all slipped from
him by now, and he waited in terror upon the looks of Storri.

"Harley," cried Storri, having sufficiently enjoyed the effect of his
scowls, "you John Harley, I have ever your credit at heart. Yes, Harley,
I have kept a guard, what you call a spy, about your house to see if the
vile Storms would enter when you were not there to repel him. He goes
each day, I find, to see the honorable Senator Hanway. It does not
please me, who am a Russian gentleman and a nobleman, that so low a
being, although he does not personally meet her, should yet come beneath
the same roof with your lovely daughter who is to become my Countess
wife. You will correct this; eh, you Harley--you John Harley?"

Mr. Harley had not named Storri to Dorothy since that awful New Year's
night. However, so worn to abject thinness was now his spirit on the
constant wheel of fear that he carried Storri's latest word to her
without apology. Richard must not visit Senator Hanway in his study. Mr.
Harley could not go to Senator Hanway, he could not go to Richard; he
could come only to her.

Dorothy, whose trembling concern was her father, and who felt ever more
and more like some fly caught fast in a spider's web, made no reply.
There was nothing to say--nothing save obedience. She wrote Richard that
Storri had set a spy upon the house, and asked him to forego his calls
upon Senator Hanway. The close of the letter was a hysteria of love and
grief.

Richard sought Bess; he saw much of the pythoness now. Dorothy, for her
part, never crossed the street lest she meet him, and bring down
Storri's wrath upon her father. Richard knew what Bess would say, but he
must have someone to converse with. Bess took the course anticipated: he
must obey Dorothy in this as in the rest.

"It comes to little either way, the calling upon Senator Hanway," was
Bess's comment.

"It comes to this," cried Richard, "that we are the slaves of Storri!
I'd give ten years off my life if he and I might settle this together."

"The real settlement would be made by Mr. Harley--by Dorothy. You must
not go near Storri. But isn't there a hint in this?" Bess considered.
"Would it not be wise to imitate the gentleman and set a spy to dogging
him? Perhaps something worth while might be discovered."

The thought found favor with Richard, who, under usual circumstances,
would have been against the proposal. Yes, he would have Storri shadowed
day and night. It would be a retort