In the doorway stood Queen Flavia, all in white; and now her face turned white as her dress.

For her eyes had fallen on Rudolf Rassendyll.

For a moment the four stood thus; then Rudolf passed Sapt, thrust Bernenstein's brawny shoulders (the young man had not looked round) out of the way, and, falling on his knee before the queen, seized her hand and kissed it.

Bernenstein could see now without looking round, and if astonishment could kill, he would have been a dead man that instant.

He fairly reeled and leant against the wall, his mouth hanging open.