om which one will never return unless one is carried out, or is sent
to Siberia, which would be worse. Be careful; the police have certainly
got scent of something, they are very active at present;" and with a nod
she turned and left the room.

"She is a brave girl," Akim said. "I think the women make better
conspirators than we do, Petroff. Look at her. She was a little serious
to-day because of Michaelovich, but generally she is in high spirits,
and no one would dream that she thought of anything but her pupils and
pleasure. Then there is Feodorina Samuloff. She works all day, I
believe, in a laundry, and she looks as impassive as if she had been
carved out of soap. Yet she is ready to go on working all night if
required, and if she had orders she would walk into the Winter Palace
and throw down a bomb (that would kill her as well as everyone else
within its reach) with as much coolness as if she was merely delivering
a message."

CHAPTER II.

A CAT'S-PAW.

One evening a fortnight later Godfrey went with two young Englishmen to
a masked ball at the Opera. It was a brilliant scene. Comparatively few
of the men were masked or in costume, but many of the ladies were so.
Every other man was in uniform of some kind, and the floor of the house
was filled with a gay laughing crowd, while the boxes were occupied by
ladies of the highest rank, several of the imperial family being
present. He speedily became separated from his companions, and after
walking about for an hour he became tired of the scene, and was about to
make his way towards the entrance when a hand was slipped behind his
arm. As several masked figures had joked him on walking about so vaguely
by himself, he thought that this was but another jest.

"You are just the person I wanted," the mask said.

"I think you have mistaken me for some one else, lady," he replied.

"Not at all. Now put up your arm and look as if I belong to you.
Nonsense! do as you are told, Godfrey Bullen."

"Who are you who know my name?" Godfrey laughed, doing as he was
ordered, for he had no doubt that the masked woman was a member of one
of the families whom he had visited.

"You don't know who I am?" she asked.

"How should I when I can see nothing but your eyes through those holes?"

"I am Katia, the cousin of your friend Akim."

"Oh, of course!" Godfrey said, a little surprised at meeting the music
mistress in such an assembly. "I fancied I knew your voice, though