Marishka's heart. Today, however, in spite of
the confession which trembled upon her lips, Marishka remained silent.
And the mere fact that she did not speak added conviction of the danger
which threatened her happiness and Hugh Renwick's.

As the afternoon waned she grew apprehensive, and it was not until
evening that he came. His appearance did little to reassure her.

"Your note did not reach me until a few moments ago," he began soberly.
"I went upon a mission to the ministry which has kept me all day."

"I have been worried," she began nervously. "I went to Schoenbrunn this
morning----"

"I know it," he broke in quickly. "Otway, of the Embassy, saw you
leaving in the Prince's car."

Something in his tone, in the avidity with which he had seized upon her
phrase, warned her of the truth.

"Oh, Hugh," she cried, "you have already told!"

His voice sank a note lower, and its very earnestness seemed to make the
barrier between them the greater. "This morning when I left you, I wrote
a complete statement of what happened at Konopisht, and gave it to a
servant with instructions to deliver it at the Embassy at a certain
hour. When I tell you that I was bidden to the Ministry this afternoon,
closely questioned and detained in violation of all precedent, you will
understand that from my own point of view, I acted wisely."

"You mean----"

"I mean that larger forces than yours and mine have taken control of the
situation."

"Then your message has been delivered?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I cannot believe it of you----" she said, staring at him in
anguish.

He smiled gently.

"I have only done my duty----"

"Your duty!" she said bitterly. "And what of your duty to me? You
promised----"

"Merely," he put in quickly, "that I would wait until you had been to
Schoenbrunn."

"No, no, you promised," she said, with rising anger. "It was my
secret--not yours. I have never given you permission to reveal it."

"Nor having been to Schoenbrunn would have given it now, Marishka," he
said firmly.

"And knowing this, you use subterfuge, an unmanly recantation--break
your promised word----"

"I have broken no promise, Marishka, listen----"

"Nothing that you can say----"

She rose, her face hidden in her hands. "Oh, you have done me a
damage--irreparable! I too have promised----"

"The Emperor!"

"My sovereign--he asked this secrecy of me and you--the man I----"

"Marishka, I love you," he pleaded, trying to take her