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This nihilist leader is a woman, and her name is Zara de Echeveria. Dubravnik will spare her; he will spare her brother who is as violent as she is. One last word. I will never go to Siberia for I have the means to cheat you out of the pleasure of sending me there, and when you read this, I shall have been an hour dead. "Well," demanded his majesty, "what have you to say?" "Nothing." "Nothing!"
Dubravnik, at the very beginning of our acquaintance, when you made a prisoner of me in one of the rooms of the suite you were to occupy in the palace, I told you that I had gone into this business for the love of a woman, and it was tacitly, if not literally agreed between us at that time, that the woman's personality and name should form no part of our future discussions.
She turned to me with a swift gesture, and continued. "Oh, Dubravnik, what shall we do? What shall be done to escape the death that threatens you and me? Tell me! Tell me what can be done? The condition is not the same, now, as it was. Everything is different since you kissed me.
"No," I replied, as calmly. "And have not been asleep?" "No." "You heard?" "Yes, princess, I heard." She was silent, and minutes passed before she spoke again, so that I began to wonder if she had decided to say no more. "Mr. Dubravnik," she said, and in English, "will you do me one favor in regard to this conversation you have overheard? Will you keep my confidence till to-morrow?"
"With whom are you struggling, Captain Durnief?" I heard a voice say. "Zara!" I exclaimed, before Durnief could reply. "With an assassin who has shot our horses, murdered the yemschik, and who would assassinate you, princess," panted Durnief. "Zara!" I called to her again. "It is I Dubravnik."
Dubravnik. There is no danger as long as you remain here. I wish to tell you something. I want you to know why I am a nihilist; then, perhaps, you may be of a different opinion." I obeyed her and she resumed her position on the couch, but her entire manner had undergone another change.
If I am right there exists all the more reason why I must appeal to your manhood, your honor, your sense of justice, to your bravery and chivalry. Who are you, Mr. Dubravnik?" "I am Daniel Derrington, an American, in the service of the czar." "And therefore connected with the police." "No. The police do not know me, save as you know me; not even the terrible Third Section."
Her answer was a burst of tears, and for a time she could find no other expression for her emotions; and while these lasted, she clung to me the more tightly, so that when, at last, the storm did come to an end, her lips were closely against my ear, and I heard the whispered words: "I do love you." But instantly she started away from me, and she cried out. "Wait! wait, Dubravnik!
It is to tell you that the one most dangerous of all nihilists, is to go free; is to remain in Russia; is to have access to your palace; is spared by your trusted spy, Dubravnik; is upheld by him. This nihilist to whom I refer, has been, ever since the death of my one time rival, Stanislaus, the most dangerous of all the extremists.
We parted at the door, she to cross the room and join a group of her guests who were clamoring for her while I loitered, with no purpose save to avoid comment on the apparent fact that the princess and I had been so long a time together in the garden. The prince joined me while I stood there. He was accompanied by a man whom he wished to introduce to me. "Ah, Dubravnik," he said.
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