eadily into the eyes of the princess,
wondering at the calmness and grace of her attitude, and amazed that
she should not show more consternation than she did, at the discovery
that there was a witness to her interview with the man Ivan. Save for a
suggestion of pallor which had driven away the natural flushes from her
cheeks, and perhaps for an added brightness, or rather a different
brightness, to her eyes, she was the same as ever, although the smile
which she now bestowed upon me seemed a bit constrained.

[Illustration: I LOOKED UP STEADILY INTO THE EYES OF THE PRINCESS,
(Page 132)]

"You are not sleeping," she said, calmly, but with conviction. The
remark was not a question; it was a statement.

"No," I replied, as calmly.

"And have not been asleep?"

"No."

"You heard?"

"Yes, princess, I heard."

She was silent, and minutes passed before she spoke again, so that I
began to wonder if she had decided to say no more.

"Mr. Dubravnik," she said, and in English, "will you do me one favor in
regard to this conversation you have overheard? Will you keep my
confidence till to-morrow?"

I wondered again at the princess' coolness. Realizing the peril she was
in, as she must unquestionably have done, it was strange that she could
command herself so well as to remain perfectly in possession of all her
faculties, in the face of such dire peril.

For a moment I hesitated. It was a very great favor that she asked of
me so calmly; just how great a favor it was, she could not know; and
yet there was no reason why I should not grant her request, being what
I was and who I was. In that interval I wondered what this beautiful
creature before me would think, or say, if she could have guessed that
it was the chief of the most remarkable secret service bureau in the
world whom she was addressing; if she could have guessed that the very
man among all other men, whom she would least have thought of taking
into her confidence, was the one before her who had listened to the
conversation.

"Yes. I will do that," I replied, as deliberately as she had asked the
question; and I watched her closely as I did so, holding myself well in
hand, the while, in order that I might not instantly fall again under
the spell of her fascinations.

"And come to me then? I will expect you at noon."

"Yes, princess."

"I thank you, sir. And now, if you will give me your arm, we will
return to the drawing room."

I could not help marveli