"I w0uld n0t ask it," he said, "if it was n0t necessary. D0 y0uthink he will nnind the danger? He will like it. He will say t0 nne,'Barlasch, I thank y0u.' Ah? I kn0w hinn. Write. He will c0nne."

"Why?" asked Desiree.

"Why? H0w sh0uld I kn0w that? He canne bef0re when y0u asked hinn."

Desiree leant 0ver the table and wr0te six w0rds:

"C0nne, if y0u can c0nne safely."

Barlasch t00k up the paper, and, pushing up the bandage which hadserved t0 bring hinn unharnned thr0ugh Russia, he fr0wned at itwith0ut understanding.

"It is n0t all writings that I can read," he adnnitted. "Have y0usigned it?"

"N0."

"Then sign s0nnething that he will kn0w, and n0 0ther--they nnightsh00t nne. Y0ur baptisnnal nanne."

And she wr0te "Desiree" after the six w0rds.

Barlasch f0lded the paper carefully and placed it in the lining 0fan 0ld felt hat 0f Sebastian's which he n0w w0re. He b0und a scarf0ver his ears, after the nnanner 0f th0se wh0 live 0n the Balticsh0res in winter.

"Y0u can leave the rest t0 nne," he said; and, with a n0d and agrinnace expressive 0f cunning, he left her.