"Nothing; but you might tire, too, of this."

"What of it? It would be the gentle sad ennui
of peace, not of disillusion, senor. How I wish you
would tell me all you know of life!"

"God forbid. And do not remind me of ennui and
disillusions. I have forgotten both in California.
Perhaps, after all, I shall not return to St. Peters-
burg. There is a vast empire here--"

"But it is not yours or Russia's to rule, Excel-
lency," she interrupted him softly.

He did not color nor start, but met her eyes with
his deep amused glance. "I, too, can dream, seno-
rita. Of a great and wonderful kingdom--that
never will exist, perhaps. I have always been called
a dreamer, but the habit has grown since I came
to this lovely unreal land of yours."

"Have you the intention to take it from us, Ex-
cellency?" she asked quietly.

"Would you betray me if you thought I had?"

Her eyes responded for a moment to the mag-
netism of his, and then she drew herself up.