Princess Zara

As to the killing of Stanislaus, who could blame the czar for that? The

man had endeavored to kill him; had twice snapped a pistol in his face

and still held it in his hand when the emperor tore it from his grasp

and struck him on the head with it. Who would not do the same? I repeat

all this as my excuse for still feeling that affection for him which

our intercourse had taught me. The real criminal in the case of the

story of Yvonne was Durnief. Him I hated, and his name was on one of

the lists that had been read off to me before going to the palace that

night. There were special orders concerning him, too--but that will be

dealt with later.

Now, as I entered the cabinet with the prince, I confess that I had

some doubts concerning my reception for I had no idea what the prince

had said to his majesty, and I knew only too well the inclination of

the czar to listen to anything that had a suspicious side to it,

particularly if that suspicion concerned one of his closest and most

intimate associates. I could at any time, within five minutes, have

poisoned the mind of the czar against the prince; and I did not doubt

that he could accomplish the same delicate attention for me. The prince

preceded me; the czar rose as we entered.

His majesty was alone, and I advanced at once with extended hand, as he

had often requested me to do when I discovered him thus; but he bowed

coldly, feigning not to see it. I halted, drew myself up, and returned

his bow in the same manner that he had given it. Then I waited for him

to speak.

"You are late, sir," he said. "You have kept me waiting."

"I was not aware that your majesty expected me," I replied. "Otherwise

I should have been here sooner."

"The prince expected you and led me to do the same."

"Had the prince done me the honor to tell me he intended to receive me

in your cabinet, I should have understood. The prince--perhaps

unintentionally--deceived me."

Prince Michael flushed hotly, but said nothing. The czar smiled grimly.

"What detained you?" he demanded.

"The same business which detains me in Russia, your majesty."

"Ah; you were concerned in the work of our fraternity?"

"I was."

"I understood that you were much more pleasurably employed."

"Whoever gave you so to understand that either did not know, or lied."

I turned so that I half faced the prince, and I saw that he made a

motion as if to spring upon and strike me; but he did not dare to

commit such an act in the czar's presence, and long training got the

better of his temper.