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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 151

Studio lights were burning in the windows, the married quarters of Hymen with the torch looking more cheerful than any other of the homes of Art. There was a faint perfume of wall-flowers from an adjacent window box ; the porter's lodge was radiant with a crackling and cheerful fire ; and in the street was a hansom with two white lamps, which were presently dancing along the Albert-road by Primrose Hill and away down Baker-street towards Dorset- square.

" And now, Phil," said Dick, turning to his friend, " pull yourself together for the news."

" I have been doing that for the last half hour," said Philip.

" I have found her."

" Great heavens, whom ? " exclaimed Philip ; his heart beating wildly, in spite of himself.

" Your ghost of Madame Lapukin. But more like Cleopatra than Lapukin, I fancy."

" Do you mean the woman I saw at the opera ? "

" Who else could I mean?'

" How do you know it is her? "

" From your description and your portrait of her. A superb woman ! But not half so melancholy as you make out ; and her hair is chesnut, not red ; a chesnut that will drive you crazy ; great violet eyes set in a colorless face of aesthetic loveliness ; but her mouth ! well, it is the mouth of Clytemnestra ! "

" It is not the same woman, Dick."

" Yes, it is, and to-night you shall see her and talk to her, and ask her to sit to you."

" And who is she then ? " Philip asked, lt and why did she appear in Lady Marchmount's box like a vision and disappear like a dream ? "

" You can ask her yourself. I saw her this morning at the Gallery ; and she is the famous Russian Countess, Olga, Stravenski."