"In the morning the offenders were released with the exception of Russakoff, who was asked to explain the meaning of the paper. But this he refused to do. He averred that he was an agent travelling for a cloth merchant of Warsaw named Pascovitch; and, as a matter of fact, he carried a portfolio containing specimens of cloth. Inquiries show that there is a cloth merchant of that name at Warsaw, that Russakoff is his agent, and that the tailoring establishments of Slavowitz have considerable dealings with this Pascovitch." "They let the fellow go after that, I presume?" "Not so. The matter came to Zabern's ears, and he had the man brought before him. "'What do these numerals mean?' Zabern asked. "'They are the secrets of my business,' answered Russakoff. "'Without doubt,' said the marshal. 'Your business is that of a spy. Your cloth-selling is a mere cloak to conceal your real calling.' Zabern kept him under examination for a long time. Russakoff refused to give the meaning of the mysterious paper; he failed to account for certain portions of his time spent at Slavowitz; and the marshal, convinced that the fellow is a spy in the service of Russia, has removed him for greater security to the Citadel where he now is. The paper has been entrusted to Trevisa for decipherment, and there the matter rests for the present." "And you say the cipher puzzles Trevisa?" "He can make no headway with it at all." The duke seemed rather pleased than otherwise at Trevisa's failure. "Zabern sees a spy in every man who comes from Russia," he sneered. "Well, we shall soon know the truth. Zabern talks of employing the rack and the thumbscrew to-day." "That's illegal," said the duke with a frown. "So's duelling," retorted the premier. Bora seemed on the point of making an angry reply, but checked himself and said,-- "And this supposed spy was arrested a month ago, you say? If Zabern deems this a matter of such importance, why was not I, a minister, informed of it?" "The affair falls within Zabern's department, as he is the Minister for Justice. I myself did not hear of it till yesterday, and then it was by accident. And," added the premier, weakly smiling at the acknowledgment that he was not master in his own cabinet, "you know Zabern's way of acting without the knowledge of his colleagues, and the princess's reply to our plaint 'Zabern is privileged.'" None knew this better than the duke himself, and there passed over his face a dark look, which implied that when he should come to occupy a moiety of the throne there would be a considerable curtailment of Zabern's privileges. Tossing off the remainder of his wine at one gulp, the duke rose to go, accompanied by Radzivil.