usion of all personal considerations, but
while she dressed she could not help thinking of the imperturbable
impudence of her visitor. His kindness, his thoughtfulness, the fact
that he had done her a service, and was at this very moment doing her
another, gave her a sense of being in a false position, which made her
most uncomfortable. And yet one could not treat with contumely a person
who acted in one's interests. His calmness, his assurance enraged her.
She would never see him again, of course, but she seemed to feel the
need of some final words to convince him of the depth of her disdain. He
was so calm, so gravely cheerful, so assured, so maddeningly
considerate! She wondered now why she had not led him on to a renewed
plea for forgiveness, that she might the more effectually have crushed
him.

But her duty to Sophie Chotek soon drove these speculations as to the
unfortunate Herr Renwick from her mind. Suppose that Sophie Chotek
questioned closely as to the reasons for Marishka's sudden departure.
What should she say? The Duchess was not one who could easily forgive a
wrong. Her placid exterior served well to conceal a strength of purpose
which had already brought her many enemies in the Royal House. That she
was capable of tenderness was shown in her adoration of her children and
in the many kindnesses she had shown Marishka herself, but there was,
too, a strain of the Czech in her nature, which harbored grievances and
was not above retaliation. Marishka's cause, as a loyal Austrian's, was
just, and she had not faltered in doing what she knew to be her duty,
but the thought of seeking the Duchess now that she had betrayed her,
required all of her courage. She had balked an ambitious woman,
stultified all her efforts to advance the fortunes of her children, and
had written her husband before the House of Habsburg a traitor to his
Emperor and his country. What if she had heard something and suspected?
Would the Duchess even listen to a plea for her own life and safety from
the lips of one who had proven an enemy, a bread and salt traitor to the
Houses of Austria-Este and Chotek and Wognin?

But Marishka did not falter, and when the _fiacre_ came to the door she
descended quickly. The Baroness fortunately had gone upon a visit to
friends in the country, but Marishka left a note with her maid which
explained her absence, and departed alone for the railroad station,
feeling very helpless and forlorn, but none the les