nd so it is you who were my preserver," she said softly; "you in
this rough garb, with your face and hands stained to a peasant's hue.
There must have been some motive behind such a dangerous adventure."

Corsini bent over her, over the lily-white face, still looking wan
after her terrible experience.

"It was Providence that led me to your aid to-night, Princess. You
remember my urgent advice to leave the Palace at once."

"I know I was blind and foolish," murmured the Princess. "I could not
believe my brother capable of such cruelty."

"Your brother is capable of anything, of everything," said Corsini.
"Listen! I will tell you all that has happened to-night. Please
understand that Count Golitzine has got him in the hollow of his
hand."

In a few brief words, he recounted all that he had overheard at the
villa of Madame Quero, Zouroff's confession that for his own purposes
he had removed the beautiful singer.

"To-morrow, or the day after, he will be on his way to Siberia,"
concluded Corsini, with a pardonable exultation. "He doomed me to
death because he found me in his way; he has murdered his old
sweetheart from the sheer lust of revenge. You, out of that same
spirit of vengeance, he would have condemned to a long exile. I
trust, Princess, you will not mourn over the well-deserved fate of
such a worthless brother."

"No," she said in a resolute voice, "I will not mourn over him. His
outrage on me quenches the last spark of affection I ever entertained
for him."

The conversation was concluded. Corsini rose, and yet he still
lingered. Something alluring in the sweet face of the Princess still
drew him. But could he dare? There was a softness in her gaze,
something inviting in her demeanour.

Youth was calling to youth. Suddenly he leaned over and pressed his
lips on hers. They were met by an answering pressure.

"I love you, I love you, oh, I cannot tell you how much," he murmured
brokenly. "I have loved you ever since the night when you passed me in
Dean Street and wanted to throw me coppers when I was playing in the
gutter, and your imperious brother forbade you. I have loved you ever
since that moment."

And Nada murmured softly, "I love you, too. I cannot date it back to
that night. I think it was when you came to play for us at the
Embassy, in London. But it does not matter, dear Nello. We have both
saved each other."

"Yes, we have saved each other," was Corsini's answer. He left the
white-capp