"Well, Frank, we have met again--you did not forget your promise," she said, in those soft tones I loved to hear, speaking slowly, perhaps timidly. We seated ourselves in silence. I dared not yet trust myself to speak. "Last night I said I would give you the reason of my apparent _fourberie_." She paused, and toyed with her rings. She was waiting for me to answer. "Yes," I said; "I am listening." She looked up hastily; my voice was not encouraging. "It was imperative Frank, that you should be sent to Petersburg--and--it was for your own sake--" "For my sake!" I exclaimed. "Yes, Frank," she replied; "and it was only for that and for your future happiness and our--" she paused, while a vivid blush mantled her handsome features. "Our what?" I demanded, almost rudely. "I must not say, dearest; but this you might know--that no harm was intended for you in any proceeding in which I had a hand." "That is no answer, Vera," I said, somewhat sternly. "You say this was for `our' something, and for my future happiness! What does it all mean, and why this mystery? I'm tired of it. If you cannot explain, why ask me to call upon you?" "Because, Frank--because I feel sure you would forgive me everything, could you know all." "Is there a reason, then, that you will make no explanation?" "Yes, a most important one. If I could, I would tell you--but I cannot," she said. "Yet you were aware of my arrest, my imprisonment without trial, and transportation?" "True. I knew of your arrest an hour after it had taken place." "And it was you who planned my escape?" "It was. Had I not been successful, you would now be working in the Kara silver mines, enduring that living death which is a worse punishment than the gallows," she replied, shuddering. "For your timely assistance in that matter I must thank you," I said. "Yet it is only fair that I should know the nature of my unknown offence, and the reason of my arrest I presume you are aware of it?" "No, do not thank me, Frank. It was in my power to help you, and I did so. It was but my duty." "But why was I imprisoned?" I asked. "That I cannot tell you." "Surely I have a right to demand an explanation, and if you do not tell me I shall place the matter before the English Consul, who will, perhaps, be able to fathom it," I observed. "No, no!" she replied, starting up. "No, Frank, don't do that, for my sake. It would implicate me and I should be in deadly peril. Let the subject rest, and request no further explanation, promise me that?" she urged earnestly. "I cannot. There is a mystery about the whole affair which I confess I don't like. I came here to-day expecting to hear it explained, but I find you indisposed to tell me anything," I replied angrily. "Not indisposed, Frank--unable." "Unable! Why, you admit you are fully cognisant of the facts!" "I do, but unfortunately circumstances will not permit me to disclose the secret." "There _is_ a secret, then?" I ejaculated.