By Right of Sword

ping after we had gone a little way without speaking. "It is very convenient for ta

I am going through with it, if it is at all pos

ease, before you decide, or I shall be ver

know what manner of man I am now." I smiled as I said this

here was no one near us, a

they suspect him of having played them false, and I think his life is threatened. Those two men

dn't attempt

e of a clean shaven face. Had you entered the train, they would very likel

uld be the c

rs? It is death." She was white now and agitated. "I am so as

I thought more of clearing her clouded face than of any possible conseq

the same very earnest tone and manner. "My brother has drawn me in with hi

getting much pleasure out of life." A cold touch of fear seemed to co

know anything of this? You

Russian life. I have made only one visit to Russia since I left; and this time I arrived only last night, and intended to go on to St

s in it, and we clasped hands in a strong firm grip as a token of mutual fa

now," she said, si

nsky to-morrow, and he beats me, it will be all the same to me whether I am a Nihilist or an Englishman. There is o

her a clumsy fool. She was such a sensitive little body, that the thought of my being killed, as the result of her having got me to

considerable cons

t Major Devinsky. You can do as Alexis said; be ill

ia to volunteer for the war which everyone says must come with Turkey. I've done it because-well, you may guess that a man has a pretty strong reason when he wants to volunteer to fight another country's battles. It's the sort of thing in which he can expect plenty of the kicks, while others get all the ha'pence. I've not been a success in England and I've had a stroke lately that's made me sick of things.

her tell-tale face was all sympathy when I

other or siste

unately

you and trust to you for guidance an

e." This with a bitter little reminiscent sneer and a shrug of the shoulders. "Still, it ha

face as I said this, but made no ans

next two or three days. I want to know where I live, where you live, all that you can tell me about my b

transferred to this regiment; and that the brother had private quarters in the Square of St. Mark, while she lived with an aunt, their only relative, in a suite

ed by compromising himself in many quarters. She told me the story, so much as she knew of it, very deftly, intending no doubt to screen her brother; but I could read enough between the lines to un

t was no pleasant thing to take up the part of a coward and a scape-grace. Sc

hat never in my life have I experienced even a passing sensation of fear. I would just as soon die as go to sleep. I have seen men-much better men than I, and quite as truly brave-shudder at the idea of death and shrink with dre

me even a passing uneasiness, especially at such a time. What I was anxious to do was to get hold of as much

pearance of the brother's friends and fellow officers, about the habits of milit

of the examin

must call me Alexis and must allow me to call yo

a, we'll make our first practical experiment. We'll go together

ed, her eyes bright and her che

phasis on the Christian name. "Do you know that my sister's name has a ver

it and you think it

I

emember. Why, only this morning you said how silly

ings have changed too, since this morning," I added drily; and we both laugh

ory. "Don't you see who is coming toward us? Major Devinsky and Lieutenants Trackso and Weiss

antly, drawing myself up. "And the other fello

his toadies,"

ily on the three men as they approached. At first they did not recognise me. Then I saw one of them start, and making a

two copied, while all three sneered with an air of insolent braggadocio a

s more effectively to begin the drama of my new life. If I didn't punish each o

h is my adversary to-morrow, and shan't pink the wrong man by mi

an of good family and great wealth, and has a lot o

s," said I, lightly,

us," replied th

after to-morrow morning. I tell you what I'll promise you as a treat. You shall breakfast with me, or rather I'll break

ce or twice before. "You know that you have not always been an attentive brother, Alexis: a

y be: but I've changed since the

st with me-but you shall come if"-and here the light died right out of her face and her under

stuff to go down before that bully's sword. So get ready my favour

ellow. And please let me give you a word of warning. Alexis has not only not been attentive to me, but his manner has often been very brusque and-oh, if you had had sisters you would know how brothers behave. They don't mind tu

ith contempt, then?"

que," she replied, laughing and blushing.

it all in a day

try. Vosk is ver

ind means somehow

ut a little more bluntness into

he saw the change in my appearance. I caught his vigilan

hurt you now, Al

much now; but it was an infernally silly joke to play. It's cost me my beard and a suit of clothes.

into the chief sitting room-there were two leading one out of the other-and sat down. The

saw that these were not out of my wardrobe proper, and while he's out, I'll hurry and change t

that they fitted me fairly well; and though they required some touches here and there, they would pass muster as my o

stonishment:-"My broth

tone I added, "Uniforms make all men of anything like the same figure look alike. It's fortunate that your brother's an army man

questioned Olga until she had told me