Having reached the place where Barbara sat, the monk paused, surveyed her attentively for a moment, and then spoke,-- "May a brother claim a few words from a sister of the same order?" "How know you that I am of the same order?" "The 'Transfigured' cannot be hidden from each other." "Paul," she whispered, "I must speak with this man alone for a short time. Remain here." The princess arose, and in company with the newcomer paced slowly to and fro along the terrace, repeatedly passing Paul. This proceeding on the part of Barbara was somewhat strange, but not altogether incomprehensible. Paul had learned that the word "Transfigured" was used by the patriots of Czernova in the sense of one who, from a state of despair as regards Poland, had passed to a state of hope. Its English equivalent was "conspirator." The term naturally associated itself with the Convent of the Transfiguration, and hence Paul concluded that this masked individual was a monk sent from that very mysterious monastery with some important message. The conversation, of which he did not overhear one word, occupied about fifteen minutes, and ended by the monk passing some papers to the princess, who immediately concealed them upon her person, an action performed so quickly that Paul almost doubted whether it had really taken place. This transference of documents accomplished, the monk glided quietly away, and the princess returned to the side of Paul. Ere he had time to question Barbara on the nature of the interview, Paul saw with surprise a second masked friar making his way along the terrace. He was robed so precisely like the other that Paul at first thought it was the same individual; but a nearer view showed that he was of shorter and more massive build. There could be no doubt that he, too, was bent on having an interview with the princess. Was this sort of thing to last all night? Barbara guessed his thoughts, and her teeth gleamed in a pretty smile beneath the silken fringe of her vizard. "Patience, Paul," she whispered. "This is the second and last. There in the distance comes Marshal Zabern, and as I must have no secrets from you he shall act as my interpreter." On the approach of the monk the same interchange of words took place, evidently a pre-arranged signal, and, as before, Barbara arose and joined in conversation with the new-comer. A moment afterwards another figure came upon the scene whom, in spite of the mask and black domino, Paul recognized as Zabern. The marshal sat down by Paul's side and fixed his eyes upon the princess, who, a little distance away, was stooping over the balustrade of the terrace, apparently engaged in the act of writing. "What think you that the princess is now doing?" asked Zabern. "One might fancy her to be setting down the name of a cavalier upon her dance-programme, but I suppose such is not the case?"