up within his own breast,
there was no knowing in how disastrous a manner Sagan's ill-humour might
explode. Defeat meant much to Elmur, his reputation was at stake. Other
men had undertaken this same mission--to bring about the annexation to
the Fatherland of this troublesome little state; they had failed,
therefore Elmur had pledged himself to succeed.

Elmur stood with his back against a massive carved bookshelf, and looked
at Sagan, who, with a cigar-butt buried in his ragged beard, was
walking, with long, uncertain steps, up and down the floor. The tiger
in the old man was awake.

'Act I., Scene I.,' said Elmur at last, and with a smile.

Sagan stopped short and turned a bloodshot sidelong glare upon him, his
dark old fingers working convulsively.

'By heaven! It is going to be a tragedy!' he shouted, and burst into a
whirlwind of hideous curses, coupled with the names of Valerie and his
wife.

The German picked out a comfortable chair and seated himself, crossing
his legs with a manifest intention of patience. There was a horrible
energy in the old man's attitudes. His long smouldering ambition, nursed
and fed of late, had now flamed into a regnant passion, and the cooler,
more wary, unscrupulousness of the younger man looked with repugnance
upon the blind fury of the Duke that was to be.

In no great space of time the sight of that impassive, high-shouldered
figure, sitting calmly by, imposed a growing sense of restraint upon the
Count.

'What do you think of our chances now that Gustave's suspicions have
been set on the alert?' he asked at last, coming to a stop in front of
Elmur. 'That fool of a wife of mine has blabbed to Selpdorf's daughter,
and she in her turn blabs before all the world.'

Elmur sat still and dumb. His face enraged Sagan once more.

'But I am master in Sagan. The girl must be got rid of! There are a
hundred dangers in our mountains and marshes. Do you not understand?'

Baron von Elmur stood up. He bore his most dignified air, and there was
something in his whole aspect that made the Count pause.

'In the first place, her death under the circumstances would look
strange. In the second, we have nothing to gain from it,' he said.

Sagan's red eyes twinkled cunningly.

'Hear my plan. I am not so squeamish as you thin-blooded moderns, or at
least as you pretend to be!' He placed his finger on the Minister's
breast, and drew back a little, the better to enjoy the approbation he
expe