Then, as it seemed to her that her very brain must give way under such emotional stress, Sir Robert extricated himself from his position and with a sudden lunge took the Prince unawares. The sword passed through the Prince’s shoulder. He gave a cry which was little more than a groan and his sword clattered from his right hand on to the floor.

He clapped his left hand to the wound and as he did so, Mistral fell. She felt as if the floor came up to hit her. She was conscious only of an overwhelming darkness which carried her down, down into a merciful oblivion from which she felt there could never be an awakening…

*

When she opened her eyes, it seemed to her that centuries must have passed. For a moment she could not remember what had happened, feeling only that she had been a long way away and that she was still travelling. Then she became aware that there were wheels moving beneath her, that something strange lay beneath her cheek.

She moved and was instantly aware that there was an arm which held her close and that her head rested against someone’s shoulder. In that moment of wakening she knew whose it was. An ecstasy of joy and wonder seemed to run through her brain like fire as she realised whose arm held her.

‘Are you all right now?’

Sir Robert’s voice was low and tender and his face was very close to hers. She could see him very clearly in the light from the lantern. They were in a carriage together and for a moment she could think of nothing save his closeness and that his arm encircled her. Then something moved and she realised that it was her own hand. She caught sight of the bandage and instantly everything came flooding back to her memory.

‘The Prince?’ she asked wildly. The Prince?’

‘He is not dead,’ Sir Robert said grimly. ‘Which is a pity, for I meant to kill him.’

Mistral gave a little sob.

But what has he – done?’ she asked. ‘He rescued me from – the Rajah! It was the Rajah who – took me – away.’

‘The Rajah!’

There was no mistaking the astonishment in Sir Robert’s voice.

‘Yes, the Prince – saved me,’ Mistral repeated. ‘I tried to tell you – I tried – but you would not let – me.’

Sir Robert stared down at her as if he sought the truth in her eyes raised to his and from her lips which were only a few inches away.

‘Tell me what happened,’ he said at length.

‘I was leaving the Restaurant des Fleurs with my aunt,’ Mistral said, speaking at first weakly then gathering strength as her story proceeded. ‘Just as we were stepping into the carriage, one of the men who had dined with the Rajah earlier in the evening came forward and spoke to my aunt.