f a sleepless night.

"I do not know what to do," she said. "I am very fond of Frank. I can
speak to you, can I not, Count Poltavo?"

"You may confide in me absolutely," he said, gravely.

"And yet I am not so fond of him," she went on, "that I can marry him
yet."

"Then why do you?" he asked.

"How can I disobey this?" She held the letter out.

He took it from her hand with a little smile, walked to the fireplace
and dropped it gently upon the glowing coals.

"I am afraid you are not carrying out instructions," he said, playfully.

There was something in this action which chilled her; he was thinking
more of his safety and his duty to Farrington than he was of her, she
thought: a curiously inconsistent view to take in all the circumstances,
but it was one which had an effect upon her after actions.

"Now listen to me," he said, with his kindly smile; "you have not to
trouble about this; you are to go your own way and allow me to make it
right with Farrington. He is a very headstrong and ambitious man, and
there is some reason perhaps why he should want you to marry Doughton,
but as to that I will gain a little more information. In the meantime
you are to dismiss the matter from your mind, leaving everything to me."

She shook her head.

"I am afraid I cannot do that," she said. "Unless I have a letter from
my guardian expressing wishes to the contrary, I must carry out his
desires. It is dreadful--dreadful,"--she wrung her hands
piteously,--"that I should be placed in this wretched position. How can
I help him by marrying Frank Doughton? How can I save him--can you tell
me?"

He shook his head.

"Have you communicated with Mr. Doughton?"

She nodded.

"I sent him a letter," she hesitated. "I have kept a draft of it; would
you like to see it?"

A little shade of bitter anger swept across his face, but with an effort
he mastered himself.

"I should," he said, evenly.

She handed the sheet of paper to him.

"DEAR FRANK," it ran, "for some reason which I cannot explain to you, it
is necessary that the marriage which my uncle desired should take place
within the next week. You know my feelings towards you; that I do not
love you, and that if it were left to my own wishes this marriage would
not take place, but for a reason which I cannot at the moment give you I
must act contrary to my own wishes. This is not a gracious nor an easy
thing to say to you, but I know you well enough, with your large,
g