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 tell her to be ready at once. We dare not waste a minute or all will be lost."

I dashed up the stairs, and after searching a couple of empty rooms found one with the door locked.

"Are you there, Princess? It is I, Count Benderoff," I cried, turning the key and partly opening the door.

She answered me and I entered. She was calm but pale, with the little Broumoff at her side, very agitated

"We have heard the noise, but could see nothing from here, and have been filled with anxiety as to what it meant. What has happened?" cried the Princess.

"I can say no more now than that when we heard last night that you had been carried off we followed at once, and happily are now in possession of the house; but you must be ready to fly at once."

"What of General Kolfort? He came here only a few minutes since and threatened me with all the terrors of a Russian gaol. He was like a madman."

"Most unluckily he has escaped us, and may return at any moment in force. Will you get ready at once? Our only hope is to make for the frontier before we can be pursued."

"I am ready now," she cried, throwing on her travelling wraps. "Come, Nathalie, come, the Count has saved us."

The girl was dressed almost as quickly as the Princess, and together we went down to the front to wait for the carriage.

"Have you had anything to eat? We have a long journey before us."

"I could not think of food."

Without a word, I got some milk and cakes and bread, and put them in the carriage, to which Markov