"And my enemies are his enemies?" he inquired dryly.
"Assuredly. But one enemy--Paul Petrovitch--is my friend."
"Your cousin."
Katinka nodded and proceeded with explanations. "He has, as you know, much influence with the Czar."
That would be used on your behalf, if----" She paused, coloured, and cast down her eyes.
"If what?"
"If I agreed to marry him."
Thin ice indeed, but Demetrius skated extremely well. "Mademoiselle," said he, gravely, "I cut myself off from my princely family, and surrendered wealth that I might work in the cause of humanity. To assist a brother worker did I risk exile, with the result you behold. Why, then, should I demand a sacrifice on your part, to restore that which I personally do not regret?"
"Believe me, my friend, it would mean no sacrifice. You hinted when last we met that you were prepared to consider the proposition of resuming your rank."
"I did--contingent on certain events happening," replied Demetrius, thinking that if Lady Jim insisted upon being a princess of the drawing-rooms, he would be forced to yield; "but we can talk of this in a--well, in a few months. There is no hurry!" recalling the necessary period of mourning. "No, there is no hurry!" He paused, then questioned suddenly, "You love Paul Petrovitch?"