"Well, it is untrue, as you will learn some day. It is untrue, I swear," she exclaimed with terrible earnestness. "Instead of endeavouring to bring suspicion and opprobrium upon you, and disaster upon the nations of Europe, I have striven both night and day to clear away the ill effect produced by the dastard revelations made to our Ministry in St Petersburg. Remember that the single spark required to fire the mine and convulse the world from Calais to Pekin was not applied; the Tzar refrained from declaring war. Some day you, and through you, the British Government, will know the reason a recourse to arms was averted. When you are made aware of the truth, then no longer will you misjudge me." She spoke with a fervency that was entirely unfeigned; her bright eyes met mine with unwavering glance, and with a quick movement she had placed one hand upon her breast as if to allay the palpitation there. Her heart was full; upon her fair face was an expression of mingled anxiety and dread, and her bejewelled hands trembled. "I am your husband," I said calmly. "If I promise you not to divulge-- surely I may know your secret whatever it may be." "No," she answered, speaking almost mechanically, "I dare not tell you anything at present. It would be fatal to all my plans--fatal to me, and to you." "You speak so strangely," I observed, with some warmth. "Mystery seems one of your idiosyncrasies." "Ah," she sighed, advancing a step towards me, her head sunk upon her breast, "it is imperative. You cannot know how I have suffered, Geoffrey, ever since we met. Long ago at `The Nook,' fearing that I should bring you unhappiness, I strove to tear myself from you and return here to this life, but was unable. I loved you, and hated all the strict etiquette and theatrical display with which I am bound to surround myself, merely because I chance to be born of an Imperial family. I married you, and, content in the knowledge that you loved me devotedly, I was prepared to renounce my name and live quietly with you always. But, alas! we of the Romanoffs are ruled by the head of our House, and our actions are ofttimes in obedience to the will of the Emperor. I was compelled to depart without revealing to you the secret of my birth." "But why did you masquerade in that manner?" I inquired. "At first I did so in order to avoid all the trammels of Court life in St Petersburg, the eternal gaiety of la Ville Lumiere, and to be free to do what I liked and go where I chose," she answered. "Soon, however, my life as Ella Laing became a stern reality, for I met and loved you." "Then you regretted?" "I regretted only because I feared that I cared for you too much--that one day we should be compelled to part." "You knew that it was impossible for you to renounce both title and position," I hazarded, looking at her gravely.