are realised." He spoke
confidently; he was ever an optimist, and he believed in his own
particular star.

La Belle Quero felt an inward qualm. Corsini was nothing to her now.
And, in that brief interview with Nada, she had surmised, through all
her girlish dignity and reticence, that the Princess was more than
half in love with him. Otherwise, would she have been so eager to save
him?

But if Zouroff triumphed, as he seemed to have every hope of doing,
the Italian's fate would be sealed. And Le Belle Quero was sure she
could not save him a second time. The fates would not be propitious to
her again.

"Old friends are best, my dear," said the Prince in his most
agreeable tones, as he seated himself in one of the luxurious
easy-chairs and lighted a cigarette. "Somehow a little cloud seems to
have come between us lately, I should like to remove it."

Madame Quero looked a little uneasy. She knew full well to what he was
alluding. Her obvious _tendresse_ for the young director had
occasioned a good deal of talk; no doubt some of it had floated to
Zouroff's ears.

"Do not let us speak of clouds, Boris. We have been long and good
friends. Let us be good friends again."

"With all my heart," responded the Prince, with his most charming
smile. "Well, I have come to tell you I shall not be at the Opera
to-night. I have to see a great many people, make a great many
arrangements. I cannot tell you how sorry I am; I know it is one of
your great nights. But you understand--business must always come
before pleasure."

Madame assented good humouredly. "It has always been so with you,
Boris, at any rate. You are a great man in many ways, perhaps a little
too optimistic, a little too sure of yourself."

The Prince smiled his confident smile. "A pessimist is not much good
in this world, my dear. Believe in yourself and your star, and you
will become a leader of men."

"Perhaps," sighed Madame Quero. She was beginning to be very attracted
to him again. He was certainly in a most charming mood to-night; she
felt herself carried back to the old days when she had been infatuated
with him, with his virility, his assurance, even the hint of that
brutal strength which lay at the back of his plausible exterior.

At length the Prince rose. "I wonder whether you would do me a little
kindness. It is a long time since we had a meal together and I told
them at home I should not be back till late to-night, after the
meeting here. You