It was, then, by one of those curious coincidences perfectly explicable to the psychological mind, that the man himself glided to her side. He looked as tall and lean as ever, but his eyes were less direct in their gaze, and he did not seem to exercise his former self-control. Leah and he had met but rarely during the past year, owing to her retirement consequent on mourning observances, and when they did meet each had avoided mention of that memorable afternoon in Paris. But when he crossed Leah's path thus unexpectedly, and when her head was filled with Demetrius and with the woman Demetrius did _not_ love, she resolved to learn the worst or the best. After greeting, she began to speak with unconventional abruptness. "Where is your daughter, M. Aksakoff?" "On my Volga estate," he replied nervously; and from his averted eyes she made sure he was lying badly. "In Siberia, you mean." He turned with a start. "How do you know that?" "I am right, then?" Aksakoff clasped and unclasped two restless hands over the knob of his cane. "I really cannot say. I do not know why you should make that observation, after I have informed you of my daughter's whereabouts." "I make it because I am a woman, and being such, I know that Katinka's love for that waxed-moustache creature will lead her--perhaps has led her--even into Siberian wilds." Aksakoff stopped under the Achilles Statue and probed her mind with his eyes. "Do you really think so?" "I do. Does my thought confirm facts?" He resumed his walk with a troubled face. "I will be frank with you, madame, since we both know that Constantine Demetrius left Paris on that afternoon _en route_ to Siberia." "I know nothing of the sort," contradicted Leah, sharply. "Yet you have just admitted that the man is in Siberia." The Duchess laughed carelessly. "All Russians go as naturally to Siberia as cockneys to Margate. It's a kind of Bank Holiday with them, I suppose. Why not be frank with me?" "Madame, I rather think that I should ask you that question." "I never answer questions," said Leah, coolly; "it saves a lot of trouble. But I make statements, and one is that Demetrius and the woman who loves him are in Siberia." "Do you really think so?" said the diplomatist, repeating himself. "I _do_ think so; but surely you know?" Aksakoff shook his head. "Katinka refused to marry her cousin Petrovitch, after the disappearance of Demetrius. She questioned me continually about him, and showed me the letter and enclosure which you had sent. A very diplomatic letter, if I may say so. I, of course, denied that I knew anything. She appeared to be satisfied; yet nine months ago she left my house--left this country----" "To rusticate on your Volga estates."