suffered cruelly: she was seized with wild,
unreasoning fears at the idea that she might see this terrifying bandit
appear before her again, and that this time he would be merciless.

Nadine knew all this. She also shuddered at the vision this horrible
anniversary evoked, but controlling herself, she was anxious to change
the current of her dear mistress's thoughts:

"Forget, try to forget, Sonia Danidoff," she counselled in her melodious
voice: "You are going to a ball--at Monsieur Thomery's--at your fiance's
house!"

The Princess shuddered:

"Ah, Nadine, my Nadine!" she cried, raising herself, and regarding her
maid with a strange look: "I cannot overcome my uneasiness--my
alarms!... This coincidence of date agitates me.... You know how
superstitious we are at home--in our Russia--and the life I lead in
Paris has not destroyed in me the simplicity of soul of a daughter of
the Steppes!"

Nadine did not know what reply to make to this pathetic outburst. The
Princess went on:

"And then, do you see, I think it wrong of Monsieur Thomery to even want
to give this ball, only a fortnight after the tragic death of that poor
Baroness de Vibray!... I tried to dissuade him from it.... I think the
Baroness was his most intimate friend once!..."

"So it is said," murmured Nadine.

Sonia Danidoff went on, as if speaking to herself:

"I am not sure of it ... it is precisely to remove this suspicion from
my mind that Thomery was determined to have his ball to-night at all
costs!... The Baroness de Vibray, so he told me, was no more than a good
old friend.... I cannot make her death an excuse for putting off the
announcement of our marriage ... that would be to give colour to
scandal."

Sonia Danidoff shrugged her beautiful shoulders:

"Hand me a mirror!"

Nadine obeyed. The Princess gazed long and complacently at the
marvellously lovely face reflected in the glass.

"Princess," cried Nadine, "you must leave the bath, you will be late
otherwise!"

In the adjacent dressing-room, brilliantly illuminated by electric
light, the Princess dressed with the aid of Nadine, proud and happy to
be the sole assistant of her beloved mistress. The toilet was a triumph:
silk of an exquisite blue, draped with silk muslin incrusted with pointe
de Venise and bands of ermine: a costly masterpiece of the dressmaker's
art. It enhanced the brilliant beauty of Sonia Danidoff, and threw
Nadine into raptures.

The Princess opened her jewel