hat is as new as it is unique."

"Perhaps she will explain the strange affair herself."

"I have no doubt that she will, your majesty."

"I have sent for her. She will remain here in the palace as long as
danger threatens her. She should be here by now."

"May I inquire of your majesty whom you sent?"

"The captain of the palace guard."

"Captain Durnief?"

"Yes."

I looked at my watch, replaced it in my pocket, and then said calmly:

"Captain Durnief will not return with the princess, your majesty."

Then I saw the heavy frown of rising anger. I knew my man, for kings
and emperors are less than men of the world when it comes to studying
them. Their own opportunities for observing others are so much more
limited. The czar angry, was a much easier man to influence than the
czar satirical.

"What do you mean?" he demanded. "Why will Durnief fail to carry out my
personal orders? Dare the princess refuse to accompany him?"

"She most certainly would not have the bad taste to refuse, and if she
did so, the captain would doubtless bring her by force; but Captain
Durnief has the misfortune to be, by now, a prisoner."

"Durnief a prisoner! The captain of my personal staff arrested! By your
order, sir?"

"By my order, your majesty."

"You have dared to do this?"

"I would dare to arrest the prince, or your own son, if I found either
of them inimical to your majesty's interests, and I beg you, sir, to
understand that I gave the order before I knew that your majesty had
sent him on the errand so treacherously suggested by Prince Michael." I
was angry at the prince for involving my affairs so meanly. I could not
withhold the thrust.

"It is a lie!"

It was the prince who spoke; but before I could reply to the
accusation, the czar waved his hand and commanded silence.

"Was it the princess who informed you that Durnief was a nihilist?" he
asked calmly, the smile returning to his face.

"No," I replied, understanding the motive behind the question. For I
could read the czar like a book, and I already knew much concerning the
villainy of Durnief; "but it was he who informed your majesty that SHE
was one."

"By heaven, Derrington, you know too much! I begin to think that the
days of your usefulness are past, in St. Petersburg. There seems to be
no limit to the authority you assume, and now you have begun to dictate
to me. I will not have it. I command that you tell me why you thought
it necessary to take t