By Right of Sword

. Essaieff was right enough in his forecast that everyone would be delighted at the major's overthrow. But

observed. Any gross blunder made in my new character would be the more ce

of acts that I had no doubt been in the habit of doing regularl

zealous officer, I might not have got to know the men. But I was just as ignorant of the regimental routine which ought to be a matter of course. I had questioned Olga on every detail and drawn from her all that she knew-and she was surprisingly quickwitted and well informed on the subject-and I had of course my own limited military experience to ba

soldier; and under the guise of questioning his present knowledge of military matters, dress, etc., I drew out of him particulars of the uniforms I ought to wear on different occa

d from Olga that I stood very low down in Colonel Kapriste's estimation-I was received with especial cordiality and favour. His greeting was indeed effusive. He granted my request at once, said I could take a we

ut my uniform on the previous day; and my blunt reply that I had had an accident and hoped I was master of my own features, and that if my uniform was burnt it was more becoming for an officer to be in mufti than naked, drew from him nothing more than the significant retort that he hoped I had changed as

he let my impertinence pass; but I could see that the two aides who were pres

left with a feeling of intense satisfaction that the difficulties of the position

d impassiveness. This was my safe course. I knew that Alexis had hitherto been unpopular with the whole regiment, except perhaps one or two of the worst and wildest fellows; and I judged that any approaches made now

l, this morning, Pe

a stony, st

I am here," I answ

drilling," he said,

you mean that you want to drill with me?" I stared him out of countenance until the feeble laugh

ed on the ground; and before I left I had managed to stamp the impression pretty clearly on my fel

ious night. I was in truth rather sorry that I had made such a cad of myself; since that was not the sort of character I saw

fore had been most profuse in their expressions of contempt for me were now obviously very ill at ease; and some of them were unquestionably

noticed not without satisfaction that as soon as

de a remarkable con

es

d that old martinet were chumming together like a couple of young subs. He swears that a man has been cashiere

a secret what he t

ry, then? Why, you told me

deal then that I know

o aides, praising you sky high. By Gad, if the war really comes you'll be in luck, and get every bit of daredevil work the old Salamander can thrust your

erve, I exchanged a few words with one or two. What was of great importan

ga had told me that I was with some of the best men in the regiment-those who hitherto had held me in the poorest esteem-and I was scrupulously careful that in my outward demeanour there should now be nothing

ous; and the extraordinary success of the morning set them on the look out for further eccentricities and peculiarities. A man who could successfully conceal the possession of

was so frightened and trembled so violently when I asked him how he dared to send me threatening letters, that he could scarcely sign his receipt. The whole of them we

had begun to consider whether, instead of leaving when my passport came, I should not remai

ier; I had saved his honour by fighting his duel for him; I had made his sister pretty safe from further molestation a

a at least, if it was discovered that I had been personating a Russian officer and fighting duels in his name. But I cared nothing for that. If it th

attle it would not matter in the least how my grave was ticketed. It might save me no end of tro

firmer became my resolve just to float with the stream and r

, and the extraordinary resemblance to my other self; and already I could see

all the truth must be told, my vanity was not altogether proof against the sensation I was

a Palace; and I was snob enough-I can call it nothing but sheer snobbery-so to time my entrance into the rooms as to cause as much sensation as possible. Though outwar

nifestly expected I should know them both by name and by sight. I had one greeting for all: cold, impassive, uninterested, though t

otice of them and were not to be put off by any excuse or shift. How many I ought to have known; with how many I had had flirtations, I of course had not the remotest idea. I was thus very glad when a chance

, what do y

companion, looking at m

ck danger signal at me.

y. "You should know the Countess Krapotine better than t

uld lose more unwillingly than hers. It was a silly jest: and was prompted only by a desire to claim even a p

aunt many years older and infinitely ugly. But the matter passed, and as I did not care to stop and

between two of the ball rooms when I noticed an exceedingly handsome woman making eyes and signs secretly to some one near me. She was a remarkably striking woman, tall, dark, handsome, and passionate looking; and afte

e was no room for doubt: and I looked at her with a little more interest, speculating who she might be, and what she was to me. But

he rooms owing to the crush of people, and presently to my i

war

d had brought us close together, and she was staring hard at me, her face expressive of both

wil

at that instant another movement of the thro

ountess-and presently glancing up I saw opposite to us the woman who had ac

ing her out to my sister. Th

didn't kno

t;" and I told her what had happened. She smiled, an

ski are thick friends; and you ought to know th

ndsome woman," said I,

somewhat masculine and fleshly," said Olg

always admired those thing

ired those things which you ough

ing on her word and looking closely at her. I took rather a pleasur

ghts; and then looked down again and was silent. And in some way the look m

greeable. You and I have quarrelled more than once about that woman, Paula Tueski. You

I said, readily. "I sh

t at first, but the frown won in the end. "Paula Tueski, you have often told me, is a dangerous woman. As wife of the Chief of the Secret Police she has considerable power and influence; thoug

at any rate I won't try to force her on you

getically. "If you can give her up safely I hope you will." She was very earnest about this

nxious that I should speak to her. I remembered the "P.T." of the diary and of the correspon

unpleasant feature of my new inheritance as well as possibly the most dangerous. It was just the kind of