"It is a peculiarity of yours that has been already commented on," said Golitzine, who knew everything about everybody. "Proceed, Signor." "It is just a thing that has struck me as a little peculiar, taken in conjunction with the whole circumstances. Madame Quéro, whom I know you suspect, was very insistent that I should not go to the Zouroff Palace, without assigning any definite or plausible reason." "We have already understood that," interrupted Beilski, rubbing his hands. "Perhaps we may now come to something that throws more light on the affair." Corsini proceeded. "I had a brief conversation with the Princess Nada." He blushed slightly as he continued. "She was pleased to express some solicitude for my welfare, my health. She thought I was not looking well, that I had been working too hard. She asked if I had a carriage waiting for me. I answered in the negative, telling her that I always preferred to walk home. She offered to procure a conveyance for me, and added that it could be drawn up at a private entrance to the Palace, as there was a great crush in the main entrance. Gentlemen, I have told you all the facts, it is for you to draw your inferences. It is pretty evident that both Madame Quéro and the Princess had an inkling, perhaps actual knowledge, of the danger that was threatening me, and dared not say more than they did." Golitzine rose and drew the General into a corner. "The thing is clear enough. The two women have been in league to save this young man. La Quéro has split upon Zouroff, because she is in love with Corsini, and has enlisted the sympathies of the Princess, probably in love with Corsini herself. You see it, General?" Beilski had not the agile intelligence of the Count, but when it was so clearly put before him, he saw it. "The young woman who brought the note is the maid of one of them," he said tersely. "Well, my men shall bring both the maids before me to-morrow and I will wring the truth out of one of them. In the meantime, how shall we proceed with Corsini?" "Take him back to his hotel. Fudge any story you like to the manager--been taken ill in my house, or yours, it does not matter which. Let him go about his usual duties and let him be safely guarded till we bring this home to the proper quarters. How about those men accompanying the carriage?" "Alas! I have only bagged a couple," answered the General regretfully. "The others escaped through the want of vigilance on the part of my men." "And what have the two you captured got to say for themselves?" "Just nothing. Their lips are sealed. They will take their own punishment, but they will not give away their employer. If we had lived in the old days we could have made them speak." Golitzine crossed over to the young Italian.