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 centre of the town, and I scanned it curiously. I noticed with satisfaction that great precautions had been taken. All the windows in the lower part were barred heavily; and the defences might have been planned with the express view of preventing just such an attempt as was in contemplation. The Russians had obviously done the work, knowing the need for guarding jealously the woman on whom so much depended.

On that score I had no apprehensions, therefore, and I resolved to question the Princess closely as to the state of affairs within, and whether she was absolutely sure of those who formed her household.

She received me very graciously.

"Your interview with the Prince has made you thoughtful, Count," she said, after a few minutes. "Was my forecast right? and what have you done?"

"I have accepted the commission in his regiment, but I have not pledged myself to support his cause—indeed, he said that I should probably find myself bound in the end to commit myself to the Russian party."

"It is singular that a man who showed himself so brave, and at first so capable, should be unable to read what is as plain as a book to other people."

"His reading is that the one possible future for the country is for it to pass into the power of Russia."

"I know that. It is his besetting weakness." She said this very thoughtfully, and then her face and eyes lighted as she added with vehemence: "And it is wrong—utterly and wholly wrong. The merest counsel of despair. By the help of Heaven we will live to prove it so; and if I have not counted on you in vain, you shall help us in the glorious work."