shall be played." He blushed a little as he spoke.
He was not accustomed to indulge in _persiflage_ with great ladies.

A little colour came into her face also. Perhaps the young musician's
tone had been more fervent than he intended.

"But I will tell you the reason, nevertheless. We have been recalled
to St. Petersburg; we leave London next week. That is the reason my
brother Boris is not here; he is winding up affairs for his
successor."

A deeper flush spread over Nello's face. "But that is very strange. I
am going there myself. I start next Monday."

The young Princess looked pleased. She turned to her mother. "Signor
Corsini must call upon us, mother." She looked at him with a little
smile. "To-night will not then be the last time I shall hear that
lovely romance."

The elder woman seconded the invitation warmly. "You shall come and
play for us, Signor. I think you will find the Slav temperament a
little more fervent than the Anglo-Saxon one."

Nello thought this a good time for explanations. Degraux would spread
the news about in his world, the Zouroffs would spread it about in
theirs.

"You know, of course, the Baron Salmoros?"

The Princess replied that they had a slight acquaintance with that
distinguished financier.

"Lady Glendover introduced me to him. He is a very considerable
_amateur_, he has been kind enough to take a very warm interest in
me. He is going to push my fortunes in Russia."

"His name is one to conjure with in Russia," said the grey-haired
Princess. "He stands very high in the favour of his Imperial Majesty."

Princess Nada nodded him farewell. "It is not good-bye, then, only
_au revoir_. I suppose artists and ambassadors are the greatest
cosmopolitans on earth. We shall meet next in St. Petersburg."

And, on the Monday of the following week, Corsini set out on his
expedition.

He had seen Degraux, who had congratulated him heartily. "Salmoros
pulls so many strings; he can do more for you in a week than I could
do for you in twelve months," he had told him. "He has run several
theatres for people he believed in. He will do anything in the world
for you when he once takes a fancy."

And little Anita had been very brave; she wept a good deal when she
was alone, but in her brother's presence she kept her tears back. Was
she to oppose the feelings of her loving and undisciplined heart to
the fiat of this new benefactor who had come so unexpectedly into
their lives?

So she