on.
"Just think, there is a man in that town in whose hand your good name
and your freedom lie. If he but takes a fancy, he can drag you in the
mud. You can count on no happiness, no security, without his consent.
Remember, too, there is a woman with him who has smitten you in the face
and made you recoil, who is perhaps even now laughing at you, who is the
object of my deadly hatred, and during whose lifetime the door is closed
to me into the world I wish to enter. So long as that woman lives the
sun does not shine for me: I can show my face only at night. And can you
sit there while those two are happy in each other's embraces? Oh,
coward! How long are you going to let them live?"

Benjamin Vajdar did not venture to open his mouth. The marchioness drew
a key from her bosom and held it before him. "Do you see that?" she
whispered, while for an instant a smile lighted up her face. "This key
belongs to the man who first brings me word of that woman's death." So
saying, she kissed the little key and held it to the other's lips to
kiss also. "What do you say?"

"I am wont only to think and to act, not to promise," was his reply.

"Very well. _Au revoir!_"

The marchioness pulled her bell-cord three times for her maid,--a signal
for her visitor to retire. He hastened to the secret door, accordingly,
and disappeared. Calling a cab, he ordered the driver to take him to the
Cafe de l'Europe. The head waiter told him, in answer to his inquiries,
that Prince Cagliari was there also,--was, in fact, taking supper with
two ladies in a private room. The secretary asked to be shown thither.

"I knew you would turn up here before the night was over," cried the
prince, with a laugh, as the young man entered. "I had a cover laid for
you."

The two young women were costumed as _fleurs animees_,--the one as a
violet, the other as a tulip. The remains of a generous meal were on the
table. The newcomer held out his glass to the tulip and begged her to
pour him some champagne.

"One moment!" interrupted the prince. "First let me ask a question. How
much have you left of my wife's quarterly allowance that I sent her by
you?"

"That is exactly what I was going to speak to you about," returned the
young man. "I have to ask you for the next quarter's allowance also."

"Indeed! And must you have it immediately?"

"If you please."

"But haven't you already learned, from her letter which she wrote me in
November, that she is about to