By Right of Sword

hould come just when my most unwelcome lover was in my rooms-and at such a moment. But I thrust aside my

ssassinated. The poor girl was all pale and agitated with alarm on my account, and had rushed off to hand the warning on to me. She was half hysterical. She

and looked at me with a hard expression on her face such as I had not seen there in all our talks. Evidently she hated the woman cordially. "You are right in your estimate of her in one re

re?" asked Olga, in a v

ur brother to get you to receive her. This was to have been done last night. My apparent refusal to speak to her at all came as a crowning insult, and she was mad. There is one way in

d, always thinking of the trouble into which

them safer fo

le? I will do it if you say yes." She spoke so earnestly that I smiled... Then she add

"because she is the reverse of a good wo

lk afterwards. That's the one privilege...." she checked herself and then coloured sligh

ly playing a part with t

d then seemed to change suddenly into a Russian grande dame. An indescribable air of distinction manifested itself in a hundred

was full of quite stately regrets that she had not had the pleasure of knowing the other long before: said that her brother's friends were, of course, her friends; and that she hoped to call that week on

rnately gushed and froze as she first tried to captivate and then would remember that Olga was only consenting through comp

o get rid of Paula Tueski without further love-making: and desired in addition that if there were any spies about the house

e day if possible," I pr

but very feminine. And I shut the door on the two and went back

end; but certainly flight, for the time, was simply impossible. For myself, I did not much care. I had had a few hours of excitement which had complet

ould be unendurable: and had I been a free agent, I would have ended the whole thing there and then, by admitting the deception and putting up with the results. Indeed, it occurred to me that in a country like

I a fr

ent, without leaving my sister in deep trouble. If Paula Tueski found that I had humbugged her and that Olga w

ould I quietly save my own skin and leave her in the lurch? It was not likely that I should do anything of the sort; and I didn't entert

t

cle in the way, provided I did not attempt to leave as well; and I came to the conclusion that the best possible course would be for Olga to take her departure at once.

the Countess Palitzin, an ugly, garrulous and dyspeptic old lady, who wanted to hear all about the Devinsk

th the aunt, but as soon as we were alone she put her hand into

better than anyone ever did before. I have seen the girl and listened to her story and questioned her. I think the

r Kursk to-mo

is useful; and if I can make that life happier and give the child the chance

hesitated a moment what to say; and she, quick to read my loo

s there anything else you think better? But I should

angements at once and permanently, or at any rate for a considerable time ahead

ittle notes of interrogation crinkled

hind that, of course,"

ttle tour. You have had the idea of leaving Russia, you know, and going to

when I

fer across the frontier;" and I t

rother is enjoying here? Or are you thinking of leaving Russia also?" By a s

with regimental duties, social engagements, Nihilistic contracts, and

I could not help admiring the poise of the head and the graceful outlin

o think that so short a time had passed since then. I filled up the long pause during which she appeared to be making

n the pause had last

ss to know how I had offended her, she changed suddenly. She stamped her foot quite angrily, a flush of indignation reddened her cheeks and her eyes flashed as she looked at me and cried:-"And I thought you understood me! Do you think we Petrovitch's are all cowa

or having in some clumsy way worried her and the consciousness that she was really a plucky girl intermingled themselves with the memory of how pretty she had looked in her em

man, moody but very resolute and determined. Not a sign of the bully nor a symptom of braggadocio: but just the kind of man who, while quite willing to l

le. I knew I had formerly been a pretty heavy gambler; but to-night I purposely stopped short in the full tide of winning. I had lost at first, and the luck turn

hing self-denial," said one, a handsome laughing youngst

, if he does it before the

ee from the drift of the talk how genuine w

or a short walk. I knew the City pretty well, of course, owing to my long r

had had a similar sensation before; but what Paula Tueski had told me about being watched and gua

ness, and several feints I made in the attempt to shake him off failed. But I escaped him at length in the great Church of St Martin. Everyone knows the many outlets of that enormous pile. It has as many entrances as a rabbit warren, and most of them a

h several parts of the city; and it was late when I

early cost

my approach had been signalled-four men rushed out on me with drawn knives. By mere chance their first ru

ainst the wall to sell my life as dearly as I could. They closed round me and attacked instantly; a swift lunge sent my blade through one of them, a swinging cut made another drop hi

other drop his knife w

been dazed, struggled to his feet and would have staggered off as well had I let him. But I stopped him, made him give up his knife, and then I drove him before me to my rooms-only a very short distance off-without waiting for the ma

on as the man was in my room. "You're not a thief; your dr

me to tell you that," said

he was no thief. He was fairly well dressed in the style of an ordinary tradesman or a superior mechanic; his appearance betokened rather a sedentary life and his muscles had certainly not been hardened by any physical training. As

issary of that kind-able to give a sudden thrust with a sharp knife; but incapable of doing more. The instant

omitting the result, of course," I added griml

d the average low estimate of the value of my word. Everywhere I turned I was met by the wort

absence is poor proof of either innocence or co

d on him as if

me as dauntlessly as if the positions were r

armed against me unarmed." He threw this sn

st in amazement, an

nd to kill him with a st

ake it, if you like. One murder more-even in

s up and down th

tly. You say I was afraid to attend your last meeting. I'll do better than merely call that a lie, I'll prove it one. Call another meeting in as big a place as you can, pack it with all the deadli

come?" ask

us scheme that you can to test what a desperate man can do for the cause, and give me the lead in it. And when I've

fierceness seemed to fire him, and when I threw open the door for him to go, he stood a moment and stared

u're true after all."

rhaps the most desperate of all the complications which threatened me, that I saw a letter on tinted paper, lying on my table. I took it up

r was not

AR BR

ia, while you remain here alone to face-what may have to be faced. But whatever your reason is, I cannot do it. Do you understand that? I cannot. That is stronger than I will not. I think you know me. If so, you know tha

sis

GA

opinion of the staunch-hearted little writer. And at the end I surpri

l worth a goo