A fine companion for a youth of twenty-six in search of adventure! They paused near the door until the old man's niece appeared at the back of the shop.

King's first glance at the girl was merely a casual one.
His second was more or less in the nature of a stare of amazement.
A young woman of the most astounding beauty, attired in the black and red of the Graustark middle classes, was slowly approaching from the shadowy recesses at the end of the shop.

She gave him but a cursory glance, in which no interest was apparent, and glided quietly into the little nook behind the counter, almost at his elbow.

His heart enjoyed a lively thump.

Here was the first noticeably good-looking woman he had seen in Edelweiss, and, by the powers, she was a sword-maker's niece! The old man looked sharply at him for an instant, and a quick little smile writhed in and out among the mass of wrinkles.