"This very night. It is the last day of Maslica week, the last night of the opera. Zeneida is to sing in Cimarosa's _Secret Marriage_. The streets will be thronged. At the stroke of midnight the bells of all the churches will proclaim the beginning of Lent. Every one goes to confession. In the opera queen's kingdom, however, the revel begins. Prince Carnival, with his merry company, will make his joyous procession through the brilliantly lighted saloons, through whose fast-closed windows no ray of light, no sound of music, may penetrate. You must manage to procure an invitation to the entertainment." "After the insult of to-day?" "You are master in the art of intrigue." "I have given my promise to Princess Ghedimin to hiss her rival off the stage to-night." "You have given me your promise to win her to-night." "The time is too short." "But the opportunity favorable. I am informed that yesterday two men arrived in the capital who are rarely seen here. The one is Krizsanowski, from Poland; the other, Colonel Pestel, of the Southern Army. Both have already received invitations to Zeneida's so-called dance. Only there can you come across them; and you must find out from them what has brought them here." "I will be there." "How will you manage it?" "As we men begin all love affairs--by means of presents." "Ah! this nymph is richer than you, my dear fellow. She makes her forty thousand rubles in a single concert. If her mood is for diamonds, she chooses out the most costly; if for something better than diamonds, she divides her night's earnings among the poor. It may happen that you receive back your presents twofold." "I will make her a present which will command her favor--an eight-in-hand." "Ah! such as the Czar alone possesses?" "Such as not even the Czar possesses! You shall see, with this eight-in-hand, I will force open the gates of the fairy castle. Leave the rest to me. If a 'green book' be in existence, I will know its contents." CHAPTER VI OLD AGE Prince Ghedimin was dining that day with his wife. Both he and the Princess studiously avoided mention of the affair which so abruptly ended the hunt. Yet it was unlikely that the news of it should not have spread throughout the city. The police alone appeared ignorant of it, the shot stag remaining on the spot where it fell. Was it the intention to remove it at nightfall, when no one could see who took it away? "Shall I meet you at the opera to-night?" asked the Princess. "I am not sure if I can be there." "It would be a pity to remain away. Fräulein Ilmarine sings in the _Secret Marriage_ for the last time this season. She will have a great ovation." The Princess firmly believed that Zeneida would be hissed off the stage; and what could be better than that the Prince should have the pleasure of witnessing her humiliation from his wife's box?