that I am a weak thing to be ordered about like that by a
man whom I never met until last night? Beware, sir, lest you make me
regret that the bullet did not do its work more effectively. I am a
princess; I have wealth, power, influential friends; do not think that
the czar would believe what you would say, when he heard the story that
I could tell him."

I shrugged my shoulders carelessly. It was part of my purpose to anger
her even to the point of madness, for in that way alone could I hope to
draw her out to the point of revealing herself to me truly. And
besides, I was again falling under that fascination which exerted such
strange and compelling power over me.

"If I believed you to be sincere in what you say now, it would make my
unfortunate duty much more simple," I said.

"Your duty! What is your duty? To betray a woman?"

"Precisely that."

"And you would do that? _You?_"

"If the alternative fails, yes."

Again she rose from the couch upon which she had relaxed. She came and
stood quite near to me, and with infinite scorn, impossible to
describe, she said slowly:

"I think our interview is at an end, Mr. Dubravnik, for there is
evidently nothing to be gained by it. I much prefer to choose my
friends among those whom you call assassins, than from frequenters of
the palace--if the others are like you."

I rose also, and bowed coldly.

"As you will, princess," I said. "I promised to keep your secret
twenty-four hours. You have still ten hours in which to do one of three
things to obviate the necessity that is now upon me, of betraying you."

"Indeed!" haughtily.

"The easiest one will be for you to notify me of your intention to
depart from the country. The second, quite as effective, was suggested
by yourself last night when we talked of suicide. The third will
perhaps prove more congenial than either of the others; you can have me
murdered." I bowed, and started towards the door, but she barred the
way before I could reach it.

"You shall not go!" she cried, extending her arms as if to bar the way
against my exit, and again her speaking countenance betrayed the
impulse within her. This time it was terror.

"No? Is your brother Ivan here to complete the work so badly begun,
princess?" I purposely rendered my question insolently offensive.

For a moment she gazed at me in horror; then, with a sob in her throat,
she stepped aside and pointed towards the door.

"Go," she said. "I should not hav