that the planned attack had been done by my people;—by mine!"

There was a deadly bitterness in the last words, an ominous meaning: such as might have run through Catherine of Russia's speech when she found a vassal faithless.

"Your people!" His surprise was admirably feigned, but it did nut deceive her.

"Never trouble yourself to assume ignorance!" she said, with a certain amusement at his discomfiture. You knew very well of the plan——"

"On my honour——"

"Have we any of that quality amongst us to swear by?"

"Nay! as a gentleman, as a man, I declare to you I knew nothing of it."

She bowed her head; courteously, as one too highly-bred to accuse him; carelessly, as one too worldly-wise to believe him.

"Nothing?" he averred, irritably mortified by that unspoken incredulity. "You may believe me, madame; from my policies, if not my virtues, I am totally opposed to every sort of violence; deem it ill-advised, uncivilised, barbaric: invariably give my veto against it Force is the weapon of savages; learning has done little for us if we cannot find a