liking for him.

Golitzine, who had spies everywhere, in the dressing-rooms of
actresses, in the boudoirs of great ladies, knew all there was to know
about the friendship of the conductor and the _prima donna_. Was
Corsini taking advantage of his opportunities to acquire the woman's
confidence, so that it might serve his employer's interest?

But Corsini was only being used as a pawn in the game. He did not even
know that he was being used even in this humble capacity. He must have
guessed that there were some subtle motives behind this sudden and
unexpected preferment; but how could he possibly guess what these
motives were?

If the young Italian was going to be made really useful, he would have
to be enlightened. Salmoros, in his letter, had made a point of his
being kept in the dark, fearful probably of some scruples on his part
on being told that he was to play the _role_ of a spy.

He, Golitzine, was loath to go against the advice of Salmoros, but
astute and shrewd as the financier was, he could not have thought out
the situation with his usual judgment. The time had certainly arrived
when Corsini must be told frankly the part he was expected to play.

After all, there was nothing in the least dishonourable in what he
would be asked to do. Salmoros and the Count between them, with the
sanction of the Emperor, had set him on the high road to fame and
fortune. Their enemies were a band of traitors, headed by Zouroff,
assisted by Madame Quero. He must and would, in honour bound, prove
his allegiance to his benefactors.

Having made up his mind, it was not long before the energetic Count
summoned the young Italian to a private interview in the Winter
Palace. As on the previous occasion, the same tall stranger was
present, lounging about the room--the stranger in whom Nello was later
on to discover the Czar of all the Russias.

Golitzine did not introduce them, but he made a brief allusion. "We
are going to have a rather confidential conversation, Signor, but you
can speak freely before this gentleman. He is perfectly in my
confidence."

Nello bowed, feeling a little embarrassed. He would have been more at
his ease if the tall stranger had not been present.

The Count proceeded in his smooth, conciliatory accents. "I hear very
flattering accounts, so far, of your directorship. You have excited
less envy than I expected, under the rather unusual circumstances.
And you have also won some golden opinions. I am t