ed," he
said when Corsini had finished. "That fellow who leads my orchestra is
good--good enough for dinner anyway--but he has not your perfect
touch. Ah, you remember me telling you once what I would give if you
could teach me to play like you. Well, that offer is still open."

Corsini smiled. "What would I not give to be the Baron Salmoros?"

The Baron raised himself from his artistic dreams. "Ah, my young
friend, everybody wants something the other has got, and so it will be
to the end of time."

He looked long and earnestly at the young couple before he spoke
again.

"Ah, how very strange is the world! Why should we grope our way in
dark, tortuous, and devious paths to destruction when sincerity,
truth, courage, and honesty of purpose will do it with less trouble
and more certainty. I sent you to St. Petersburg because I knew the
peril in which the Emperor, our good and faithful friend, existed--a
peril which, if the plot succeeded, would be a grave disaster to our
own diplomacy of Great Britain, and to all other countries, save
Germany. The plot was formed here, in London, by that traitor, Prince
Boris Zouroff, who possessed his Majesty's confidence. But all has
ended, my dear Count Corsini, as I had planned."

Then rising, the great financier, who was also a statesman, added to
Nada: "And I wish to heartily congratulate your Highness upon your
husband--a man in whom your Emperor, the Queen of this country, and
myself have the most perfect confidence."

THE END

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:

Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;
otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's
words and intent.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Intriguers, by William Le Queux

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