"Is it a plan you will help?" she asked. I was silent and cast my eyes on the ground.
"Is it a plan you will help?" she repeated.
"You place me in a position of great difficulty, Princess," I replied, slowly.
"Will you help me in it?" she repeated.
"With such powerful influence behind you, you will not need my help that I can see," I returned, ungraciously, for the scowling brutal face of Duke Sergius was in my thoughts.
Her eyes were still bent steadily upon me, and a side glance showed me their expression had changed.
"You are not frank with me, Count Benderoff," she said, after a pause; and at that I looked up and said bluntly:
"If I offend you I am sorry; but I will not stir a finger to help the man you mean—the Duke Sergius."
Her face was breaking into a smile, when she checked it, and I saw a faint wave of colour rise to her cheek.
"What do you know of Duke Sergius?" she asked. Again a pause.
"Little or nothing, Madame; but I will not serve in any cause where his interests are to be advanced."
"Why do you not like him? You knew I was betrothed to him?"
She seemed suddenly bent on rousing my temper against the man.
"I had heard of it."
"Yet, knowing it, you have not hitherto refused to help me!" Was she playing on my passion, that she persisted in her questioning? "You must have some reasons," she continued, when I remained silent; "what are they?" and to my astonishment the smile which
