ou
are to reorganize the Fraternity of Silence on a new plan, and the
power to act upon your own judgment will be absolute. It may seem
strange to you that considering yourself almost unknown you should have
been selected for this work, but you must remember that you have been
recommended by one whose word is entirely respected by the emperor, and
that you have been under careful espionage for three years. Does the
outline that I have given you accord with the plans which you thought
of submitting to the czar?"

"Yes; largely."

"Plots for the assassination of the emperor are hatching every day. Our
present system is not adequate. You must fill the breach."

"Is the existence of this organization of which you speak known to
anybody, prince?"

"To nobody save those whom I have mentioned."

"Not to any nihilist?"

"Alexander, Alexis, you and I are the only living beings who ever heard
of it. No one else has ever known of it."

"Will you pardon me, prince, if I tell you that you are mistaken?"

"Mistaken! Do you mean, Mr. Derrington, that you doubt my word?"

He got upon his feet and I saw that he was angry, believing that I had
wantonly offended him. I arose also and began to pace up and down the
room taking care that each turn would bring me nearer to the heavy
curtains which hung about one of the great windows. The prince repeated
his question, this time in a louder and angrier tone than before, and
when I made no reply was about to leave the room; but I made a sign
that compelled him to pause. At the same instant, being sufficiently
near the curtain, I made a quick leap forward and with all my strength
struck with my fist the exact point behind which I thought the head of
the concealed person should be located.

My aim was true and the blow was sufficient, for the body behind the
curtain crashed against the hardwood casing of the window and then sank
to the floor, motionless, and in another instant I had dragged into
view the senseless form of a man in the livery of the palace
servants--a man whom the prince instantly recognized as a trusted
servitor of the czar--one who had been told that a guest was expected
to occupy that chamber, and who had been detailed to wait upon me--one
who had been especially selected for his loyalty and discretion.

"That man heard and knew, and to-morrow the nihilists would have heard
and known. Let us hope that they do not already know more than they
should," I said, indicat