. In the
meantime, how shall we proceed with Corsini?"

"Take him back to his hotel. Fudge any story you like to the
manager--been taken ill in my house, or yours, it does not matter
which. Let him go about his usual duties and let him be safely guarded
till we bring this home to the proper quarters. How about those men
accompanying the carriage?"

"Alas! I have only bagged a couple," answered the General regretfully.
"The others escaped through the want of vigilance on the part of my
men."

"And what have the two you captured got to say for themselves?"

"Just nothing. Their lips are sealed. They will take their own
punishment, but they will not give away their employer. If we had
lived in the old days we could have made them speak."

Golitzine crossed over to the young Italian.

"Signor Corsini, I cannot say how deeply I am grieved that you should
have been subjected to this outrage. Rest assured it shall be tracked
home to the proper quarters, and you shall be amply avenged. I have
asked General Beilski to put a secure guard around you whenever you
venture abroad. You need fear no repetition. Salmoros would never
forgive me if you came to harm."

Corsini was taken back to his hotel, wondering over all the things
that had happened to him. A tale was fudged up to the manager that he
had been attacked with sudden indisposition at the house of Count
Golitzine, and compelled to remain there. Beilski took good care that
he was unobtrusively guarded by members of the secret police.

The next thing was to get hold of the two maids. The General's
satellites secured the one in the service of Madame Quero, and brought
her along.

Beilski interrogated her himself, but the cross-examination of five
minutes convinced him that she was not the woman who had brought the
note. And the porter was equally certain on this point. She was a
person of different build.

He dismissed her with a caution, as he handed her some coins.

"I would prefer that you kept your mouth shut about this visit. Still,
it is very probable you will blab about it to your mistress."

"Not after your generosity, your Excellency," answered the maid
gratefully, with a smirk.

The General grunted. "That is as it may be. I don't know that I trust
you farther than that door. But if you should feel disposed to take
your mistress into your confidence, you can tell her this--that we
have our eye upon her and know more than she thinks."

Half an hour la