moment he felt just a little home-sick; he thought of
his little sister Anita. Oh, why could he not have brought her?

And then, suddenly, his glance brightened. Standing a foot in front
of him were the grey-haired Princess Zouroff and her radiant, charming
daughter.

Nada stretched out a welcoming hand. "We must have raced each other
across Europe. I see you have your violin-case with you. You are going
to play."

"Yes, and I shall certainly play your favourite. I arrived just a day
or two in front of you, and of course, you have not heard of my good
fortune. Through the offices of Count Golitzine, I have been appointed
to the post of Director of the Imperial Opera."

The young girl opened her eyes wide; and turned to her mother. "What
do you think of that, dearest? Signor Corsini is appointed to the
directorship of the Imperial Opera."

The elder woman smiled, and replied in her calm, quiet accents,
directing her gaze at the young Italian.

"I told you, Signor, that the name of Salmoros was one to conjure with
in Russia."

Nello was about to reply, when the young Princess put her finger to
her lips. A sudden hush had spread over the assembly. A beautiful
young Spanish woman had just ascended the small platform--a young
woman known by the affectionate nickname of La Belle Quero.

She sang the well-known song from _Lucrezia Borgia_, "Il Segreto per
esse felice," in her deep, resonant, contralto tones. She sang it with
a vigour and abandon which placed beyond question the fact that she
was a superb artist, as well as a beautiful woman.

When she had finished, there was tremendous applause. An encore was
insisted on and granted by the obliging _prima donna_. The Count
Golitzine himself led the great singer from the platform to a seat.
His keen eye had already observed Corsini in attendance on the
Zouroffs. He beckoned to the young man, who made a hasty apology to
the Princess and her daughter.

"I have the pleasure of presenting one great artist to another," said
the Count in his suavest tones. "Signor Corsini, who will presently
enchant us on the violin, to Madame Quero, who has already captivated
us with her liquid notes. You have no doubt already heard, Madame,
that next week Signor Corsini takes over the post of Director of the
Imperial Opera."

Madame Quero--she had a husband knocking about somewhere in Spain, who
never came into her calculations or scheme of existence--flashed at
the handsome young I