closed.

Guided by his conductor through a labyrinth of rooms and corridors,
Cecil finally succeeded in reaching a little boudoir, whose
heavily-curtained windows hardly admitted a ray of dim twilight.

The conductor, bidding Cecil to wait here, left him alone.

In a few moments a concealed door was opened, and a man of a tall, proud
form entered.

"At length!" he said, on perceiving Cecil. "I had begun to doubt your
coming."

"I waited until I could bring you decisive intelligence, your
excellency," said Cecil.

"And you bring it today?" quickly asked the unknown.

"In an hour we leave Rome for St. Petersburg!"

Uttering a loud cry of joy, the stranger walked the room in visible
commotion. Cecil followed him with timid, anxious glances, and, as he
still kept silence, Cecil said:

"Your excellency, I have truly performed what you required of me. I have
persuaded the count to make the journey, notwithstanding his opposition
to it, and, as you commanded, his ward remains behind in Rome, alone and
unprotected."

"Ah, you praise your acts because you desire your reward," said his
excellency, contemptuously opening his writing-desk, and drawing forth a
well-filled purse. "You there have your pay, good man!"

Cecil indignantly rejected the money. "I am no Judas, who betrays his
master for money," said he. "Please remember, your excellency, for what
I promised to fulfil your excellency's commands, and what reward you
promised me!"

"Ah, I now remember! You required my promise that no harm should befall
the count!"

"Only on that condition did I promise my assistance," said Cecil. "When
your emissary sought me and called me to you, I only followed him, as
you well know, most noble count, because you gave me to understand that
my master's life and safety were concerned. I came to you. Allow me,
your excellency to repeat your own words. You said: 'Cecil, you have
been represented to me as a true friend of your master. Fidelity is so
rare a virtue, that it deserves reward. I will reward you by saving your
life. Quickly leave this traitorous count, and break off all connection
with him, else you are lost. I am secretly sent here in order to capture
the count and his criminal ward, and take them to St. Petersburg. What
there awaits the count may easily be imagined.' Thus speaking, your
excellency then showed me the command for the count's arrest, signed
by the empress. Upon which I asked: 'Is there no means of sav