tle while! He
must wait. To his Czar, to his country, he owed haste; to himself he
owed delay. Which debt should he cancel? Suddenly with a sharp upward
turn of the head he dismissed all conflicting thoughts from his mind,
refused utterly to allow them to remain, and turned to the girl. They
were entering a small grove of trees.

An inspiration had flashed over him, dominant, compelling. He spoke
impulsively, almost wildly; so much so that Anne stopped, startled. In
his outstretched hand the package was within a few inches of her face.

"Miss Wellington," he cried, "we were speaking of opportunities, but a
while ago. May I call upon you now? I have said I am not in Newport
for pleasure alone. A great matter has been consummated. I hold it in
my hand. Who can trust servants? My valet? No! Who? Can I trust
you. Miss Wellington? Can I place my honor, my life, in your hands,
for a week, not more?"

"Why, I--" began Anne.

"Is it then too much to ask?"

"I hope not, Prince Koltsoff. Tell me and then I can judge."

"So!" and Koltsoff held out the package to her. "Keep this for me.
Let no one know where it is except myself. Keep it until I ask for it.
If matters arise of such nature to prevent my asking, keep it still.
Keep it!" Koltsoff was now acting as he loved to act. "Keep it until
I ask for it; or until I am dead. If the latter, throw it over the
cliffs. My country is on the verge of a war with--with you may guess
whom. Japan, no less. That, that which you hold in your hand is the
heart of our hopes." He paused.

He was really sincere. His desire was to forestall any defeat of his
plans by having the package out of his hands until such time as he
would leave Newport. One of his valets had once been successfully
bribed. But equally did he desire that the girl should have a bond of
interest akin to his; through this, he knew, must lie the success of
that understanding which alone kept him from following Yeasky out of
Newport forthwith.

But the girl could not know this. Her pride in sharing in so intimate
a way a matter which she believed to--and for that matter, really
did--affect the policy of a great empire, held her spellbound. There
was the feminine delight, too, in being on the inner side of a mystery.

She nodded mechanically. "I shall do as you ask," she said.

The Prince sprang forward, caught her hands and pressed upon them hot,
lingering kisses.

"Into these hands,