Courtiers and conspirators, who at this dazzling entertainment had grouped themselves about the superb fountains of the Sampson Springs, had not the slightest conception that in the course of a short ten minutes one delicate woman, with her rosy, childlike lips would effect such a complete revolution--that one peal of silvery laughter would blow to the winds their cannon, their army, their plan of campaign. The fairy tale of the Circassian king's daughter had this pre-eminence over all other fairy wonders, that it extinguished the impending outbreak of a volcano by a drop of water. This drop of water had shone in the Czarina's eyes when she said: "I should so like to go there! There I should get well again!" * * * * * That same evening Chevalier Galban met Bethsaba again. She was afraid of him no longer; she had learned from Zeneida how it beseemed her mother's daughter to act. At the close of the ball the Princess and Zeneida met in the vestibule. They were waiting for their carriages. From Peterhof to St. Petersburg people go by road. The Princess accosted Zeneida with: "It is settled. I thank you for your co-operation." (Bethsaba was under the escort of Chevalier Galban.) "We are quits now." "The little goose has confessed all. She has gone thoroughly astray. She even acknowledged that you had helped her on." "The chatterbox!" "I fancy that she will be making somebody very, very unhappy." "So do I." "Then the fight between us can begin afresh." "I think not. I renounce any claim to console the unhappy." "Oh, you do not want to make me believe that you are acting without personal feeling." "Certainly not. But what will result from this evening's work will be a monster needing two mothers. The one revenge; the other love." "And you choose revenge?" "I give you the second, Princess." "I have not yet forgotten the diplomatic saying that two only make a compact together in order that one may deceive the other." Meanwhile Prince Ghedimin had come up to conduct his wife to her carriage. Seeing Zeneida, he started. "Do just see," exclaimed the Princess, in an affected tone, "how low-spirited he is! He has grown quite melancholy. For days together I cannot drive him from my side; he will not stir from me. If only he had something to talk about! But all he can do is to knit his brows and ruminate. I do beg of you, Fräulein Ilmarinen, in consideration of our alliance, to do me a favor. You are a perfect enchantress--just say one word to him. I am convinced it will cheer him." "Do you really desire it?" The look Prince Ghedimin cast upon Zeneida expressed both fear and uneasiness. He was "the chosen dictator." If Zeneida uttered the words "I sing," he must forthwith draw his sword out of its scabbard, exclaiming "I fight!" Zeneida attempted the magician's feat of curing the Prince's melancholy with one word. "The summer has quite left us, Prince, has it not? Winter is upon us."