ter the terrified Katerina was brought into his
presence. She had been taken in charge a few yards outside the Zouroff
Palace, whence she was proceeding on a shopping errand for her young
mistress.

The General, with his experienced eye, read at once in her demeanour
the signs of great perturbation. She was no hardened criminal, only a
weak, trembling girl. He had rough and ready methods for such as
these.

"Speak the truth, girl, and fear not; the strong arm of the law shall
protect you," he thundered in his loud, vigorous accents. "You are the
young woman who brought me a note the other day from the Princess
Nada. My hall-porter has recognised you."

This, of course, was a flight of the gallant General's imagination.
The hall-porter had distinctly said that he would not be certain of
recognising her; but it was enough to scare the shrinking Katerina.

She sank upon her knees, trembling in every limb. "It is true, your
Excellency. Are you going to kill me, or send me to Siberia?"

The General smiled grimly. "Neither, my excellent young woman, as you
have confessed without any unnecessary trouble. Give my compliments to
your young mistress, and tell her I will give myself the pleasure of
waiting upon her this afternoon on a little private matter. You can
tell her that I have interrogated you, and you have confessed. You can
also mention that the police, presided over by General Beilski, has a
long arm, and a very wide espionage; also that we find out things
pretty quickly, however carefully they are concealed."

Poor Katerina hurried away, her brain in a whirl. As she scurried
home, she reproached herself that, under the awe-inspiring presence of
the formidable General, she had given her young mistress away. But,
after all, she was not to blame. The Princess ought not to have sent
her on such an errand.

Nada had been wondering at her absence. The shopping errand on which
she had been despatched should not have occupied her very long.

Poor Katerina had to confess to her interview with the General. Nada
spoke no word of blame; it was her own fault that she had chosen so
weak an instrument. And she further admitted to herself that if
Beilski's emissaries had seized her instead of her maid and conveyed
her to his headquarters, she would have lost her head as her maid had
done.

And the General was coming to-day to worm out of her all he could. Of
course, she knew she would be as wax in his hands. But even above