nd I
did not appreciate all the love that was lavished upon me. I am a woman
now, and you have taught me what love is. I am not the same creature,
now, that I was a few short hours ago. You have changed the world for
me, for you have made what was once a hell, a heaven of sweet
thoughts."

"Zara, had you already abandoned the insane idea of becoming Durnief's
wife, before we referred to it, now?"

"Yes, I never really entertained it. It only occurred to me as a means
of accomplishing an end. I hate the man so, for all he did to Yvonne;
and when he dared to raise his hopes to me, knowing that I had been her
nearest and dearest friend, knowing also that I was once pledged to
Stanislaus, I was filled with a bitter hatred more terrible than words
can describe. Oh, if you knew the bitterness of one who is used only
for a tool, because she happens to possess beauty. But you cannot know;
you cannot guess."

"True, I do not know; but I can guess. Remember, I heard what you said
to your brother, on this same subject, in the garden."

"Ah!"

Like a flash of light through the darkness, my own peril returned to
her.

"You! What are you going to do?" she exclaimed.

"I am going about my daily duty just as though nothing had happened," I
replied.

"Those men out there are waiting to kill you. Come! Let us see if they
are there still."

We went to the window together and peered out. The _karetta_ was
still waiting.

"Tell me your true name again," she demanded, rather irrelevantly I
thought, as we drew back. "You told me, but I have forgotten. To me you
are Dubravnik; but I suppose I must learn the other one."

"You must learn how to answer to it, also, for it is to be yours as
well as mine." Then I mentioned it, and she repeated it after me
several times, under her breath.

"Do you know of any way, no matter how, to escape those men who are
waiting outside?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied, "I know of one."

"What is it?"

"I can have them arrested where they are--every one of them; that is,
if one of your servants can be induced to carry a message a short
distance, for me."

"He would be stopped. The message would be taken from him, and read."

"He would be permitted to go on again, for the message would mean
nothing to those who stopped him. It would be in cipher, and assistance
would not be long in coming, once it were delivered. Men in whom I can
implicitly trust would soon clear the streets for us. We would