A Cigarette-Maker's Romance

e policeman in his official voi

s so emboldened the spectators of the fight that they advanced in a body just as Dumnoff threw himself upon the first policeman. The Russian's red face was wet with perspiration, his small eyes were gleaming ferociously and his thick hair hung in tangled locks over his forehead, producing with his fair beard the appearance of a wild animal's mane. But for the timely assistance of his colleagues, the representatives of the law, and, most likely the majority of the s

d the first policeman, an

erly private in the Fourth Artillery, lately

f his countryman from the first, and certainly justified in

m me on New Year's eve, and now that man"-he pointed to the Count,

th that acuteness in the art of cross-examination for

, if I had known that-

upted the other. "That man sto

yard of the Hofbr?uhaus, and I had to pay for it out of my caution money

ith the porter's story, turned upon the Cou

re you and what are you doing here? But that is a foolish question

th anger for a moment. "I am neither," he added, endeavouring to control himsel

ng no faith in the first statement and very little in the second. "I thi

ndow and run!" whispered the Coss

n your infernal langua

down, as though he were master of the situation. "Unfortunately for

m the peg on the wall where it had hung undisturbed throughout the confusion, an

iceman, putting himself in the way. "Heigh! heigh! S

ted through the open window with the agility of a cat, and was flying down the empty street at the spee

off, disgusted at his

ngs can understand, or do not talk at all

esman of the police turned to the Count,

of an accomplice. Potzbombardendonnerwetter! You Sappermentskerls! I will teach you to resi

ir. Dumnoff looked at him as though

legs of the two policemen, hurled them simultaneously head over heels and then charged the crowd, head downwards, upsetting every one who came in his way, an

wn language. "I have locked the street door and

red the Count, calmly.

ried to force open the closed door, and shaking off two or three men who had made their way out into t

peated. But the Count shoo

tmost indifference to consequences he returned to the door, unlocked it, and strode through the midst of the people,

lf between his late keepers, who were alternately rubbing themselve

succeeded Dumnoff's return, th

ill do me the civility to listen," he said. "The doll is the

hese devilish fellows. Come, put them in handcuffs and off with them. And you three gentlemen," he added, turni

xclaimed the pallid host, suddenly rememb

wered the que

o say a word in our defence throughout this disgraceful affair, you, I say, deserve to lose all th

ere was no time, however, to discuss the question. Dumnoff had quietly submitted his two huge fists to the

, or attempted to run away?" h

thing to say to this

tion in the presence of your officers. I have not the least intention of running away, and if this doll was stolen, I was not connected in any way with the theft. Since I respect the authorities, I insist upon being respected by the

icials with the possible truth of his wor

the one who was co

arry myself the object of contention, until the othe

is hands before him, like a baby, he solemnly walked in the direction of the door, thus headin

old woman in the corner dev

eper, sitting down upon a chair and contemplating the wreck of his belongings with a hagg

much in favour of the porters and of the officials themselves. The latter, indeed, enlarged so much upon the atrocities perpetrated by

me?" he

vanowitch

upat

he manufactory of Chr

the police in the execution of an arrest," h

dressing the Count. "Boris Mi

he officer. "We sha

I was only engaged in this during a period of temporary embarrassment from which I

ment and then nodded to the scribe in tok

a doll, is that it?" He turn

Herr Ha

mann, I did not say that," put

are

Dienstmann number 87, formerly private in the Fourth Artil

the doll

's eve," answe

not seen it

rr Haup

ame one? I suppose it is not the

rything there, just as though I had been one of the young ladies who serve the

the tune which had been so rudely interrupted by Akulina's well-aimed blow, suddenly began again from the point at which it had stopped, continuing for a few bars and then coming to an end with a sharp twang an

once," he observed. "Your na

basket with other things. I put it down a moment in the yard

out it?" The question wa

though trying to keep himself from falling to pieces, "I have nothing more to say. I will not be accused of inculpating any one in this disastrous affair. I will only say that the doll has sto

he officer. "If you can prove what you say, I will

he Count. The officer smiled an

but owing to his peculiar situation at the present t

en laughed

ne else?" aske

will willingly vo

justified in refusing to come here out of mere complaisance. I am afraid, Cou

ly, and not taking the least notice of the officer's ironical tone. The latter looked at the speaker c

reat the gentleman with every consideration," he added, addressing the policemen in

Hauptmann," said

e to Akulina, it had led to one of the most violent quarrels she had ever engaged in with her husband, its limp and broken form had cost much broken crockery and some broken furniture to the host of the "Green Wreath Inn," had been the cause of several ponderous blows dealt and received by Dumnoff, had produced the violent fall, upon a hard board floor, of a porter and two policemen and had ultimately brought the Count to prison for the night. Its value had become very great, for it had been paid for twice over, once by the man from whom it had been stolen, by the forfeiture of his caution money, and once by Fischelowitz in the sum of fifty marks lent to an adventurer; furthermore, the Count had solemnly pledged his word as a gentleman to pay for it a third time on the morrow, he having in his worldly possession the sum of one silver mark and two German pennies at the time of entering into

urned in a lantern of white ground glass. The place was abundantly, if not luxuriously, furnished with flat wooden pallets, each having at the head a slanting piece of board supposed to do duty for a pillow. Outside the open door a policeman paced the broad passage, a man taken from the mo

he Count sat upon the edge of his board, crossing one knee over the other and looking at his nails, or trying to look at them in the insufficient light. In some

arked Dumnoff. "I did not expect t

newspaper which contained a little tobacco, and rolled a cigarette

way, if you had done like that brute o

observed the other, blowing a huge

d not. You see, by an accident, the key was outside the door, so I kicked the people back and loc

d glanced at the Count

and you could not have hurt yourself.

would have been rewarded with a cross of honour, as it truly deserved. It is true, as well, that you were not so intimately connected with the main question at stake, as I was, since it was I who was suspected of being in possession of unlawfully gotten goods. You were consequently, I think, at liberty to take your freedom if you could get it, w

cation," observed Dumnoff. "

can keep sacred from the contamination of confidence, and which will withstand even the thrusts of poverty. I mean our individual selves, the better part of us, the nobler element which has suffered, as distinguished from the grosser, which may yet enjoy. But I am wandering a lit

f it. They would not have caught you if you had trusted to me, and

it depends upon the nerves and the action of the heart, and that courage is greatly increased by the presence of nourishment in the stomach. The same cannot be sa

growing sleepy and who understood v

It cannot be said, for instance, that you ran away from physical fear, after giving proof of such astonishing physical

Dumnoff, suddenly aroused by the pl

k I saw everybody whom you upset

th a sigh, "it cannot b

d," suggested the Count. "You showed

dull life," grumbled the peasan

ose I ought not to blame your longing for excitement. Never

" said Dumnoff, with a short laugh. "T

you anything. If you wish it, I will take you with me. I take it for granted

A gentleman from our part of the country brought me with him as coachman. On

nsiderate of him,"

m, and the carriage was in good condition for firewood, and possibly I was a little gay-just a little-t

eems to have left much to be desired,"

ke's four-in-hand on one side and drove out of it on the other. I never drove through a Grand Duke's equipage on any other occasion. It was lucky that his Ser

ke you with me-but not as coachman, I think, Dumnoff. We may fi

such a journey, is it not? Especially when one i

rospect of such a change to-morrow," said the

yes fixed themselves on the shadowy outlines of his companion's face, as t

lly mad," he said slowly, aft

and stared at the ex-coac

sly. "Who says I am mad? W

idently without any intention of giving pai

think you are dreaming, D

lieving yourself a rich count every week, from Tuesday night till

sked the Count in an unsteady voice

ng to me only yesterday that you were going to have a wo

a low voice. "And no one ever told m

to amuse us all, is it not? You do not really believe that you are a count, any more than I really believe that you are mad, you know. You do

In the present state of his hopes no form of d

it is my conviction that you are exceedingly drunk. No other h

ely, and in that case I had better go to sleep. Good-night,

forget," sai

ead once or twice from side to side until his fur-like hair made something

his place, drumming with

himself. "But Vjera never thought it of me-and