happen to know, has one or two confidential servants
in his employ."

"Yes," said Nada, looking at her visitor steadily. It was evident that
if the Prince concealed some things from Madame Quero, there were many
things that he told her. The girl had a very shrewd suspicion that the
guilty secret which Corsini had discovered was also known to the
beautiful singer herself.

"It is just possible that if your maid instituted a few discreet
inquiries in certain quarters, she might learn something."

"Can you suggest any particular quarter in which she could put them?"
asked the Princess. It was evident that the Spanish woman knew a great
deal about the Zouroff household--a great deal more than she did
herself.

"Peter, his valet, is, I know, absolutely in his master's confidence."

"That is fortunate," remarked Nada; "because I happen to know that
Katerina and he are very great friends; in fact, I believe lovers."

She rose, touched the bell and commanded the attendance of her maid.
For a long time the two women, mistress and servant, talked together
in Russian. Madame Quero, who only knew two languages, her own and
French, could not, of course, follow them.

The Princess explained the result of the interview. "I have enlisted
Katerina's sympathies, she is going to find out if Peter knows
anything."

Madame Quero rose. "Whatever it is, I am sure he will have a hand in
it, although I don't expect he will take an active part. Well,
Princess, I must leave it to you to take what steps may occur to you."

Nada put to her the shrewd question. "Is it impossible for you to take
any steps yourself, Madame?"

A shamed expression came into the singer's beautiful eyes. "Alas,
Princess, I fear I must admit it is. If the Prince could trace
anything to me directly, his vengeance would follow me very swiftly."

Nada shuddered. She had long ago ceased to entertain any illusions as
to her brother. She knew he was hard, tyrannical, brutal, and
pitiless. But this conversation with the foreign woman had thrown a
new and sinister light upon his character. There was in him, in
addition to these disagreeable qualities, a strong criminal taint.

He did not intend to spare Corsini, and from what she had just heard,
he would not, if necessity arose, spare the woman to whom he professed
attachment, but would punish her ruthlessly for daring to thwart his
plans. And the poor young Princess shuddered again as the thought
crossed her that h