The Shadow of Tyburn Tree

successful; and the sudden flicker of curiosity which showed in Natalia's green eyes added to his satisfaction. She was not of the type to be the least intrigued by a begging-letter; yet she opened it at once, glanced at its beginning and end, then said with an amused little smile: 'Be sure the matter shall have my most sympathetic consideration, Monsieur.'

After bowing himself away he ran into two of the men he had met that morning at Monsieur de Pons' breakfast-party, and they, in turn, introduced him to their ladies and others of the company; so he spent a further two hours in light, amusing conversation; then, finding that the crowd was thinning he went up to Natalia Audreovna to take his leave. As he bowed over her hand she said softly: 'To­morrow evening, if you will, Monsieur, you may call for me and give me your escort to my box at the Opera.'

'Madame,' he murmured. 'Though I shall have no eyes for it 'twill be for me the most memorable spectacle I have ever had the good fortune to attend.'

Their eyes met and held one another's for a second; then, with the happy feeling that his evening had been very far from wasted he left the Embassy and returned to his inn.

The following morning Count Hans Axel af Fersan called upon him, and took him to the Guild House of the Society of Toxophilists, in the garden of which an archery contest was being held to the accom­paniment of the drinking of much lager-beer and considerable betting. When it was over Count Hans carried him off to dine with a company of gay young men, all of whom pressed Roger to accept their services, so by the evening of his fourth day in Sweden he found himself already well-established to pass his time in most agreeable society.

Excusing himself when the meal was over he returned to his inn, dressed himself in his best and presented himself at the Russian Embassy. A few minutes later Natalia Andreovna, looking truly regal in white satin, great clusters of diamonds, and an ermine cape, came down the stairs, and he led her out to the big gilded coach.

In it, on their way to the Opera House, he had too much good sense to attempt to make love to her, but he told her in no unmeasured terms how lovely he thought both herself and her toilette. On their arrival he found to his great satisfaction that she had not invited any­one else to share the roomy private box, so he could count on having her to himself for the best part of three hours.

When they had settled themselves she exchanged greetings with several people in the nearby boxes and waved her fan to some of the young gallants in the pit, meanwhile keeping Roger amused with a running commentary on who they were and their idiosyncrasies. As befitted the Russian Ambassador's power in the land, he retained the permanent use of a box in the first tier next to the Royal box. The latter was so far empty and Roger, knowing the King's partiality to the theatre and that this was a first night, asked his companion if she thought it likely that his Majesty would attend the performance.

She shook her head. 'Nay, he still dallies at Karlskrona.'

Recalling that the King had been expected back in Stockholm for the party at the French Embassy four nights before, Roger inquired: 'What is it that detains him there?'

'I would that we knew for certain,' she replied, thoughtfully. 'He is said to be inspecting his fleet, but certain intelligence suggests that he may be supervising its preparations for putting to sea.'

Roger pricked up his ears. 'Is Karlskrona his principal fleet base, then?'

'Why, yes. 'Tis the largest harbour and naval arsenal in the world.'

'Oh, come!' he protested. 'Surely 'tis not bigger than Toulon, or the great new base that King Louis is constructing at Cherbourg?'

'Indeed it is,' she assured him. 'And virtually impregnable; for 'tis situated in the heart of a great island of rock that can only be reached from the mainland by way of two other islands. The Swedes have been working on it for many years, constructing the most ingen­ious hydraulic works, and hewing dry-docks, underground canals and storehouses out of the solid mountain side. The port itself is very deep and capable of holding a hundred ships of the line.'

'King Gustavus can have nothing near that number.'

'True, but for the past six years he has been building at the rate of four a year, and there are now thirty- seven ships of the line lying there, as well as numerous frigates. Then there must be others at Trollhatta and Sveaborg; so he now has a fleet quite formidable enough to cause Russia considerable anxiety in the Baltic.'

'Do you fear then that he contemplates an attack against your country?'

Her tapering eyebrows drew together in a frown. ' 'Tis hard to say. We know that he has been receiving subsidies from the Turks, and it may be he feels that he should at least make some demonstration to justify them. Yet I cannot believe that he would be such a pre-sumptious fool as to defy the Empress. 'Twould be suicidal to invite a revolution in his own country with Russia, Austria and France all leagued against him.'

The lights had been put out, and at that moment, the curtain went up. Roger drew his chair up beside Natalia's and a little behind it, and took her hand; then, after they had watched the scene for a while he began to whisper in her ear. The Grand Opera season was over, so only a light musical with no great stars appearing in it was being played; and the plot was of such an airy nature that they could almost ignore the stage without losing its thread.

Knowing that much as most women enjoyed a need of flattery, the majority greatly preferred a man who could make them laugh, to one who confined himself to solemnly praising their beauty, he ventured on a slightly risquejoke. Natalia's quiet chuckle showed him that he was on the right track, and soon they were swopping stories which, had the lights been up, should have made even a young widow blush.

During the long interval she received a little court of callers in the box, and most of them did not hide the fact that they envied Roger his good fortune in being her escort for the evening. When they had retired he drew his chair up to hers once more, but he bided his time until half-way through the second act before giving their conversation a serious turn and begging her to give him a proper assignation. For a time she listened to his pleading in silence, then she said: ' 'Twould be idle for me to pretend a virtue in which, after our first meeting, you would not believe; and I'll not deny that I have had a number of lovers; but I am mightily particular as to the men I choose for such a role. 'Tis, in fact, my custom to test such gallants as attract me both for their courage and sensibility before granting them my favours.'

'I pray you then, even if I only attract you a very little, allow me to essay these tests,' said Roger, quickly.

She gave a low laugh. 'I confess to just the suspicion of a hanker­ing for you, so it shall be as you wish.'

The scent of Attar of Roses that she favoured was strong in Roger's nostrils. Her head was now so close to his that he could feel her warm breath on his cheek. She was leaning very lightly against his shoulder, and she seemed to him now unutterably desirable. His heart began to hammer in his chest.

CHAPTER x

THE TWO TESTS OF NATALIA ANDREOVNA

THE dim light in the box was just sufficient for Roger to catch the fleeting smile of promise that flickered over Natalia's lovely face, then she went on. 'But if you fail me in either test I'll be adamant. Moreover I warn you now that should I take you for my lover I'll expect com­plete faithfulness. On that I insist, and if I catch you deceiving me I'll give you cause to rue it.'

He kissed her hand, and his voice trembled with eagerness as he said: 'Your conditions are mine, Madame. May I know the tests?'

'Nay, that is my secret,' she replied with a note of amusement in her voice. 'But from to-night you may call me Natalia Andreovna, and, if you will tell it me, I will call you by your given name; for in Russia these formal 'Messieurs' and 'Mesdames' are never used between friends.'

'My name is Roje,and that of my father Christophe,' he said, pro­nouncing both as was customary in France. 'So I suppose that in Russia I should be called Roje' Christorovitch.'

'Then, Roje Christorovitch, you may take me riding to-morrow morning at ten. o'clock. 'Tis unnecessary for you to hire a horse, as I can provide you with a good mount from the Embassy stables. The pine-woods outside the city now smell delicious, and as we ride through them we can talk and laugh to our hearts' content.' 'I’ll scarce sleep from savouring the pleasure of it in advance, dear Natalia Andreovna,' he said gallantly. Then, seeing that the singers on the stage had massed for the final chorus, he drew her to her feet and to the back of the box, where they exchanged a few long kisses before the flambeaux-men ran in to light the theatre up.