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 hurried to Tirnova to be dealt with there, should she reach the fortress alive.

"You will need these when the attempt is made to implicate you. Yours is a deadly sin—to have come between Kolfort and his vengeance—and you will need all your wits to get out of it with your life, even with these papers, unless you throw yourself under the protection of the Prince and his party. As I said, you will have to join us now, Count."

"I shall still take time to consider," I answered rather shortly. "You have given me plenty of food for thought. But now, what of your immediate safety? You cannot stay here."

"Nor you, either. You let the third man escape, and by this time he is carrying his news of failure with feet winged with fear. I have done with this carrion," and she cast a look of repugnance at the dead men, and turning away, resumed her cloak with great haste. "You will not decide now?" she asked, as she was ready to go.

"No, I must have time. But where will you go now?"

"I shall communicate with you. You will be a marked man from this hour, and easy to find," she said significantly; "and if you are in danger sooner than you expect, do not hesitate to let me know. Our next meeting will be in the Prince's palace, and the sooner the better."

"Where will you go now?" I repeated.

"Do not fear for me. You will need all your efforts to save your own skin. Come!" She left the light burning, and led the way out of the house by a back entrance that opened on to a narrow alley, along which we hurried.