e said. "I expected a rough house and
prepared for it. Watch me!"

He extended one of his hands in the manner of a conjurer and with the
other pulled up the sleeve above the wrist. He turned the hands over,
waggling the fingers as though he were giving a performance, and they
watched him curiously.

"There's nothing there, is there?" said Cherry Bim, beaming at the
company, "and yet there is something there. Look!"

No eyes were sharp enough to follow the quick movement of his hand. None
saw it drop or rise again. There was a slur of movement, and then, in
the hand which had been empty, was a long-barrelled Colt. Cherry Bim,
taking no notice of the sensation he created, tossed the revolver to the
ceiling and caught it again.

"Now, gents, I don't know whether you're foolish or only just crazy. Get
away from that door, Hector," he said to a long-haired man who stood
with folded arms against the closed door. And "Hector," whose name was
Nickolo Novoski Yasserdernski in real life, made haste to obey.

"Wait a bit," said the careful gun-man. "That's a key in your waistcoat
pocket, I guess." He thrust the barrel of his revolver against the
other's side, and the long-haired man doubled up with a gasp. But Cherry
Bim meant no mischief. The barrel of the gun clicked against the end of
a key, and when Cherry Bim drew his revolver away the key was hanging to
it!

"Magnetic," the gun-man kindly explained; "it is a whim of mine."

With no other words he passed through the door and slammed it behind
him.

CHAPTER III

THE GRAND DUCHESS IRENE

Israel Kensky was dozing before the fire when the sound of the creaking
stair woke him. He walked softly to the door and listened, and presently
he heard the steps of his daughter passing along the corridor. He opened
the door suddenly and stepped out, and she jumped back with a little cry
of alarm. There were moments when she was terribly afraid of her father,
and such a moment came to her now.

"Are you not asleep, Israel Kensky?" she faltered.

"I could not sleep," replied the other, in so mild a tone that she took
courage. "Come into my room. I wish to speak to you."

He did not ask her where she had been, or to explain why, at three
o'clock in the morning, she was dressed for the street, and she felt it
necessary to offer some explanation.

"You wonder why I am dressed?" she said.

"I heard a great noise in the street, and went out to see----"

"What does it ma