s companion had still the same features and
colouring of the boy who had sung at night under the stars in the
harbour of Barcelona. Pauline Souvaroff still sang through the hours
between dusk and dawn, but her disguise had been discarded, and now
soft skirts trailed as she passed, and the cropped fair hair had grown
and twisted into little rings. Her secret had been no secret to Emile,
though Arithelli with her trick of taking everything for granted had
never guessed that Paul, the singer, was other than the boy he
professed to be. Besides the two women had never talked together
alone, and seldom even seen each other by daylight, for Pauline had
sought no one's company.

There was for her but one being in the world, and when she could not be
with the man she worshipped she was content to be with her thoughts and
dreams.

At first she had, like many another Russian woman, yearned to make an
oblation of herself in the service of her horror-ridden country, but
with the coming of love she had put aside all thoughts of vengeance.
The Cause was identified for her with the person of her lover. She
toiled willingly at it still, but from entirely different motives. His
interests were hers, and while he worked for the revolutionary party,
so also must she.

Pauline Souvaroff had loved much and given freely. All that she
possessed of beauty and charm, her whole body and soul she had laid at
the feet of the man at whose lightest word she flushed and paled, and
on whom she looked with soft, adoring eyes. She lived in dreams, a
life of drugged content in which there was neither past nor future.

In all the Brotherhood no one could be considered a free agent, and the
ordering of no man's life was in his own hands. The private actions of
each member were almost as well known as his public ones, for each man
spied systematically upon his companions. If the devotion of two
people to one another seemed likely to outrival their devotion to the
Cause, then separation came swiftly. Nothing would be said, no
accusations made, but each would receive orders that sent them in
opposite directions. The supporters of the Red Flag movement were
always particularly ingenious in arranging affairs to suit themselves.
An Anarchist could form no lasting ties. Some time in the future there
was always separation to be faced.

It was in Vladimir's power to settle matters in his own way by ignoring
Emile's letter, and remaining where he was