When the last echoes of the evening's celebration had died away, Catherine led Barbara into her room.
Wolf sat quietly smoking by the window.
"What on earth's the matter?" the girl asked. "You drag me to your room half dressed, in the dead of night, and speak in whispers. I thought we'd done with the dark and scheming ways of the world."
"And so we have, my child," laughed Wolf. His cold gray eyes lighted with sudden warmth as they rested on Barbara's dainty little figure. Its exquisite lines could be plainly seen through the silk kimono as she walked with languid grace and threw the mass of dishevelled curls back from her shoulders.
"Sit down, dear," Catherine said, with a smile. "We have something of the utmost importance to say to you."
"I am to go abroad as an ambassador to some foreign court. Don't say that—I like it here."
"No. We are going to propose that you establish a court here," Wolf interrupted.
"Establish a court!" Barbara exclaimed. "How romantic!"
"In short, my child, it's absolutely necessary for you to become, not merely the power behind the throne with our young Comrade Chief, you must assume the throne itself."
"But how?" the girl asked.