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1 62 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.

Venice three years ago think of it ! and, in spite of the Russian persecution of the chosen people, is said to be hand and glove with the Russian Government in its fight with the Nihilists a curious story, is it not? "

" Very ! " said Lady Forsyth ; " an eccentric evidently some women find delight in compelling the world to talk about them."

" You have only to be very rich, a widow, handsome, and affecting a mission, to have all the world that is worth knowing interested in you," responded Lady Marchmount. "The Countess Stravensky is a woman to know."

" A kind of Monte Christo in petticoats," suggested Lady Forsyth ; and as she said so Philip came up, and Lady Marchmount moved away.

" She is coming here to-night, mother," he said.

" And who is * she ' when she comes Dolly ? " asked his mother, making room for him to sit by her side.

" No ; the lady I saw at the opera whose face I sug- gested in the medal sketch. Chetwynd assures me it is the very woman."

" Then I believe I can guess who she is," said his mother ; " Lady Marchmount has been telling me about her."

"Yes?" said Philip. " Lady Marchmount knows her then ? "

" If it is the Countess Stravensky, who has been married twice and widowed with curious promptitude in the case of one husband, at all events "

Before she could finish the sentence, both mother and son yielded to the same impulse to look towards the door at the announcement (which then immediately followed the close of that little-noticed fantasia) of the Countess Stravensky.

Mrs. Chetwynd went forward and received the lady with unusual empressement. The countess responded with graceful informality, almost interrupting Mrs. Chetwynd's