I first be permitted to retail to your Majesty and your
Excellency the information he gave me?"

"We are in your hands, Signor Corsini," answered the Emperor
graciously, and the Count nodded his head in assent.

Briefly the young man told them what Ivan had communicated to him--the
secret meetings of certain well-known nobles, whose names he imparted,
at the villa of Madame Quero; the attendance in the vestibule of the
deaf servant, Stepan, whom he almost exactly resembled; the suggestion
that he should take Stepan's place and listen to the conversation of
the conspirators, whose chief was Prince Zouroff. He added that the
next meeting would be to-morrow night, or, at latest, the night after.

"It will be to-morrow night, of that we may be certain," said the
Emperor in a decided tone, when the young man had finished. "Zouroff
cannot be very happy at the present moment, after the failure of his
attempt to put the Signor out of the way. He is also pretty certain to
know that General Beilski has visited his sister; that fact will give
him some food for thought. Besides, although these two scoundrels,
whom we have secured, have not confessed yet, at any moment they may
open their mouths to denounce him. If Zouroff has got his plans pretty
well matured, he will strike with as little delay as possible. Do you
agree, Count?"

The Count agreed, and then addressed Corsini.

"And now, Signor, I think it is time you gave us the name of this
mysterious informant. I do not know whether his action is dictated by
loyalty, or the hope of reward. But anyway, he must be rewarded, and
handsomely too."

The Emperor concurred warmly. "Whoever serves us will not find us
niggardly or ungrateful," he said.

"Alas! I have great hesitation in mentioning it to your Excellency,
for my strange friend is by no means an estimable person. Speaking
plainly, he is a malefactor, and has escaped from the mines of
Siberia."

"In other words, the price of this very important information is a
handsome reward and a free pardon. Well," the Count looked towards the
Emperor, "I suppose I have your Majesty's permission to promise both."

"We do not go back on our word," was the autocrat's grave answer. "A
deed like this, performed from whatever motive, purges his offences,
whatever they may be."

And then, reassured, Corsini gave the name. "A big, bearded man, born
on the Prince's estates, known as Ivan the outlaw, nicknamed Ivan the
Cuckoo."

"I