The Dark Star

"Before we landed I liked you. And, because I saw wonderful

possibilities in the little country girl who shared my stateroom, I

deliberately made up my mind to develop you, make use of your

excellent mind, your quick intelligence, your amazing capacity for

absorbing everything that is best, and your very unusual attractions

for my own purposes. I meant--to train you--educate you--to aid me."

There was a silence; the girl looked up at her, flushed, intent,

perplexed; the Princess Mistchenka, her hands on the girl's shoulders,

looked back at her out of grave and beautiful dark eyes.

"That is the truth," said the Princess. "My intention was to develop

you along the lines which I follow as a--profession; teach you to

extract desirable information through your wit, intelligence, and

beauty--using your youth as a mask. But I--I can't do it----" She

shook her head slightly. "Because I've lost my heart to you.... And

the business I follow is a--a rotten game."

Again silence fell among those three; Rue, kneeling at the elder

woman's feet, looked up into her face in silence; Neeland, his elbows

resting on his knees, leaned slightly forward from the sofa, watching

them.

"I'll help you, if you wish," said Rue Carew.

"Thank you, dear. No."

"Let me. I owe you everything since I have been here----"

"No, dear. What I said to you--and to James--is true. It's a

merciless, stealthy, treacherous business; it's dangerous to a woman,

body and soul. It is one long lifetime of experience with treachery,

with greed, with baser passions, with all that is ignoble in mankind.

"There is no reason for you to enter such a circle; no excuse for it;

no duty urges you; no patriotism incites you to such self-sacrifice;

no memory of wrong done to your nearest and dearest inspires you to

dedicate your life to aiding--if only a little, in the downfall and

destruction of the nation and the people who encompassed it!"

The Princess Mistchenka's dark eyes began to gleam, and her beautiful

face lost its colour; and she took Rue's little hands in both of hers

and held them tightly against her breast.

"Had I not lost my heart to you, perhaps I should not have hesitated

to develop and make use of you.

"You are fitted for the rôle I might wish you to play. Men are

fascinated by you; your intelligence charms; your youth and innocence,

worn as a mask, might make you invaluable to the Chancellerie which is

interested in the information I provide for it.

"But, Rue, I have come to understand that I cannot do this thing. No.

Go back to your painting and your clever drawing and your music; any

one of these is certain to give you a living in time. And in that

direction alone your happiness lies."