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its summons he searched through the papers on his desk
for one which he finally located。
〃Here； Joubon；〃 he said as the clerk entered。 〃Summon these
officershave them come to me at once；〃 and he handed the
man the paper he had sought。 Then he turned to Tarzan。
〃You have committed a very grave offense； monsieur；〃 he
said； not unkindly； 〃and but for the explanation made by
our good friend here I should be inclined to judge you harshly。
I am； instead； about to do a rather unheard…of…thing。
I have summoned the officers whom you maltreated last night。
They shall hear Lieutenant D'Arnot's story； and then I shall
leave it to their discretion to say whether you shall be
prosecuted or not。
〃You have much to learn about the ways of civilization。
Things that seem strange or unnecessary to you； you must
learn to accept until you are able to judge the motives
behind them。 The officers whom you attacked were but doing
their duty。 They had no discretion in the matter。 Every day
they risk their lives in the protection of the lives or
property of others。 They would do the same for you。 They are
very brave men； and they are deeply mortified that a single
unarmed man bested and beat them。
〃Make it easy for them to overlook what you did。
Unless I am gravely in error you are yourself a very
brave man； and brave men are proverbially magnanimous。〃
Further conversation was interrupted by the appearance
of the four policemen。 As their eyes fell on Tarzan；
surprise was writ large on each countenance。
〃My children；〃 said the official； 〃here is the gentleman
whom you met in the Rue Maule last evening。 He has come
voluntarily to give himself up。 I wish you to listen
attentively to Lieutenant D'Arnot； who will tell you a part
of the story of monsieur's life。 It may explain his attitude
toward you of last night。 Proceed； my dear lieutenant。〃
D'Arnot spoke to the policemen for half an hour。 He told
them something of Tarzan's wild jungle life。 He explained
the savage training that had taught him to battle like a
wild beast in self…preservation。 It became plain to them
that the man had been guided by instinct rather than reason in
his attack upon them。 He had not understood their intentions。
To him they had been little different from any of the various
forms of life he had been accustomed to in his native jungle；
where practically all were his enemies。
〃Your pride has been wounded；〃 said D'Arnot； in conclusion。
〃It is the fact that this man overcame you that hurts the most。
But you need feel no shame。 You would not make apologies
for defeat had you been penned in that small room with an
African lion； or with the great Gorilla of the jungles。
〃And yet you were battling with muscles that have time
and time again been pitted； and always victoriously； against
these terrors of the dark continent。 It is no disgrace to
fall beneath the superhuman strength of Tarzan of the Apes。〃
And then； as the men stood looking first at Tarzan and
then at their superior the ape…man did the one thing which
was needed to erase the last remnant of animosity which
they might have felt for him。 With outstretched hand he
advanced toward them。
〃I am sorry for the mistake I made；〃 he said simply。 〃Let
us be friends。〃 And that was the end of the whole matter；
except that Tarzan became a subject of much conversation
in the barracks of the police； and increased the number of
his friends by four brave men at least。
On their return to D'Arnot's apartments the lieutenant
found a letter awaiting him from an English friend； William
Cecil Clayton； Lord Greystoke。 The two had maintained a
correspondence since the birth of their friendship on that
ill…fated expedition in search of Jane Porter after her theft
by Terkoz； the bull ape。
〃They are to be married in London in about two months；〃
said D'Arnot； as he completed his perusal of the letter。
Tarzan did not need to be told who was meant by 〃they。〃
He made no reply； but he was very quiet and thoughtful
during the balance of the day。
That evening they attended the opera。 Tarzan's mind was
still occupied by his gloomy thoughts。 He paid little or no
attention to what was transpiring upon the stage。 Instead he
saw only the lovely vision of a beautiful American girl； and
heard naught but a sad； sweet voice acknowledging that his
love was returned。 And she was to marry another！
He shook himself to be rid of his unwelcome thoughts； and
at the same instant he felt eyes upon him。 With the instinct
that was his by virtue of training he looked up squarely
into the eyes that were looking at him； to find that they
were shining from the smiling face of Olga； Countess de
Coude。 As Tarzan returned her bow he was positive that
there was an invitation in her look； almost a plea。
The next intermission found him beside her in her box。
〃I have so much wished to see you；〃 she was saying。
〃It has troubled me not a little to think that after the
service you rendered to both my husband and myself no adequate
explanation was ever made you of what must have seemed
ingratitude on our part in not taking the necessary steps to
prevent a repetition of the attacks upon us by those two men。〃
〃You wrong me；〃 replied Tarzan。 〃My thoughts of you
have been only the most pleasant。 You must not feel that
any explanation is due me。 Have they annoyed you further？〃
〃They never cease；〃 she replied sadly。 〃I feel that I must
tell some one； and I do not know another who so deserves
an explanation as you。 You must permit me to do so。 It may
be of service to you； for I know Nikolas Rokoff quite well
enough to be positive that you have not seen the last of him。
He will find some means to be revenged upon you。 What I
wish to tell you may be of aid to you in combating any
scheme of revenge he may harbor。 I cannot tell you here； but
tomorrow I shall be at home to Monsieur Tarzan at five。〃
〃It will be an eternity until tomorrow at five；〃 he said； as
he bade her good night。
From a corner of the theater Rokoff and Paulvitch saw
Monsieur Tarzan in the box of the Countess de Coude； and
both men smiled。
At four…thirty the following afternoon a swarthy； bearded
man rang the bell at the servants' entrance of the palace of
the Count de Coude。 The footman who opened the door raised
his eyebrows in recognition as he saw who stood without。
A low conversation passed between the two。
At first the footman demurred from some proposition
that the bearded one made； but an instant later something
passed from the hand of the caller to the hand of the
servant。 Then the latter turned and led the visitor by a
roundabout way to a little curtained alcove off the apartment
in which the countess was wont to serve tea of an afternoon。
A half hour later Tarzan was ushered into the room；
and presently his hostess entered； smiling； and with
outstr