lect--of your beauty. Then vale the idle, flashing days
of pleasure. Iron will enter into your life. But you will rejoice.
For who is there that finds power not joyous? Ambassadors will confide
in you. Prime ministers will forget the interests of their offices."
He paused. "Who knows when or how soon? But it shall be, surely,
inevitably. . . . I wonder," he was speaking very slowly now, "if you
will recognize your opportunity."

"Who knows," she said softly. The Prince remained silent, looking at
her. She seemed to feel the necessity of further words but was wholly
without inspiration. She glanced down the road and saw a boy in blue
toiling along on a bicycle. Her exclamation was out of all proportion
to the event.

"A messenger boy! He brings word from father--we expect him to-morrow,
you know."

"He brings no word from your father," replied the Prince mysteriously.
"His errand concerns me. You shall see." They moved to the gate and
the boy alighting, glanced at the two with his alert Irish eyes.

"Say, does a fellow named Koltsoff live here?"

"I am he; give me the package, boy. It is prepaid--very well; here is
something for you," tossing the urchin a quarter.

"Thanks," said the boy, who suddenly paused in the act of remounting
his wheel and clapped his hand to his pocket. "Here's a letter, too."

As he rode away the two slowly retraced their steps.

"You will pardon me if I read this note?"

Anne, strangely abstracted, nodded, and Koltsoff tore open the
envelope. As he read the letter his brow darkened.

"Gone!" he muttered. Then he read the letter again.

Yeasky would not have departed without the best of reasons. He held
the inked-out line to the light but could make nothing of it. He
walked along beside the girl in deep thought. His hands trembled. He
knew that in his possession was that which represented the triumph of
his career. There were few honors which a grateful Government would
withhold from him. Besides, it meant the probable rehabilitation of
the prestige of the Russian arms; that thought thrilled him no less,
for he was a patriot.

And yet amid all his exaltation indecision filled him. Duty pointed a
direct and immediate course to St. Petersburg. Other emotions dictated
his remaining at The Crags. The package could not be intrusted to the
express companies. It must be carried personally to Russia. And
yet--and yet he could not leave Newport now. Just a lit