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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
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