The Power of the Fraternity

"No," I replied, "nobody can explain it. It is a secret that is known
only to God, and His ways are immutable. But we have each recognized it
from the first."

We said nothing of love then. The subject seemed out of place at that
moment. We both knew all that the other would have said, or could with
truth say, and there was no need to do what would seem like repeating
it.

"When will you hear from the note that you have sent?" she asked
presently.

"Very soon, now," I replied. "If your servant has delivered the
message, there should be a reply within a few minutes. Let us go to the
window and watch."

So we stood there by the window, silently communing with each other
without speaking. Her left hand was clasped within my right one, and
the minutes came and went until I raised my other hand and pointed
silently toward a large, double britzska that was approaching. I
had recognized the huge proportions of Tom Coyle, holding the reins,
and I knew that underneath the covering were trusty followers of mine
who would make short work of the waiting assassins.

"There comes the answer to my note," I said, "Watch that britzska."

"I see it," she replied.

It dashed up on a run straight for the point where the other one was
still waiting, and came to a stop with a suddenness that threw the
horses back upon their haunches. At the same instant there dashed from
beneath the covering a half dozen men, and while some seized the horses
of the waiting britzska, and others pulled the man from the driver's
seat, still others jerked open the curtains and sprang inside. From our
post of observation we could see that a severe struggle was taking
place, and twice we heard the reports of pistols; and then the smaller
carriage drove away, while the larger one, that which Tom Coyle had
been driving, dashed straight for the door of the princess' house.