which is just below the level of the charcoal, and the hollow is
filled up with powdered charcoal mixed with a little bees-wax. The
"chemist" who makes the experiments must make himself familiar with
the distinctive appearance of the charcoal, so as to pick it out from
among several pieces, and must remember exactly where the crevice is.

On this first occasion, Escrocevitch had prepared all four pieces of
charcoal, which were brought by the servant in the passage. He chose
as his temporary abode a hotel whose proprietor was an old ally of
his, and the servant was also a confederate.

Thus was founded the famous "Gold Products Company," which is still in
very successful operation, and is constantly widening its sphere of
activity.

XVII

THE DELUGE

Count Kallash finally decided on his course of action. It was too late
to seek justice for his sister, but not too late for a tardy
reparation. The gang had prospered greatly, and the share of Baroness
von Doering and Bodlevski already amounted to a very large figure.
Count Kallash determined to demand for his sister a sum equal to that
of the securities in her name which Natasha had stolen, calculating
that this would be enough to maintain his sister in peace and comfort
to the end of her days. His own life was too stormy, too full of risks
for him to allow his sister's fate to depend on his, so he had decided
to settle her in some quiet nook where, free from danger, she might
dream away her few remaining years.

To his surprise Baroness von Doering flatly refused to be put under
contribution.

"Your demand is outrageous," she said. "I am not going to be the
victim of any such plot!"

"Very well, I will compel you to unmask?"

"To unmask? What do you mean, count? You forget yourself!"

"Well, then, I shall try to make you remember me!" And Kallash turned
his back on her and strode from the room. A moment later, and she
heard the door close loudly behind him.

The baroness had already told Bodlevski of her meeting with Princess
Anna, and she now hurried to him for counsel. They agreed that their
present position, with Kallash's threats hanging over their heads, was
intolerable. But what was to be done?

Bodlevski paced up and down the room, biting his lips, and seeking
some decisive plan.

"We must act in such a way," he said, coming to a stand before the
baroness, "as to get rid of this fellow once for all. I think he is
dangerous, and it never does an