"And you have me, Paul," she said, kissing him affectionately. "Nothing but death shall part us. And now," she continued, quitting his arms with reluctance, "we must put on our masks and play our parts, for I am about to summon the chamberlain." On the appearance of Silver Staff, Barbara said,-- "Call the marshal to our presence." Zabern was soon found. On entering he glanced keenly at Paul's face as if expecting to gain from it some idea of the character of his long interview with the princess; but Paul, when he chose, could be as inscrutable as Zabern himself, and his face revealed nothing. "What news of Russakoff?" asked the princess. "Your Highness, I regret to say that the spy is still at large." "The ruffians of Russograd, who slew Trevisa because he was an Englishman and loyal to me, shall find that they have gained little by their deed, for I herewith replace him by an Englishman equally as loyal. Marshal, my new secretary." Zabern bowed and answered like a courtier. "No appointment could give the cabinet and the Diet greater pleasure," he replied, knowing that he was committing himself to a doubtful statement. "It is a matter in which the cabinet and the Diet have no concern," replied Barbara with a touch of hauteur in her voice. "Your Highness, Miroslav is without, charged with a question from the Duke of Bora." "What says that law-breaker?" "His grace is desirous of learning from the princess how long his detention is to last." "Till the mark on my secretary's cheek shall have disappeared. If his grace be dissatisfied with our justice, it is open to him to appeal to the law-courts of Czernova, whose sentence he will find considerably less lenient than our own." "Your Highness, I shall have extreme pleasure in conveying that message to the duke." CHAPTER IX A DISPLAY OF SWORDSMANSHIP On quitting the presence of the princess, Paul and Zabern took their way through the palace gardens, where they were met by two individuals in uniform, whom the marshal introduced to Paul. The more youthful of the two, who had fair hair, blue eyes, and a comely face that seemed to indicate habitual good humor, was Dorislas, and he held the office of Minister of Finance. The other, a somewhat sullen-looking personage, was Miroslav, the governor of the Citadel, "and," added Zabern, "the present guardian of your friend the duke." "Ah! the duke," said Dorislas to the governor. "I marvel, Miroslav, that you have not yet been called upon to defend your Bastille. What are your friends in Russograd thinking of, that they so tamely submit to the duke's imprisonment?" "The marshal's placards explain the reason. At the first attempt upon the Citadel the duke is to be brought forth upon the battlements, and summarily shot." "And therefore," commented Zabern, "it is a pity that they do not make the attempt."