fficulties
are great; Wahnsdorf s rank is not ours; but he persists in saying that
to your management nothing is impossible."

"His opinion is too flattering," said the Princess, with a cold gravity
of manner.

"But you surely will not refuse us your assistance?" "You may count upon
me even for more than you ask," said the Princess, rising. "How late
it is! day is breaking already!" And so, with a tender embrace, they
parted.

CHAPTER XLIII. MADAME DE SABBLOUKOFF IN THE MORNING

Madame de Sabloukoff inhabited "the grand apartment" of the Hotel
d'Italie, which is the handsomest quarter of the great hotel of
Florence. The same suite which had once the distinguished honor of
receiving a Czar and a King of Prussia, and Heaven knows how many lesser
potentates! was now devoted to one who, though not of the small number
of the elect-in-purple, was yet, in her way, what politicians calls a
"puissance."

As in the drama a vast number of agencies are required for the due
performance of a piece, so, on the greater stage of life, many of the
chief motive powers rarely are known to the public eye. The Princess was
of this number. She was behind the scenes, in more than one sense, and
had her share in the great events of her time.

While her beauty lasted, she had traded on the great capital of
attractions which were unsurpassed in Europe. As the perishable flower
faded, she, with prudential foresight, laid up a treasure in secret
knowledge of people and their acts, which made her dreaded and feared
where she was once admired and flattered. Perhaps--it is by no means
improbable--she preferred this latter tribute to the former.

Although the strong sunlight was tempered by the closed jalousies and
the drawn muslin curtains, she sat with her back to the window, so that
her features were but dimly visible in the darkened atmosphere of
the room. There was something of coquetry in this; but there was
more,--there was a dash of semi-secrecy in the air of gloom and
stillness around, which gave to each visitor who presented himself,--and
she received but one at a time,--an impression of being admitted to an
audience of confidence and trust. The mute-like servant who waited
in the corridor without, and who drew back a massive curtain on
your entrance, also aided the delusion, imparting to the interview a
character of mysterious solemnity.

Through that solemn portal there had passed, in and out, during the
morning, various dign