential to him,
not necessary; that, indeed, unless I instantly took myself in hand and
made an effort to measure up to him, he'd turn from me,--quite
courteously--and go his own way with a kindly indifference which
suddenly seemed terrifying to me.... And I loved him.... And let him
know.... And that is how it happened with me."
After a long pause: "What would happen," I inquired, "if I tried that
sort of thing on Thusis?"
Clelia shook her head: "Thusis and I are different. I don't wish to be
a martyr."
"Does Thusis?"
"I'm rather afraid she is inclined that way. Of course we both were
quite willing to suffer physical martyrdom if we failed to carry off
these wretched kings. That is a different kind of martyrdom--a shot in
the brain, a knife thrust--perhaps a brutish supplice from the
boche----" She shrugged her shoulders. "We were not afraid," she
added. "But when another sort of death suddenly confronted me--the
death of love in him I loved--I had no courage--none at all. You see I
am not the stuff of which martyrs are fashioned, Mr. O'Ryan."
"Is Thusis?"
"Alas!"
"She prefers to suffer?"
"I am afraid she will become a martyr to a pride which interprets for
her the old, outworn doggerel of ages dead.... I can't repeat it to
you."
"Noblesse oblige?"
"That phrase occurs in it."
"Oh.... So Thusis, caring for me, will send me away," I said.
"I cannot answer you."
"Can you advise me, Clelia?"
She looked up at me; tears sprang to her eyes; she pressed my hands, but
shook her head.
*XX*
*A LOCAL STORM*
I knocked very gently at Thusis's door and she opened it, signed for me
to enter, then closed it cautiously.
"Do you know," said I, "that it is after midnight?"
"I know it is. But as long as others don't know you are here, what does
it matter, Michael?"
"Of course," I muttered, "you and I know there's no cause for scandal."
Her delightful laughter welled up from the whitest throat I have ever
seen, but she instantly suppressed it.
"We're very indiscreet," she said mockingly; "we've exchanged hearts and
we're here in my bedroom at midnight. Can you imagine what that queen
downstairs would say?"
"Had you meant to kidnap her, also?" I inquired.
"No," she said scornfully. "The Allies can take care of the
Hohenzollern litter after they take the sty."
"Berlin," I nodded.
"Berlin. Hercules had no such task in his Augean stable. It _was_
Hercules, wasn't it, Michael? I always get him and his labors mixed up
with Theseus. But the Prince of Argolis used address, not bull
force.... His mother's name was AEthra.... My mother's name was AEthra,
too."
"That is Greek."
"Very. And the name of the ancient pal--I mean the name of our old
house on the island of Naxos was Thalassa!--You remember the Ten
Thousand?"
"Yes. Your house overlooked the sea?"
"The AEgean! You enter from the landward lawn, advance toward the
portico--and suddenly, through the marble corridor, a sheet of azure!
Thalassa!"
I said slowly: "Little white goddess of Naxos with hair like the sun and
eyes of AEgean blue, why have you sent for me to come to your chamber at
midnight?"
Thusis looked at me and her happy smile faded.
"To ask one question," she said very gravely, "and to answer one--if you
ask it."
"Ask yours, first."
"What did that dreadful Princess say to you and to Mr. Smith after I
left the room?"