as she was doing now.

Peter uttered no word of reproach; the time of reproaches was past;
but he saw clearly that the game was up, so far as the abduction of
Corsini was concerned. The sooner he made a clean breast of it to
Beilski, the better. At the same time, he wanted to throw suspicion
upon somebody else.

He loved Katerina genuinely, too well to harm a hair of her head, even
to save himself. In this respect he was several degrees better than
his master, who would have sacrificed the whole world for such a
laudable purpose.

And to the charming young Princess, with her gracious ways, her sweet
friendliness to all, he was also strongly attached. He would not harm
a hair of her head, if he could help it. But still, his first instinct
was for self.

Besides, if he gave them away, he would be giving himself away, also.
What these two women knew, mistress and maid, they must have learned
from some member of the Zouroff household.

Was there any member of that household, except himself, who had
foreknowledge of the Prince's plans? He was inclined to doubt it.
Confidants he must have, when engaged in so many dark schemes, but
Zouroff chose as few as possible. Yet, and yet--if only he could throw
suspicion in a likely quarter, on somebody else!

Katerina, embarked on the full tide of confession and genuinely
alarmed for her lover's safety, babbled on artlessly. Peter had drawn
a gloomy picture of the vengeance he might expect at the hands of his
master for that innocent gossip of a few moments, when discovery came
home to him, as it was sure to do. In her revelations she let fall the
fact that the celebrated Madame Quero had paid a visit to the
Princess, during her brother's temporary absence.

Peter pricked up his ears at the information. He knew full well the
relations between the Prince and the handsome singer. Here was a fact
that might be turned to his advantage. Madame Quero, he felt assured,
participated in all her lover's secrets.

"Have you any proof of that?" he asked eagerly.

Katerina opened wide her tear-dimmed eyes. "Proof? Do you doubt my
word? Why, she gave me her card, and the Princess handed it me back
and told me to return it to her, with her excuses for not receiving
her. I did not like to be so rude, and I put it in my pocket."

"Have you still got that card, Katerina?" questioned the valet
anxiously.

"Of course I have. I kept it as a souvenir. I regard her as a very
distinguished pe