you had broken your heart--more than once--long
ago," he began. But Deulin interrupted him.

"Only once," he put in, with a short, hard laugh.

"Well, only once, then. I should say that you had fallen in love with
Wanda."

"Ah!" said Deulin, lightly, "that is an old affair. That happened when
she used to ride upon my shoulder. And one keeps a tenderness for one's
old loves, you know."

"Well, and what do you propose to do? I tell you honestly I have had no
time to think of my own affairs. I have had no courage to think of them,
perhaps. I have been at work all night. Yes, yes! I know! Thin ice! You
ought to know it when you see it. You have been on it all your life, and
through it--"

"Only once," repeated Deulin. "I propose what any other young lover
would propose to do--to run away with her from Warsaw."

"When?"

Deulin looked at his watch.

"In half an hour. Think of the risks, Bukaty--a young girl."

And he saw a sudden fierceness in the old man's eyes. The point was
gained.

"I could take her to Cracow this evening. Your sister there will take
her in."

"Yes, yes! But will Wanda go?"

"If you tell her to go she will. I think that is the only power on earth
that can make her do it."

The prince smiled.

"You seem to know her failings. You are no lover, my friend."

"That is a question in which we are both beyond our depth. You will do
this thing for me. I come back in half an hour."

"What about the passport, and the difficulties of getting away from
Warsaw to-day?" asked the prince. "What we know others must know now."

"Leave those matters to me. You can safely do so. Please do not move. I
will find my way to the door, thank you."

"If you see Wanda as you go," called out the prince, as Deulin closed
the door behind him, "send her to me."

Deulin did see Wanda. He had always intended to do so. He went to the
drawing-room and there found her, busy over some household books. He
held out beneath her eyes the telegram he had received that morning.

"A telegram," she said, looking at it. "But I cannot make out its
meaning. I never saw or heard of that word before."

"Nevertheless the news it contains will stir the blood of men till the
end of time," answered Deulin, lightly. "It is from a reliable source.
Cartoner sent it. Upon that news your father is basing that which he
wishes to say to you in his study now."

"Ah!" said Wanda, with a ring of anxiety in her voice.

"It is nothing!" p