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"It is a lie!"

It was the prince who spoke; but before I could reply to the

accusation, the czar waved his hand and commanded silence

"Was it the princess who informed you that Durnief was a nihilist?" he

asked cal to his face

"No," I replied, understanding the motive behind the question For I

could read the czar like a book, and I already knewthe

villainy of Durnief; "but it was he who inforton, you know too in to think that the

days of your usefulness are past, in St Petersburg There seems to be

no liun to dictate

to me I will not have it I coht

it necessary to take the princess froht"

I knew that the crucial moment had come I knew that if I weakened now,