AEL.

Alexander was true to his friendship for Prince Michael. He mourned him
sincerely, and nobody ever knew the true cause of the prince's death.
The emperor respected that last wish of his dead friend. There was yet
more mischief to be done, however, by that arch villain Durnief, for
while we were still occupied with the care of Prince Michael's remains,
the czar sent for me in haste.

"This is a day of surprising missives," he said. "Here is another
letter for you to read." I took it in my hand and glanced at the
signature.

"Durnief," I said, with a sneer. "Why should I read it? The man cannot
tell the truth."

"Because I desire you to do so."

The note began in the usual form of addresses to the emperor, and was
as follows:

You have ere this been informed, and supplied with ample proof,
that I am among the ranks of your enemies, the nihilists. I confess
it, but I became one of them for selfish motives, not for political
ones. Never mind that. It is not my intention to intercede for
mercy, for I know that your heart is a stranger to that quality. It
is to tell you a truth that you should know. It is to tell you that
the one most dangerous of all nihilists, is to go free; is to
remain in Russia; is to have access to your palace; is spared by
your trusted spy, Dubravnik; is upheld by him. This nihilist to
whom I refer, has been, ever since the death of my one time rival,
Stanislaus, the most dangerous of all the extremists. This nihilist
leader is a woman, and her name is Zara de Echeveria. Dubravnik
will spare her; he will spare her brother who is as violent as she
is.

One last word. I will never go to Siberia for I have the means to
cheat you out of the pleasure of sending me there, and when you
read this, I shall have been an hour dead.

ALEXIS DURNIEF.

"Well," demanded his majesty, "what have you to say?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing!"

"No."

"Have you arrested her?"

"I have not."

"Where is she now?"

"In her own home. I took her there this morning. Listen for a moment,
and I will tell you how that occurred."

Then I related in detail the story of my struggle with Durnief, the
rescue of Zara, her heroism in assisting me, and I told of the final
capture and imprisonment of the captain. But his majesty shook his head
in a doubt.

"I believe Durnief's letter. She is a nihilist," he sai