e is no need to
fence, Nada. You got the message from your maid. You know why I have
come and what I have come for."

"Yes, I know," answered the young Princess in a faltering voice.

The General drew his chair closer. "Now, out with it all. From whom
did you get the information that prompted you to write that letter?"

CHAPTER XVIII

Zouroff had exulted very greatly on that night when he had said
good-bye to Corsini at the doors of the Palace. The carriage was
waiting a short distance away. In a few hours the young musician would
cease to be a menace to him.

He was doomed to grievous disappointment. One of the escaping band had
managed to despatch a telegram in cipher acquainting him with the fact
that his plans had miscarried, that Corsini had been rescued by the
police at Pavlovsk.

Upon receipt of that telegram, he went into one of his violent rages,
but of course nobody witnessed his distress. After he had recovered
himself, he sought out his valet and imparted to him the news.

Later, in obedience to his master's instructions, the valet learned
that Corsini was back at the Opera; further, that General Beilski had
surrounded him with a strong bodyguard, which was to protect him, in
an unobtrusive fashion, day and night.

His suspicions fell at once on La Belle Quero. If he had obeyed the
promptings of his wild and savage nature, he would at once have gone
to her dressing-room at the Opera, taxed her with her treachery, and
strangled her with his own hands. Needless to say, he had no idea of
the part played by his sister in the rescue of the hated musician.

But he was wily as well as savage. He would take his own measures with
this treacherous Spanish woman in due course. She certainly would not
escape his vengeance; but he would do nothing rash, nothing calculated
to bring his own neck into jeopardy. He would meet her as if nothing
had happened. He would be more lover-like than ever.

And things, as he thought, were now hastening so rapidly towards the
goal that his revenge need not be long delayed.

Corsini had resumed his duties at the Opera, and his brief
disappearance had been plausibly explained. The story of a short
indisposition had satisfied all curiosity.

His feelings at this particular period were, perhaps, a little
uncertain. He was not quite sure that the excellent Salmoros, whom he
had once looked upon as a pure and benevolent philanthropist, ever
ready to extend a helping han