rison and keep him there? Such things are done in
Russia. He is more dangerous than you think. Please do it--please--"

Paul looked at her with hard, unresponsive eyes. Lives depended on his
answer.

"I did not come here to discuss Claude de Chauxville," he said, "but
you, and our future."

Etta drew herself up as one under the lash, and waited with set teeth.

"I propose," he said, in a final voice which made it no proposition at
all, "that you go home to England at once with--your cousin. This
country is not safe for you. The house in London will be at your
disposal. I will make a suitable settlement on you, sufficient to live
in accordance with your title and position. I must ask you to remember
that the name you bear has hitherto been an unsullied one. We have been
proud of our princesses--up to now. In case of any trouble reaching you
from outside sources connected with this country, I should like you to
remember that you are under my protection and that of Steinmetz. Either
of us will be glad at any time to consider any appeal for assistance
that you may think fit to make. You will always be the Princess Howard
Alexis."

Etta gave a sudden laugh.

"Oh, yes," she said, and her face was strangely red, "I shall still be
the Princess Alexis."

"With sufficient money to keep up the position," he went on, with the
cruel irony of a slow-spoken man.

A queer, twisted smile passed across Etta's face--the smile of one who
is in agony and will not shriek.

"There are certain stipulations which I must make in self-defence," went
on Paul. "I must ask you to cease all communication of whatever nature
with the Baron de Chauxville. I am not jealous of him--now. I do not
know why."

He paused, as if wondering what the meaning of this might be. Etta knew
it. The knowledge was part of her punishment.

"But," continued her husband. "I am not going to sacrifice the name my
mother bore to the vanity of a French coxcomb. You will be kind enough
to avoid all society where it is likely that you should meet him. If you
disregard my desires in this matter, I shall be compelled to take means
to enforce them."

"What means?"

"I shall reduce your allowance."

Their eyes met, and perhaps that was the bitterest moment in Etta's
life. Dead things are better put out of sight at once. Etta felt that
Paul's dead love would grin at her in every sovereign of the allowance
which was to be hers. She would never get away from it; she