ut we all know of your attachment to La Belle Quero--by the way, why
is she not here to-night, to preside over our festivities?"

Zouroff spoke in a harsh, strained voice. "La Belle Quero is ill,
confined to her room. You have probably not heard that she was
attacked with sudden indisposition at the Opera to-night, and that her
understudy had to take her place."

None of the men had been at the Opera, they had not heard. One or two
indulged in expressions of sympathy.

The bearded man, a powerful nobleman, only just second to Zouroff
himself in importance and length of lineage, continued his remarks.

"I spoke just now of your well-known attachment to La Belle Quero. Is
it possible, Prince, that in an unguarded moment, you may have dropped
some hints of your purpose to her? I did not wish, for a moment, to
offend your _amour propre_, but rumour has it that she is very much
attracted by this handsome young Italian. It is strange that he should
have escaped you, who usually lay your plans so well."

Zouroff paused for a moment before he replied. These men were as
keen-witted as himself; it was impossible to deceive them for long.

"Gentlemen, I will be quite frank with you. One is always a fool where
women are concerned. In a moment of ungoverned temper, I did hint to
Madame Quero something that might have set her wits to work, and she
may have acted upon that."

"From her _penchant_ for the Italian?" suggested the bearded man, who,
privately, was not too fond of the Prince, and always indulged in a
pin-prick when possible.

Zouroff flushed a deep red. It angered him deeply that other persons
should know Corsini had been preferred to him.

He looked round the assembly. He knew that the bearded man was bidding
for the leadership that had been willingly accorded to himself. If his
position were menaced, he must recover it immediately, and by a bold
stroke.

He surveyed the small knot of men, his bold bearing and resolute
demeanour at once challenging their allegiance, and compelling it.

"Gentlemen, I blench at nothing for the Cause to which we are all
devoted, to which we have dedicated our lives and fortunes. On that
occasion, I am convinced that La Belle Quero betrayed me. Well, she
will never betray us again. Madame La Quero's hours are numbered. That
is why she has not appeared to-night."

The men whom he addressed were as hardened and brutal as himself, with
no respect for the sanctity of human life; but