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 she could start, and would have set out at once had I not told her of the far greater security which darkness would afford.

"What time is it now?" she asked.

"Just past four. At seven, or soon after, we may venture to start; and if all goes well, as Heaven grant it may, you will be across the frontier and in safety before the sun rises again."

"I shall owe it to you," she said, "as indeed I owe so much already."

"Not more to me than to all here with us. Indeed, this blessing of a shelter at the very nick of time we owe to the accident of Markov's blunder. We may well forgive him such a happy mistake."

"Would you have me think I owe nothing to you?" she asked in a low voice, looking at me with a glance of love.

"Perhaps I may answer that question at a future time," I returned in the same low tone. She blushed and dropped her eyes and was silent.

In the silence I heard the sounds of some commotion in the house below, and I started uneasily. "Something has happened; I must go and see what it means!" I exclaimed; and with a hasty excuse I hurried away.

Something had indeed happened, for at the bottom of the stairs I found Spernow and Zoiloff in excited talk. I called them up, and together we entered the Princess's room, that he might tell us the story of his experiences, and relieve at once the anxiety of his sweetheart.

On seeing him she jumped up and, regardless of our presence, threw herself into his arms.

"Are you really safe, Michel?" she asked, gazing into his face with a look I could understand readily,