n as strong and stalwart as himself, closely resembling him
in height and build. This man was an illegitimate son of one of the
Romanoffs, and had ever devoted himself to his Majesty's person and
given a hundred proofs of his loyalty.

"Listen, my faithful Sergius," said the autocrat, as he motioned him
to a seat. "I have something to tell you that will startle you. You
know that to-night we hold a _bal-masque_ at the Winter Palace. You
will be there."

The man Sergius nodded. On these more or less ceremonious occasions he
was never far from his master's side. He had no subtlety of intellect,
he had little sense of diplomacy. It was impossible to advance him
very far, to make him into even the semblance of a statesman, but he
worshipped his Emperor and relative with a canine fidelity. He was a
magnificent watch-dog and would lay down his life for his master.

"There is a plot on foot, engineered by Prince Zouroff and others, to
assassinate me to-night in the ball-room of the Winter Palace."

Sergius recoiled in horror. "But where are your guards, your police?
What are Golitzine, Beilski, and Burovkin doing?" he cried in
amazement. He started from his chair, ever a man of action. "Let me go
round to the Zouroff Palace at once, get hold of this ruffian and
choke the life out of him. You can then punish me for a brief space
and then give me a free pardon--extenuating circumstances, or
something of that sort."

Alexander smiled kindly. Sergius, the man of proved loyalty, spoke, as
usual, from his full heart. But, as ever, he lacked discretion.

"A most excellent idea, my good old friend and cousin, but in this
century we cannot proceed on strictly mediaeval lines. Besides, we want
to take them, so to speak, red-handed. Golitzine is working admirably.
So are Burovkin and Beilski; they will see to the soldiers and the
police. They wanted to arrange my part in the affair--I know what they
would have proposed, that I should absent myself--I determined to take
the matter in hand personally. If I am not there, and they already
know how I purpose to be dressed, they will not carry out their
plot; they will postpone it, and we shall still be hanging on the
tenterhooks of suspense, wondering when the blow will fall. Let it
fall to-night, as they have planned, and let them be taken red-handed.
That is my policy."

Sergius stared at his master with a puzzled expression. His slow brain
could not follow the Emperor's explanation