Princess Zara

"You are punctual, and I am grateful," she murmured. "If you had been

late----"

All the hardness I had felt before returned to me then.

"If I had been late you would have known the reason, princess," I said.

"No; but I should have feared it."

"I would have been dead."

"Dead!"

"Yes; but, unfortunately, the attempt upon my life did not succeed,

thanks to Fate and poor marksmanship."

"The attempt on your life! I do not understand."

I turned my head so that she could see where the plaster hid the wound

made by the bullet of the would-be assassin.

"A better marksman would have compelled me to break my engagement,

princess," I said.

She extended one hand and rested a finger lightly upon the wound, as

though she intended the mere touch to heal it. With the other hand she

gently turned my face towards hers; yet she did it in a way that was

devoid of intimacy. Somehow she changed what might have been suggestive

of familiarity, into a gesture of womanly tenderness; and there was

undoubtedly horror in her eyes, and a flash of angry resentment, too.

"You think that I am responsible for this?" she asked, releasing me and

stepping backward.

I bowed, but made no reply.

Impulsively, she crossed the room, and from the floor, where she had

doubtless thrown it after reading, secured a crumpled wad of paper, and

after straightening and smoothing it, gave it into my hand.

"Read," she said.

"'Our interview in the garden was overheard by two persons beside

ourselves,'" I read, aloud. "'One of them, fortunately, was a friend;

the other may not keep the engagement made with you.'"

"It is from Ivan," she said. "It is because I received that note that I

would have been anxious if you had been detained. It did not occur to

me to doubt that you would be prompt until I read that. I did not doubt

you, Mr. Dubravnik. I might have killed myself, but I would not

have--ah! To think that you could deem me capable of such an act as

that!"

"I did not princess, until--well, there was no other theory. At all

events, I have changed my mind. Who is Ivan?"

"My brother."

"I did not know you had a brother."

"Naturally, since his existence is forgotten. He was sentenced to

Siberia when he was sixteen. Now he is thought to be dead, but he

escaped, and is here. He must have brought some one with him last

night--somebody who listened to everything. Do you know what that note

means, my friend? It means that you have been sentenced to death. It

means that the nihilists will surely take your life; and oh, my God,

there is no escape!"