The smiles of Leah, the attitude of Askew, the sibilant indistinct voices of both, goaded Demetrius. He all but interrupted the tea-table conference. But since Lady Jim wished to be a princess--she had conveyed that idea clearly--and as Katinka's aid was necessary to the recovering of his birthright, he dared not to offend the girl. Jealous himself, Demetrius knew how easy it would be to arouse the doubts of another--especially of a woman. He therefore remained seated and waited developments, while Katinka chatted earnestly. "I really wish you would be reconciled with my father," said she. "M. Aksakoff is less willing for such a consummation than I, mademoiselle." She disagreed, hurriedly. "You are wrong. My father is willing, but your enemies are not." "And my enemies are his enemies?" he inquired dryly. "Assuredly. But one enemy--Paul Petrovitch--is my friend." "Your cousin." Katinka nodded and proceeded with explanations. "He has, as you know, much influence with the Czar." That would be used on your behalf, if----" She paused, coloured, and cast down her eyes. "If what?" "If I agreed to marry him." Thin ice indeed, but Demetrius skated extremely well. "Mademoiselle," said he, gravely, "I cut myself off from my princely family, and surrendered wealth that I might work in the cause of humanity. To assist a brother worker did I risk exile, with the result you behold. Why, then, should I demand a sacrifice on your part, to restore that which I personally do not regret?" "Believe me, my friend, it would mean no sacrifice. You hinted when last we met that you were prepared to consider the proposition of resuming your rank." "I did--contingent on certain events happening," replied Demetrius, thinking that if Lady Jim insisted upon being a princess of the drawing-rooms, he would be forced to yield; "but we can talk of this in a--well, in a few months. There is no hurry!" recalling the necessary period of mourning. "No, there is no hurry!" He paused, then questioned suddenly, "You love Paul Petrovitch?" "No, no! Ah, no!" "It would, then, certainly be a sacrifice for you to marry him." "I would never do that." "How, then, could you persuade him to use his influence?" "It is a case of diamond cut diamond," explained Katinka, with the indifference of a woman to all other honour, save that of the man she loves. "Paul Petrovitch wishes to marry me. If I agree, he will induce the Czar to reinstate you in your possessions. When you have made your peace at St. Petersburg, I could refuse to---- Oh!" she broke off with a confused laugh, "do not look shocked, M. Demetrius. I but trick him, as he is prepared to trick me." "I am far from being shocked," denied the liberal-minded doctor; "to prevent being bitten, we must bite. But the possible sacrifice----" "Lies in lending myself to such a trick. I make it for you--for you; yes, do you not understand?" Only that stupid animal, a sheep, could have refused comprehension.