speak to the wild-looking Cossacks sent for his protection.

In Russia, as in other countries where life is cheaply held, the death
formalities are small. It is only in England, where we are so careful
for the individual and so careless of the type, that we have to pay for
dying, and leave a mass of red-tape formalities for our friends.

While the young officer was changing his uniform for the evening finery
which his servant's forethought had provided, Paul and Steinmetz
hurriedly arranged what story of the evening should be given to the
world. Knowing the country as they did, they were enabled to tell a true
tale, which was yet devoid of that small personal interest that gossips
love. And all the world ever knew was that the Princess Howard Alexis
was killed by the revolted peasants while attempting to escape by a side
door, and that the Baron Claude de Chauxville, who was staying in the
neighborhood, met his death in attempting to save her from the fury of
the mob.

On the recommendation of Karl Steinmetz, Paul placed the castle and
village under martial law, and there and then gave the command to the
young Cossack officer, pending further instructions from his general,
commanding at Tver.

The officer dined with Steinmetz, and under the careful treatment of
that diplomatist inaugurated a reign of military autocracy, which varied
pleasingly between strict discipline and boyish neglect.

Before the master of the situation had slept off the effect of his
hundred-mile ride and a heavy dinner, the next morning Steinmetz and
Maggie were ready to start on their journey to England.

The breakfast was served in the room abutting on the cliff in the dim
light of a misty morning.

The lamps were alight on the table, and Paul was waiting when Maggie
came down cloaked for her journey. Steinmetz had breakfasted.

They said good-morning, and managed to talk of ordinary things until
Maggie was supplied with coffee and toast and a somewhat heavy, manly
helping of a breakfast-dish. Then came a silence.

Paul broke it at length with an effort, standing, as it were, on the
edge of the forbidden topic.

"Steinmetz will take you all the way," he said, "and then come back to
me. You can safely trust yourself to his care."

"Yes," answered the girl, looking at the food set before her with a
helpless stare. "It is not that. Can I safely trust Etta's memory to
your judgment? You are very stern, Paul. I think you might easily
mis