to see him about about said laughing that is a secret i m afraid not posed quickly it is well known that you are going to join the party shrugged his shoulders but did not deny the statement one must have excitement he said in a low voice i am bored to death with everything so a little conspiracy will be a change you u get yourself into trouble hinted with the amiable of a near relation pleasure and politics of course and the excitement will be in getting myself out again cousin laughing � but i wish to speak to you about this don t draw my husband into your plot it is not my plot replied the duke is responsible for the whole affair ah there is the excuse me i will see you again when the duke went off turned towards in surprise i hope you are not in any of these mad schemes she said anxiously you may be certain i will tell you everything i do i certainly had some idea of seeing paradise at whose suggestion major s that man is your evil genius well then you are my good genius replied smiling don t be alarmed whatever may be my intention i will commit myself to nothing without your consent and approval looked at him anxiously and would have spoken but at this moment her attention was claimed by a newly arrived guest and she was forced to turn away from her husband when she looked again he was gone the fact was that major had touched his arm and drawn him aside into a quiet comer some new was a piece of music notwithstanding which with the peculiar good breeding characteristic of the fashionable world con in london went on just as usual a few had gathered round the player but the majority of the guests were talking incessantly hardly lowering their voices to do so and amid the general hum of talk and music and his young friend found an opportunity of exchanging a few words have you spoken to asked the major anxiously not yet i have not had an opportunity but will do so shortly at present he is talking to the duke of and we know what that means said significantly he is bent on the same errand as ourselves so i hear and from whom my father in law he knows everything � except how to hold his tongue muttered the major annoyed at being in his information well i wish you would introduce me to at once whenever i get the chance replied hurriedly but we cannot speak of anything serious to him just now of course not ask him to make an appointment about the conspiracy yes but don t hint at such a thing if you do he deny all about it it seems to me hardly worth while his doing so said every one knows that a is in the course of formation pleasure and politics every one does not answered emphatically there are certainly but nothing definite is known why the russian are keeping a close watch on the princess so if they found out her plans she would be in no they are keeping the affair as quiet as possible and there is no evidence that such a thing as a conspiracy is in existence oh i know all about him said the major rapidly it is said that he is in love with the princess � a mere nothing more of which the russian government takes no notice has no power no money � nothing but his title which goes for naught in foreign politics his accession to the party of the princess means nothing whatever mind i do not intend to commit myself with then what is the use of speaking to him at all said in an angry tone every use i i wish to find out the truth of the matter if it is some wild scheme such as itself to i certainly will not pledge myself to interfere in any way but if it is serious business and i can see some possibility of success i will do my best to help the cause � if my wife does not object your wife � why what has she got to do with it everything if i join in this my wife must come with me i have been thinking over the mat in london ter since i saw you last and her will be very useful i don t see it not now but you will when i explain my plans have you any plans yes i have a design for getting the princess to without any one knowing of her presence in the country but � hush said a trifle impatiently this is not the time to discuss these matters you will find that i am not talking without good cause meanwhile let us go and speak to in silence and followed across the room he did not like the imperative tone adopted by and saw that if the young man went in for conspiracy he would do so heart and soul if he � with the aid of his money � succeeded in placing de on the throne it would be as difficult to obtain the ring in as in england for its owner would be as safe in the former country as in the latter however had a most hopeful disposition and so long as he induced to go to trusted that some opportunity would occur him to gain possession of the ring once he had that and the conspiracy could come to naught so far as he was concerned the major was purely on his own account and making use of as a cat s but the young man had proved too clever pleasure and politics for him before and dreaded lest he should do so again at all events the major 