sitation.

"Come, Signor Corsini, out with it. You have not yet told us all you
surmise or suspect. We know about La Belle Quero. There is something
else you can tell us if you choose."

Corsini was never a very good dissembler. He was as wax in the hands
of these experienced men of the world.

"A singular thing, gentlemen, after thinking over all those things, is
this. Perhaps you know that it is a peculiarity of mine to always
walk to and from my engagements."

"It is a peculiarity of yours that has been already commented on,"
said Golitzine, who knew everything about everybody. "Proceed,
Signor."

"It is just a thing that has struck me as a little peculiar, taken in
conjunction with the whole circumstances. Madame Quero, whom I know
you suspect, was very insistent that I should not go to the Zouroff
Palace, without assigning any definite or plausible reason."

"We have already understood that," interrupted Beilski, rubbing his
hands. "Perhaps we may now come to something that throws more light on
the affair."

Corsini proceeded. "I had a brief conversation with the Princess
Nada." He blushed slightly as he continued. "She was pleased to
express some solicitude for my welfare, my health. She thought I was
not looking well, that I had been working too hard. She asked if I had
a carriage waiting for me. I answered in the negative, telling her
that I always preferred to walk home. She offered to procure a
conveyance for me, and added that it could be drawn up at a private
entrance to the Palace, as there was a great crush in the main
entrance. Gentlemen, I have told you all the facts, it is for you to
draw your inferences. It is pretty evident that both Madame Quero and
the Princess had an inkling, perhaps actual knowledge, of the danger
that was threatening me, and dared not say more than they did."

Golitzine rose and drew the General into a corner.

"The thing is clear enough. The two women have been in league to save
this young man. La Quero has split upon Zouroff, because she is in
love with Corsini, and has enlisted the sympathies of the Princess,
probably in love with Corsini herself. You see it, General?"

Beilski had not the agile intelligence of the Count, but when it was
so clearly put before him, he saw it.

"The young woman who brought the note is the maid of one of them," he
said tersely. "Well, my men shall bring both the maids before me
to-morrow and I will wring the truth out of one of them