yes, at least you will admit that I am not
given to exaggeration. You may still believe that I have taken a liberty
in coming to you; but the situation admits of no delay. The telegraph
lines are in the hands of the Archduke's enemies. The Archduke and
Duchess leave Konopisht in the morning by special train, but there is
still time to reach them."

Marishka had risen, and was now pacing the floor, her hands nervously
clasped before her.

"I see. I--I--understand. I--I should be grateful that you have told me.
But it is all so sudden. So terrible!"

She paused before him.

"I have betrayed her," she stammered through pallid lips.

"You could do nothing else. His fortunes are hers----"

"But not this----" she whispered. "It is too ghastly!"

There was a long pause, and then, "Will you make the effort?" he asked.

"Yes."

"You must leave in an hour."

"But how----?"

She looked at Renwick and their glances met.

"I will go with you," he said coolly.

His gaze was on the dial of his watch which he had taken from his pocket
and was regarding judicially. His calmness, his impudence, enraged her.
She had sworn, because of his falseness, that she would never see this
man again, and here he was calmly proposing a night journey into
Bohemia, and she was actually listening to him.

She turned quickly toward the door and stood, one hand grasping the
portiere, while she turned a white face toward him.

"Thanks, Herr Renwick," she said icily, "but I go alone----"

"That is impossible. There is danger. A night journey in a train of
uncertain quality----"

"I hope that you will not waste words. I thank you for what you have
done, but I--I must go at once----"

Renwick took a pace toward her.

"Countess Strahni, if you will listen to me----"

But he got no farther, for he knew that her will was as strong as his
own, and that forgiveness was not to be read in her eyes.

"I beg that you will excuse me, Herr Renwick. The time is short----"

He bowed gravely.

"At least, you will permit me to order you a _fiacre_----"

She nodded in assent as though to be rid of him and then turned and went
up the stairs leaving Renwick to find his way out into the darkness of
the street.

Marishka hurried to her room and rang for her maid. In spite of the
turbulence of her thoughts, she gave her orders calmly and then prepared
for the journey. The imminence of the danger to Sophie Chotek should
have obsessed her to the excl