rned
to its owner by one of my young men, who will explain the circumstances,
and arrange a proper compensation."

With this parting shot delivered in his best professional manner, Herr
Windt left the room with an air of triumphant urbanity which added not a
little to the respect with which Renwick now regarded him.

Marishka sat upright on the bed staring straight before her while
Renwick paced the floor frowning.

"If I could only have reached her--for a moment," said Marishka
brokenly, as though thinking aloud. "She would have listened to me--she
would have believed me. I would have thrown myself upon her mercy--told
her all. It is horrible--a death like that--when a word might save them
now--and it will be I--I who have killed them----" She started up
staring at Renwick. "And you! Why do you stand there, doing nothing?"
she flung at him wildly. "You learned of this thing--at Belgrade. Why
couldn't you have prevented it? Given it publicity? Why don't you do
something now? England has power. Why doesn't your Ambassador speak? Is
he frightened? Dumb? Will he stand idly by and see this----"

"It is none of England's affair, Countess Strahni," Renwick broke in
soothingly.

"Then it is of Germany's?" She halted as the new idea came to her, and
walked to the small table where she sank into a chair and buried her
head in her hands, trying to think.

After a while she raised her head suddenly and looked at Renwick.

"Do you believe that this man tells the truth?"

"I do. He stands high among those of his profession."

"Do you believe that agents of the German government were trying to take
me prisoner--and you?"

"Herr Windt is surprisingly well informed. I am quite sure that someone
is trying to shoot me," he laughed. "I believe that you were
followed--by whom I don't know."

"Then how do you explain the efforts of German agents to take me, when I
am acting in the interests of the Kaiser's friend and ally, the Archduke
Franz?"

"You forget that this plot is a secret one. The Archduke may fear the
Serbians and the Bosnians, not his own countrymen."

"Oh! Yes--of course." She was silent again, but moved her hands
nervously along the table top and in a moment got up and peered through
the window-blind.

"I beg that you will submit yourself to Herr Windt if not to
me----" pleaded Renwick earnestly. "At least in his company you will be
in no danger. I have done what I can to help you reach the Duchess,
because