tary and crossed over to
Nello.

"The Prince Zouroff is asking for an interview. You have played at the
Russian Embassy; do you want to meet him?"

"No," said Nello shortly; "I don't think I do. I have heard that he is
a bit of a brute."

"Quite right, but, on account of his position, we have to cotton to
him in a way. With your head over your desk you won't see each other."

The private secretary ushered in Prince Zouroff, the Russian
Ambassador.

The Prince was a very overbearing and truculent personage; but he knew
full well that even ambassadors have to preserve a modest demeanour,
even as their sovereigns, in the presence of all-powerful financiers.

"Greetings to you, my dear Salmoros!" The Prince was always
flamboyant. "The Czar has recalled me to St. Petersburg."

Salmoros affected surprise. But he was not surprised in the least. He
had received intimation of the news two days ago from the Russian
Foreign Office itself.

"Ah, I have heard the rumour," he said in his slow, suave accents.
"You are to be Governor of Kieff, a post you have long been coveting,
eh? I congratulate you, my dear Prince, although your friends in
London will be very sorry to lose you."

"You are mistaken," replied the Ambassador shortly. "Though I have
tried several times to obtain the governorship of Kieff my Imperial
Master will not give it to me. It is my right by inheritance, because
my estates are in that province. I hear that I may be appointed
Governor of Archangel; in the meantime, I am to present myself at the
Court of St. Petersburg."

Salmoros did not betray by a flicker of the eyelid that the
information was priceless to him.

Zouroff, after a brief sojourn at the Court of St. Petersburg, was to
be advanced to the governorship of Archangel.

Salmoros knew what this meant. The Czar was as well aware of the fact
as he was. Zouroff was a great nobleman, but also a traitor. The
Government was going to proceed by easy steps. From Archangel to
Siberia and life-long imprisonment would be a facile progression and
create no great scandal, excite very little comment. Prince Zouroff
would simply disappear, under this most autocratic of all autocratic
governments.

After a short conversation the Baron held out his hand. In his heart
he had a little sympathy for this truculent Ambassador, brute as he
was, who was going to his doom, the victim of an iron and despotic
Government. But perhaps his sympathy was wasted. Zouroff