The countess’s quick mind decided that if this idea interested him, it would be well to lure him on through that interest. “Yes,” she returned, nodding her head. “I think you may be right. And as for the prince, he may be the very man. It is entirely possible he may know where Borodin is.” She leaned nearer, and her manner was excitedly joyous. “Since you have been doing this thinking, that means you are at heart already one of us!” “I am not saying yet, countess,” he smiled. The voices of Prince Berloff and Mr. Howard sounded without. “Come--you will be with us!” she said quickly, appealingly. “Perhaps.” And then, half ashamed of his enforced reticence, he whispered: “Who knows? I may do all you ask--some day.” Her eyes glowed into his. “Ah--thank you!” she breathed as the others entered. Drexel excused himself, leaving the countess pouring tea for the two men, and withdrew into the hall, where under pretense of examining some etchings from Corot he kept watch upon the broad staircase. As he had hoped, Sonya soon came down the stairway, alone. She responded to his “Good-morning, princess,” with a formal smile. “What kind of a day is it?” she asked perfunctorily, and crossed into the embrasure of a window and gazed out into the park. He followed her, half doubtful if there really was the secret tie of a common purpose between this haughty being and himself. But once within the alcove she smiled at him again--this time a comradely, half-whimsical smile. “Well, sir, how do you feel now about being in the lion’s den?” “Like getting out as soon as we get what we want.” “Then you are ready to go on?” “Do I look like a man who wishes to withdraw?” She searched his face with its quiet, determined eyes. “No,” she said. “Thank you,” he said, and a warm glow went through him. The countess’s recent words were strong upon him. He was curious to learn Sonya’s impression, and there was not the same reason for absolute secrecy in the countess’s case as there was in Sonya’s. “Tell me, what do you know of Countess Baronova?” he asked. “No more than you probably do.” “Perhaps, then, not so much. We have--well--been friends, and have had many talks. And at last, after working her way toward it, she has confided to me that she is secretly a revolutionist.” “Indeed! But I really cannot say that I am surprised. She is just another example of how the revolt against the Government is penetrating even the nobility. But why did she tell you?” “To try to enlist my aid in some such plan as we now have in hand. She thought because of my peculiar situation I could be of exceptional assistance.” He did not want the countess as a third partner in the scheme--he wanted to carry this thing through alone with Sonya; so he quickly added: “But I suppose there is no reason for our taking her in.” She shook her head. “It is always unwise to take in a single unnecessary person--and especially a person who has not been tested.” “When shall we make the trial?”