sted his treasure to a stranger's care.

"What is this story of the book of Kensky?"

"'The Book of All-Power'?"

She did not smile as he had expected her to.

"Old Israel Kensky is a curious man," she said guardedly. "The people
credit him with all sorts of powers which of course he does not possess.
They believe he is a wizard, that he can bend people to his will. They
say the most terrible things about the religious ceremonies over which
he presides."

They were mounting the hill behind which lay the fashionable quarter of
Kieff with its great stone palaces, its wonderful cherry gardens and
broad avenues.

"I like old Kensky," she went on; "he sometimes comes to the palace to
bring new silks--he is the greatest merchant in Little Russia. He even
tells me his troubles--he has a terrible daughter: you have heard about
her?"

"I thought she was rather good," said Malcolm humorously. "Isn't she a
Christian?"

The girl shrugged her shoulders. Evidently her Grand Ducal Highness had
no great opinion of Sophia Kensky's conversion.

The Grand Ducal palace was built in the Byzantine style and presented,
from the broad carriage drive that led from the road, a confusion of
roofs, windows and bastions, as though the designer had left the working
out of his plan to fifty different architects, and each architect had
interpreted the scheme of construction in his own way.

The Grand Duke was standing in the portico as they went through the
gate, and came down the steps to meet them. He was a mild-looking man of
medium height and wore pince-nez. Malcolm remembered that on the one
occasion he had met his Highness he had been disappointed in his lack of
personal grandeur.

"My child, my child!" said the Duke, coming to the girl with
outstretched arms. "What a terrible misfortune! How came you to be mixed
up in this matter? The commandant has just telephoned to me. I have
called for his resignation. By St. Inokeste, I will not have the rabble
breathing upon you! And this is the good gentleman who came to your
rescue?"

He surveyed Malcolm with his cold blue eyes, but both glance and
intonation lacked the cordiality which his words implied.

"I thank you. I am indeed grateful to you. You understand they would not
have harmed the Grand Duchess, but this you could not know. As for the
Jew----"

He became suddenly thoughtful. He had the air of a man wholly
preoccupied in his secret thoughts and who now emerged from his she