do
with the conduct and activities of various nihilistic agents who were
scattered about over the world, outside of Russia. He was a man whose
name does not appear again in this story and which therefore need not
be mentioned now, but he was nevertheless one well known at the courts
of Europe, and on the streets of New York and Washington.

At the end of their discussion and interchange of confidences, when he
rose to leave her and she gave him her hand, he said, recurring to the
subject of their conversation:

"Princess, if we had others like you, as sincere in their efforts for
the betterment of our people, nihilism would soon become the dominant
factor of Russian politics, and official oppression would cease to
exist. If we had others like you, as good and as beautiful as you are,
the czar would abdicate, or would consent to give us a parliament. As
it is, the struggle has only just begun, and I greatly fear that
neither I nor you, young though you are, will live to see its end."

"Thank you," she said. "I understand thoroughly what you mean. It is
true that I am heart and soul in this movement. It is equally true that
I am prepared to devote my fortune and my life to an attainment of the
ends we seek."

"Are you an extremist?" he asked her. "We have not touched upon that
part of the subject as yet, princess."

She hesitated.

"If you mean by that expression, do I seek the life of Alexander? I
could answer you in the affirmative without hesitation; but I would
have to confess that my desire for vengeance upon him is more of a
personal quality, than of a political character. I am mindful of the
fact that we cannot destroy a tree by lopping off one of its branches,
and whenever a czar is dead, another lives to take his place and to
permit the injustices practiced in his name, to continue. He is like
the hydra-headed monster of childhood's tales, and another head grows
as fast as one may be cut off."

"You are a beautiful woman, princess, and with that aid alone you
should accomplish much."

"Yes," she admitted, as calmly as if he had referred to a ring she wore
on her hand; "but I find that to be the most unpleasant character of my
employment. To use such beauty as I have, and such attractions as I
possess, for the winning of men to our cause, whether they be officials
or nobles, is hateful to me; and yet I do not hesitate."

"It is not a difficult task for men to join the nihilists because of
love for you