The captain’s bearded face was a-quiver with excitement. Sonya turned her eyes upon him now for the first time--a cool, inquiring look, half amazed at his temerity in daring to address her. Behind the door, all Drexel’s being stood at pause. “What does the gentleman wish to say?” Sonya asked stiffly. Triumph glittered in the officer’s eye. “I believe I have seen madame before,” he said. “Very likely. Many persons have.” “And recently. Only a week ago.” “Ah!--then monsieur has just come from abroad.” “I saw you in St. Petersburg.” “Indeed! This is very remarkable.” “Why?” “Because only three days ago I returned from abroad after an absence of five months.” This effrontery was too much for the police official. “It’s not true!” he blurted out. Her face darkened. “What!” she cried. “Captain--you forget yourself!” cut in the sharp voice of Berloff. “I do not understand the insolence of this underling of yours, prince,” she said majestically. “I do not care what he thinks or believes. I have nothing more to say to him. If you desire to set him right, you may.” “Captain,” said the prince severely, “I myself met her when she arrived.” “You!” [Illustration: _Triumph glittered in the officer’s eye. “I believe I have seen madame before,” he said_] “And from August until three days ago the princess----” “The princess!” ejaculated the captain. “Yes. My cousin--the Princess Valenko.” “The daughter of the military governor?” “The same,” said the prince. The stupid amazement on the face of the big officer was a sight to see. This was quickly followed by the sense of the danger to him of his heinous blunder. “I believe the captain said he had something to say to me,” Sonya remarked with an awful hauteur that completed the man’s discomfiture. “What is it?” “Nothing--a mistake--I beg pardon,” stammered the captain. “You are sure you have nothing to say?” “Nothing, princess--nothing--I assure you. I ask a thousand pardons. Nothing.” “In that case,” said Berloff, “we shall go on into the study. Come on, captain.” They started again toward the door. Drexel crouched with tense muscles, determined to make the best struggle that was in him. But Sonya quietly slipped her hand through Berloff’s arm. “Won’t you take me in to the dining-room? It will be very stupid eating in that great room alone.” “With pleasure,” said the prince. “Captain, please wait for me here.” “Certainly, certainly!” said the officer. “Then come, Olga.” The captain, with one hand on the back of the leather chair in which he was going to be comfortable for the next half-hour, bowed low to them. “I trust the captain will not take his mistake too much to heart,” said Sonya, her manner relenting somewhat. “Perhaps he, too, would like something to eat after his drive from the station?” “No, no--don’t think of me, princess,” protested the humbled officer. “I am not hungry--not in the least.” Sonya unbent a little more. “Then a glass of tea?”