cerned one of his closest and most
intimate associates. I could at any time, within five minutes, have
poisoned the mind of the czar against the prince; and I did not doubt
that he could accomplish the same delicate attention for me. The prince
preceded me; the czar rose as we entered.

His majesty was alone, and I advanced at once with extended hand, as he
had often requested me to do when I discovered him thus; but he bowed
coldly, feigning not to see it. I halted, drew myself up, and returned
his bow in the same manner that he had given it. Then I waited for him
to speak.

"You are late, sir," he said. "You have kept me waiting."

"I was not aware that your majesty expected me," I replied. "Otherwise
I should have been here sooner."

"The prince expected you and led me to do the same."

"Had the prince done me the honor to tell me he intended to receive me
in your cabinet, I should have understood. The prince--perhaps
unintentionally--deceived me."

Prince Michael flushed hotly, but said nothing. The czar smiled grimly.

"What detained you?" he demanded.

"The same business which detains me in Russia, your majesty."

"Ah; you were concerned in the work of our fraternity?"

"I was."

"I understood that you were much more pleasurably employed."

"Whoever gave you so to understand that either did not know, or lied."
I turned so that I half faced the prince, and I saw that he made a
motion as if to spring upon and strike me; but he did not dare to
commit such an act in the czar's presence, and long training got the
better of his temper.

"Why, sir, did you take Princess Zara d'Echeveria to the house of
Prince Michael?" continued the czar.

"Because I believed him to be an honorable man who would stand ready to
protect her good name, and who would conceal from all the world, even
from your majesty, the fact that she was there. Because he had told me
that he loved her, and I was innocent enough to believe that his love
was unselfish; and further, because I regarded him as my friend. There
are three reasons, your majesty, any one of which seems to me to be
sufficient."

"But why was it necessary to take her anywhere?"

"That, your majesty, is a question which I must answer to you alone."

"Do you mean that you will not tell the prince?"

"I mean that it was my intention to tell the prince as soon as I
arrived at the palace, but that now I deem it unnecessary. He has
taught me a lesson in hospitality t