y to start with. When you arrive in Russia, you will be
well provided with funds. I can assure you that you will not regret
having temporarily relinquished your artistic career here. Lunch with
me again here on Friday of this week. I will have everything ready
cut-and-dried for you."

The great man looked at his watch. "Fortunately, not a very busy day.
I am glad we have had plenty of time to talk. But I will give you more
time on Friday."

Nello perceived that he was dismissed. This man had many irons in the
fire; he could not stay too long in warming one. Still, there was
something he must say before he left; something very important.

"Pardon me, Baron, if I intrude upon a few more seconds of your
valuable time. You know nothing of my domestic circumstances. I have
neither wife nor sweetheart, but I have a young sister, to whom I am
very tenderly attached. I may take her with me on this journey?"

Over Salmoros's usually kind face there crept a slight frown. He had
not thought of this, and yet a young man was bound to have an
entanglement of some sort. Fortunate that it was not a wife, still
more fortunate that it was not a sweetheart. He knew the artistic
temperaments well. One smile of a woman would outweigh much gold.

Then the frown died away and the benevolent smile came back. He must
reason with this young man calmly.

"I take it you are very devoted to each other?"

Nello answered fervently. "We think with one brain, we feel with one
heart, sir. It will cut her to the quick for me to leave her behind."

The Baron spoke musingly. Years ago he had had his love affairs like
other men; but women had never entered into his scheme of things as
they had in the case of his old friend Jean. They were meant for man's
leisure, for his playtime; they could not be woven into the serious
business of life.

"That is all very well, Corsini, but hearts are not so easily broken
by a little absence. One day you will leave her for a wife, one day
she will leave you for a husband. I trust she will be sensible. You
cannot go on this expedition hampered by a woman, whatever her
relationship. You will come back to her soon."

"How soon do you think, sir?" questioned Nello eagerly.

"Say, in two or three months." The Baron's tone was a little
hesitating. He knew in his own mind that there was a darker side to
the picture, that there might be an altogether different ending to the
journey. But he was not going to frighten t