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 "He chose it," she answered, with a smile of reassurance. "It is intended to mark off those who are for me as distinguished from those solely devoted to Russia, the good men and true for whom he thinks I can best act as his decoy." I understood her. "You will not forget it and all that it means, as I have explained to you to-day."

"I am not likely to forget all that it means to me," I said, and a quick glow on her face made me think she understood me, too, and was not displeased. With a little flush of pleasure I turned again to leave, when the door was opened, and a servant announced the Duke Sergius.

He came in hurriedly, with a look of vexation on his coarse, broad face, which deepened instantly to anger as his eyes fell upon me.

"They told me you were engaged, Princess, as I see," he said, with a sneer at me; "but I had a matter of urgency to discuss with you, so I bade your servants announce me."

"Your urgency will cost my servants their places," she answered, the expression of her face hardening into cold austerity—so different from anything I had seen during our interview.

"I did not think it could be anything very important," he answered, paying no heed to her words. "Who is this gentleman?" and he turned and glowered at me.

Not only a bully, but a cad, was my thought, as I returned his look with generous interest.

The Princess murmured our names formally and coldly.

"I have heard something of you, Count, from General Kolfort." He spoke as if it had been nothing to