a web of his own weaving to catch the unsuspecting flies.

He had been the first to speak. "Our very capable young friend,
Corsini, has done great work. He was hidden at the Villa Quero last
night and gathered information of the greatest importance."

The Emperor, who always liked to tell his subordinates that he knew
all that was going on, interrupted his faithful and more astute
Secretary.

"Ah, poor Madame Quero! I hear that she died in the early hours of the
morning and that there are certain suspicious circumstances connected
with her death--an idea that she has been poisoned, eh?"

Golitzine nodded. "Your Majesty has been correctly informed." He might
have added that he had given this information himself, but he was too
experienced a courtier to venture on such an experiment. Autocratic
monarchs like to think they discover things for themselves. And
perhaps the autocrat had not been quite awake when he received
Golitzine's letter long before breakfast.

Golitzine waved his hand towards Corsini. He possessed a very generous
nature, and he was quite ready to give honour where it was due.

"This is the man to whom we are indebted for the information which
shall be fully detailed to your Majesty. Salmoros never did us a
better service than when he sent Signor Corsini to us."

The Emperor inclined his head in his most gracious manner. "Salmoros
never makes a mistake, and Corsini has more than justified his
selection."

Golitzine leaned towards the young Italian. "Tell his Imperial Majesty
all that you told me last night, the full details of what happened at
the Villa Quero. I have given him a brief _resume_, but you can make
it more convincing than I can. Speak out, Corsini; omit nothing; you
need not fear to trespass on his Majesty's attention."

The Emperor inclined his head. He always blindly followed the lead of
his Secretary. He knew that he could trust him, above all; also some
half a dozen others, the two Generals amongst them.

Corsini, feeling very nervous, although by now he was becoming
accustomed to his new environment, began his recital, giving full
details of the strange things that had happened in the course of a few
hours. Of course, he was intending to keep strict silence as to that
little love scene between himself and the beautiful Nada. One must
keep back certain things even from an autocrat of Alexander's type.

Being very nervous in the presence of the Emperor and these high
officials