e charge of you. You, mademoiselle," turning to me, "will be kind
enough to tell Zara that the Prince has recovered, and sends her a
friendly good-night. Will that message suffice?" he inquired of Ivan,
with a smile.

The Prince looked at me with a sort of wistful gravity as I came
forward to bid him farewell.

"You will embrace her," he said slowly, "without fear. Her eyes will
rain sunshine upon you; they will not dart lightning. Her lips will
meet yours, and their touch will be warm--not cold, as sharp steel.
Yes; bid her good-night for me; tell her that an erring man kisses the
hem of her robe, and prays her for pardon. Tell her that I understand;
tell her I have seen her lover!"

"With these words, uttered distinctly and emphatically, he turned away
with. Heliobas, who still held him by the arm in a friendly,
half-protecting manner. The tears stood in my eyes. I called softly:

"Good-night, Prince Ivan!"

He looked back with a faint smile.

"Good-night, mademoiselle!"

Heliobas also looked back and gave me an encouraging nod, which meant
several things at once, such as "Do not be anxious," "He will be all
right soon," and "Always believe the best." I watched their two figures
disappear through the doorway, and then, feeling almost cheerful again,
I knocked at the door of Zara's studio. She opened it at once, and came
out. I delivered the Prince's message, word for word, as he had given
it. She listened, and sighed deeply.

"Are you sorry for him, Zara?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied; "I am sorry for him as far as I can be sorry for
anything. I am never actually VERY sorry for any circumstances, however
grievous they may appear."

I was surprised at this avowal.

"Why, Zara," I said, "I thought you were so keenly sympathetic?"

"So I am sympathetic, but only with suffering ignorance--a dying bird
that knows not why it should die--a withering rose that sees not the
reason for its withering; but for human beings who wilfully blind
themselves to the teachings of their own instincts, and are always
doing what they know they ought not to do in spite of warning, I cannot
say I am sorry. And for those who DO study the causes and ultimate
results of their existence, there is no occasion to be sorry, as they
are perfectly happy, knowing everything that happens to them to be for
their advancement and justification."

"Tell me," I asked with a little hesitation, "what did Prince Ivan mean
by saying he had seen