“He meant what he said, I suppose,” replied Zara, with sudden coldness.  “Excuse me, I thought you said you were not inquisitive.”

I could not bear this change of tone in her, and I clasped my arms tight about her and smiled in her face.

“You shall not get angry with me, Zara.  I am not going to be treated like poor Ivan.  I have found out what you are, and how dangerous it is to admire you; but I do admire and love you.  And I defy you to knock me down as unceremoniously as you did the Prince—­you beautiful living bit of Lightning!”

Zara moved restlessly in my embrace, but I held her fast.  At the last epithet I bestowed on her, she grew very pale; but her eyes resembled the jewels on her breast in their sheeny glitter.

“What have you found out?” she murmured.  “What do you know?”

“I cannot say I know,” I went on boldly, still keeping my arms round her; “but I have made a guess which I think comes near the truth.  Your brother has had the care of you ever since you were a little child, and I believe he has, by some method known only to himself, charged you with electricity.  Yes, Zara,” for she had started and tried to loosen my hold of her; “and it is that which keeps you young and fresh as a girl of sixteen, at an age when other women lose their bloom and grow wrinkles.  It is that which gives you the power to impart a repelling shock to people you dislike, as in the case of Prince Ivan.  It is that which gives you such an attractive force for those with whom you have a little sympathy—­such as myself, for instance; and you cannot, Zara, with all your electric strength, unclasp my arms from your waist, because you have not the sentiment of repulsion towards me which would enable you to do it.  Shall I go on guessing?”

Zara made a sign of assent—­the expression of her face had softened, and a dimpling smile played round the corners of her mouth.

“Your lover,” I went on steadily and slowly, “is a native of some other sphere—­perhaps a creation of your own fancy—­perhaps (for I will not be sceptical any more) a beautiful and all-powerful angelic spirit.  I will not discuss this with you.  I believe that when Prince Ivan fell senseless, he saw, or fancied he saw, that nameless being.  And now,” I added, loosening my clasp of her, “have I guessed well?”

Zara looked meditative.

“I do not know,” she said, “why you should imagine—­”

“Stop!” I exclaimed; “there is no imagination in the case.  I have reasoned it out.  Here is a book I found in the library on electric organs as they are discovered to exist in certain fish.  Listen:  ’They are nervous apparatuses which in the arrangement of their parts may be compared to a Voltaic pile.  They develop electricity and give electrical discharges.’”

“Well!” said Zara.