"So Zabern has told you of our enterprise? What think you, Paul?" "May the crown of Poland indeed be yours, Barbara. And yet--and yet--the higher you climb the greater the gulf between us." "You shall rise with me, Paul," she said, placing her hand tenderly within his. "You, who gained fame in India, shall gain a greater fame in the coming war, and then there will be no obstacle to our union. 'Let the princess marry merit and not title,' men will say." This gave a new aspect to their love-affair,--an aspect which appealed to Paul's dashing and adventurous spirit; like the knights of a bygone age he would fight both for the winning of fame and also for the hand of a lovely princess. If the patriotic conspiracy should end in failure, alas! for Barbara's hopes, but so much the better for his prospect of a final union with her. His good fortune, he trusted, would enable him to emerge safely from the political ruins of Czernova, and with Barbara he would retire to his ancestral hall in Kent, where they would spend the rest of their days in quiet happiness, and recall with melancholy pleasure the time when they had plotted and fought for the crown of Poland. Zabern, having parted from the Hungarian messenger, sat down on the other side of the princess, and for a long time the trio talked of the conspiracy. Among other matters, Paul learned that Katina was cognizant of the conspiracy, and that all the cabinet likewise were participants, with the exception of the two permanent members--Cardinal Ravenna and Mosco the Greek Archpastor. "I can understand your Highness's motive in keeping our enterprise concealed from a Muscovite prelate," remarked Zabern; "but with regard to Ravenna is not the case different? He would be extremely useful to us in drawing the Catholic clergy of Poland into the plot." "Marshal," said Barbara firmly, "I know the cardinal, and I know that he is not to be trusted." Their attention was diverted at this point by the approach of two masked figures, each habited, like Zabern, in a black domino. "Radzivil and Dorislas returning from the Diet," observed the marshal. The premier and his colleague recognized the princess and Zabern by their costumes, but glanced inquiringly at Paul, uncertain as to his identity. "Captain Woodville, my lords," replied Barbara, responsive to their thoughts. Paul drew aside, permitting Radzivil to take a place beside Barbara, a courtesy which the premier gracefully acknowledged. Dorislas with folded arms leaned in silence against the marble balustrade of the terrace. As far as can be judged of men who are masked and cloaked, both the premier and the finance minister were in a very gloomy mood. Paul intuitively felt that they were the bearers of bad tidings. "Has your Highness signed the treaty with Kossuth?" began Radzivil. "An hour ago. The Hungarian envoy has departed with it." "I fear, princess, that the treaty will have to be rescinded. We are doomed to lose our treasure."