not, I suppose, my business. The world is as the good God made it. I can
do nothing toward bettering it. I have always known you to be a
scoundrel--a fact to be deplored--and that is all. But so soon as your
villany affects my own life, then, my friend, a more active recognition
of it is necessary."

"Indeed!" sneered the Frenchman.

"Your villany has touched Paul's life, and at that point it touches
mine," continued Karl Steinmetz, with slow anger. "You followed us to
Petersburg--thence you dogged us to the Government of Tver. You twisted
that foolish woman, the Countess Lanovitch, round your finger, and
obtained from her an invitation to Thors. All this in order to be near
one of us. Ach! I have been watching you. Is it only after twenty-five
years that I at last convince you that I am not such a fool as you are
pleased to consider me?"

"You have not convinced me yet," put in De Chauxville, with his easy
laugh.

"No, but I shall do so before I have finished with you. Now, you have
not come here for nothing. It is to be near one of us. It is not Miss
Delafield; she knows you. Some women--good women--have an instinct given
to them by God for a defence against such men--such things as you. Is it
I?"

He touched his broad chest with his two hands, and stood defying his
life-long foe.

"Is it me that you follow? If so, I am here. Let us have done with it
now."

De Chauxville laughed. There was an uneasy look in his eyes. He did not
quite understand Steinmetz. He made no answer. But he turned and looked
at the window. It is possible that he suddenly remembered the threat
concerning it.

"Is it Paul?" continued Steinmetz. "I think not. I think you are afraid
of Paul. Remains the princess. Unless you can convince me to the
contrary, I must conclude that you are trying to get a helpless woman
into your power."

"You always were a champion of helpless ladies," sneered De Chauxville.

"Ah! You remember that, do you? I also--I remember it. It is long ago,
and I have forgiven you; but I have not forgotten. What you were then
you will be now. Your record is against you."

Steinmetz was standing with his back to what appeared to be the only
exit from the room. There were two other doors concealed in the oaken
panels, but De Chauxville did not know that. He could not take his eyes
from the broad face of his companion, upon which there were singular
blotches of color.

"I am waiting," said the German, "for you to ex