ning. A
man more versed in feminine ways than he, might have read much in the
manner of the lady's farewell to him. For her attitude was ingenuous
enough to have suggested the fact that had Lieutenant Gregoriev and not
Colonel Brodsky been the original holder of her debt, the damsel's
attitude might have been less unyielding. But Ivan had still his boyish
belief in the perfection of all woman nature. And certainly that part of
Mademoiselle Petrovna's career which he knew best, was of a nature to
increase the strength of his faith.

It was nearly morning before the young officer could banish the subject
from his thoughts--thoughts which had now returned to the disagreeable
certainty of an approaching scene with his redoubtable Colonel. But when
de Windt, agog with curiosity, re-entered his own quarters, his comrade
was sleeping so peacefully that he could not find it in his heart to
disturb Ivan till the _reveille_ roused the camp.

While Ivan dressed, he and de Windt held a hurried conversation. A few
words sufficed to inform the other of the mission of the lady; but Ivan
was as amazed as he was displeased at de Windt's frankly expressed
surprise at the undeniable uprightness of the young lady's attitude.
There followed a consultation as to any possible retaliation on the part
of Brodsky. On this point de Windt, ignorant of the nature of Ivan's
power, was not sanguine. Thus it was that as he hurried off to review,
Ivan's courage was at low ebb; and for the first time he began, in his
secret heart, to doubt the possible efficacy of his father's knowledge.

As it happened, that doubt proved unfounded. Once again, as a hundred
times before, the powers of Prince Gregoriev were put to the test and
not found wanting. Perfect knowledge of the universal corruption, the
gigantic systems of graft which, then as now, ate into the very
foundation of that ill-arranged bureaucracy which governed the country,
was at the finger-ends of Gregoriev, himself so besmirched by that black
evil by which he had risen to power. And in his notes of the deeds of
possible victims, the writing below the name of Brodsky--who, though his
official position was not high, was a man of large fortune and,
therefore, valuable to Gregoriev's purpose--occupied a surprising amount
of space.

The second interview between the Colonel and his Lieutenant took place
three days after that first one, in which the unexpected presence of a
lady had prevented Ivan f