ped themselves in his active brain, and if
translated into speech, they might have expressed themselves thus:
"Why do we men of intelligence and initiative give our best, the
keenest of our brains, to these mere figureheads whom we flatter, but
at heart despise for their feebleness? It is because we find the
figurehead binds us more closely together, makes our own position more
secure, while we are propping up his."

He answered Golitzine's question, with his slow, grave smile.

"A man of my age, Count, would not travel so many miles, at great
personal inconvenience, without some very strong motive. I warned you
some time ago of a slowly maturing conspiracy against the person of
his Majesty." He inclined his leonine head in the direction of the
autocrat, the figurehead, who smiled back graciously in intimation
that he fully appreciated the Baron's services.

"I have, as you know, considerable resources at my command, but these
people are very cunning. It is only quite lately that I have secured
definite information as to day and date. As soon as I received that
information, I cast all other considerations to the winds. I came to
St. Petersburg as fast as special trains would bring me. Of course, I
had no knowledge of what you were doing here, and one cannot express
oneself very fully in telegrams."

Golitzine gave him a glance which said as plainly as the language of
the eyes could speak, "We are both men of the highest intelligence.
Let us disregard the figureheads and the instruments and address
ourselves to each other. The others can follow us at their leisure."

Aloud he said, "Well, Baron, you have been well served, but we, in St.
Petersburg, have not been idle. When do you say that Zouroff and his
fellow conspirators will strike?"

"Within the next three days. That is my information, derived, of
course, from a traitor, who has received a substantial reward," was
the answer of Salmoros. He thought, rather regretfully, that there
were few secrets of this unhappy country, which could not be purchased
for a liberal payment of gold. He was not even sure to what extent the
most trusted adherents of the Emperor might not be bribed, always
excepting Golitzine.

The Emperor broke in, in his rather awkward way, to prove that he was
always master in his own house.

"You have done more than well, Baron, and you have now, as before and
ever, our undying gratitude. But"--he pointed a finger towards the
young Director