Princess Zara

I took Zara back to the house of the prince, where I was well known to

every servant of the establishment, for I had been a constant and an

honored guest, there. From it I despatched messengers to O'Malley, and

to Coyle, and presently sent Durnief away to prison, in charge of the

former, while the latter brought a conveyance which took Zara and me to

the home of my princess. It was a much quicker return than I had

anticipated, at the time we departed from that house together, but the

condition in which we found it, told only too plainly what might have

been my sweetheart's fate, had I trusted to appearances, and left her

there. The nihilists had lost no time in searching for her, when they

were made to believe that she had betrayed them. The place was almost a

wreck. It had been searched, and the searchers had not hesitated to

become despoilers, also. Nevertheless it was a happy homecoming for

Zara, for looking upon the devastation that had been wrought in her

absence, she turned to me with a smile, and said: "I have lost much, this past night, Dubravnik, in shattered idols and

broken toys, but I have gained the whole world, too, for I have found

you."

When I had seen Zara safely inside her own door, and had given her

every assurance of her entire safety, I had myself driven to the

palace.

Although I had promised to see the emperor as soon as I arrived, I felt

that it was my first duty to interview Prince Michael, in the hope that

the events of the preceding day might be reviewed in a better spirit.

Accordingly, I proceeded at once to his apartments, after the captain

of the guard had assured me that his majesty was still sleeping, not

having retired until nearly daylight. When I rapped upon the door of

the room occupied by the prince, as a sleeping apartment, there was no

response, and I repeated the summons, more loudly than before. Still I

waited in vain, and at last, feeling some misgivings, and being assured

by the guard in the corridor that the prince had not left the room

since he had gone to it the preceding evening, I turned the handle and

entered.

I found him there. He was seated in a chair near one of the great

windows through which the lately risen sun was shining full upon him;

and the moment my eyes discovered him I started with horror, for I saw

that he was dead. Instantly I stepped back through the door, and told

the guard to call his captain, pointing out the lifeless form of the

prince, and ordering him to tell nobody but his superior officer of the

fact. Then I reëntered the room and approached the body of my former

friend. There was a pistol beside him on the floor where it had fallen

from his nerveless grasp after the fatal deed was performed, but he

reclined as easily in the chair as though he had dropped asleep

naturally, for a short nap instead of forever.