iumphant, and our priests are
manfully aiding the spread of such opinions. They have received orders
to further these notions; and it is thus, and by the excesses consequent
on this, you will succeed in trampling down that moderated liberty which
is the curse that England is destined to disseminate amongst us. It is
easy enough to make an excited people commit an act of indiscretion, and
then, with public opinion on your side--"

"How I detest that phrase!" said Madame de Heidendorf; "it is the lowest
cant of the day."

"The thing it represents is not to be despised, Madame," said the Abbe.

"These are English notions," said she, sneeringly.

"They will be Russian ones yet, depend upon it, Madame."

"I 'd rather know what a few men of vast fortune, like Midchekoff, for
instance, think, than have the suffrages of half the greasy mobs of
Europe."

"By the way," said the Minister, "what is he doing? Is it true that he
is coquetting with Liberals and Fourierists, and all that?"

"For the moment he is," said Madame de Heidendorf; "and two or three of
the popularity-seeking sovereigns have sent him their decorations, and
if he does not behave better he will be ordered home."

"He is of great use in Italy," said the Minister.

"True; but he must not abuse his position."

"He is just vain enough to lend himself to a movement," said D'Esmonde;
"but he shall be watched."

These last words were very significantly uttered.

"You know the Princess, Abbe?" asked the Minister, with a smile; and
another smile, as full of meaning, replied to the question.

"She's pretty, ain't she?" asked the Archduke.

"Beautiful is the word, sir; but if your Imperial Highness would like
to pass judgment personally, I 'll beg of her to come down to the
drawing-room."

"Of all things, most kind of you to make the offer," said he, rising
and arranging his coat and sword-knot into some semblance of propriety,
while Madame de Heidendorf rang the bell, and despatched a messenger to
Kate with the request.

Nina was overjoyed at the commission intrusted to her. Since Kate's
peremptory order, she had not ventured to intrude herself upon her;
but now, armed with a message, she never hesitated about invading the
precincts of that silent chamber, at whose door she often stood in doubt
and speculation.

She tapped gently at the door; there was no answer. A second summons was
alike unreplied to, and Nina bent down her head to listen. There were