ke its chance. I am not disposed to wait any longer for the Duke of
Reist's answer."

"Then you shall have it now," Reist said, facing them with a momentary
reassertion of his old self. "I accept. In an hour I will ride out to
Solika. But I shall do this thing my own way. Tell me only how I can
communicate with you at Althea."

"It is easy," Hassen exclaimed. "I will explain."

He drew Reist on one side. The Countess and Domiloff exchanged quick
glances. Then there came suddenly from below the sound of a measured
tramping of feet in the square, halting before the great mail-studded
door. Marie moved swiftly to the window.

"It is Ruttens," she announced, hurriedly, "the temporary commander of
police. He has forty or fifty men with him, and they have formed a
cordon around the door."

Hassen's hand flew to his sword. He looked towards Domiloff.

"What does this mean?" he exclaimed. "Have we been betrayed,
Domiloff?"

"It is not you they seek," he said. "Reist, find out what they want."

There was the sound of heavy footsteps upon the stairs. Marie sprang
towards the door, but she was too late. A servant had already thrown
it open.

"Colonel Ruttens," he announced.

Domiloff, already stealing to the furthermost corner of the room,
which was a large one, extinguished the solitary lamp and plunged the
whole place into comparative darkness. Ruttens paused a few yards from
the threshold and peered around him.

"Is the Duke of Reist here?" he asked.

Nicholas struck a match and lit a solitary candle. Its feeble flame
did little more than reveal his own pale face.

"Here I am, Colonel Ruttens. What do you want with me?"

Colonel Ruttens saluted.

"With you--nothing, Duke," he answered. "Nothing, save your help, that
is, in arresting a miscreant."

"Who is he?" Reist asked.

"The Baron Domiloff."

"He is a Russian subject," Reist said, slowly.

"I have a warrant for his arrest signed by the King," Ruttens
answered. "Russian or no Russian he has been guilty of inciting to
treason, of conspiring to bring a regiment of Cossacks into the city,
and of using firearms in the street. Apart from which his very
presence in the city is an offence, as he was banished by the King
some time ago."

"And why do you come to me?" Reist asked.

"Because Baron Domiloff is at present in this house," Ruttens
answered. "My men have surrounded it, and I have come first to you,
Duke. I call upon you, as a loyal Thetian, to a