The Book of All-Power

roslav. From that report he learned of the visit which the Grand Duchess Irene had paid; learned, too, that she had been escorted to her car by an Englishman, whose name the woman did not

irectory, because the upper part of the premises were used le

his way, he wandered through the service door, and there made the important discovery that the kitchen was on the top floor, and also that meals were being served somewher

ign of stairs which led down to an underground chamber. He made a further reconnaissance, and found the back door which Sop

That the underground room existed, he knew by certain structural evidence, and waited about in the street until he saw three men come out and the door close beh

d, as he had expected, that the club was registered and known as "The Foreign Friends of Freedom Club." The officer who supplied him with the information t

laints to make?" a

iting an article on the foreign clubs of L

map of London, he marked the spot with a red cross. All this time Malcolm Hay was busy making preparations for departure. He would have been glad to stay on, so th

at he first saw Sophia Kensky. He thought her pretty in a bold, heavy way, and she regarded him

o Kieff, Sophia Kensky,"

ieff, Excellency?" ask

n rare occasions. I am taking charge of some oil

g in the country," she said,

h her in his life. Years later, when he stood, hardly daring to breathe, in the cupboard of a commissary's office,

t was then that Malcolm Hay told him the result of his inves

town," he said, half to himself,

up sharp

said. "Would you not help an old man to sa

oked at him in

whom?"

nsky moodily. "It is for her I

onderful being from the slightest ache or pain, but thought it best to dissemble the craziest of infatuations that ever a penniless and o

Kensky. "I know these societies, Mr. Hay, and

the police to wat

ence which was his in the following twelve month

ot a matter for the police. It is

o?" asked Mal

been surprised, for he was of the age when l

. "I myself would go, but I am too old,

said Malcolm in surprise. "W

ou are called upon for help. You will see my daughter there," he said, after a pause,

t me to see?" aske

stood on the sideboard. This he unlocked, and from a mass of

prise, "that is the man Se

nodded

. "Here is another picture o

olice Chief; and it might have been, thought Malcolm, of a tailo

t the club in the next two days," said the old ma

ody e

y hes

" he said. "

himself suddenly plunged into the heart of an anarchist plot, and on nodding terms with royal highnesses! He laughed softly as he sat on the edge of his be

eautiful princesses, and that such passions were entitled to disturb the rest and obscure the judgment of their victims for days and even for wee

d by a closed carriage, and in the light of the electric standard he caught a glimpse of a face which set his heart beating faster. He cursed himself for his folly, swore so vigo

er presence. He half regretted his promise to Israel Kensky, which prevented him discovering the ho

clock. It began to rain a fine, thin drizzle, which penetrated every crevice, which insinuated itself down his neck, though his collar was upturned; and then, on top of this, came a gusty easterly wind, which chilled him to the ma

ned and its members came out. Malcolm crossed the road and walked down

cter. He saw nobody he knew, or had ever seen before. Israel Kensky had expected that the St. Petersburg Chief of Police would be present; tha

th, perhaps, a clear view of the girl, watching her every movemen

to bed to dream that Serganoff was pursuing him with a hammer in his hand, and that the G

ceable Colt revolver, and he stood balancing this in the palm of his hand, uncertain as to whether it would not be better to retain his weapon until after his p

ensky, who was probably in the secret police, to protect his protégée, with an importance and a romance which it did not deserve. He went down

men walked rapidly from the end of the street and passed him so closely that he could not make any mistake as to the identity of one. Had he

n't believe in starving to de

Charing Cross station. Other people drifted through the door in ones and twos, and then a man came walking sm

greatcoat, a glimpse of an olive face with two piercing dark eyes, which flashed an inquiring gl

her, for she was wearing shoes which made no sound. He had only time to turn so that she did not see his face

n. Perhaps the girl was in danger-the thought brought him to the door, with his hand raise

something unusual was happening in the street. It was more thickly populated. Half a dozen

ling house, and he recognized all the signs. He first thought of the girl-she must not be involved in this. He raced toward the door,

at man,

houlder and somebody

glish," he sa

e, but there is a lady in there, in whom I'm rathe

id a man in civilian clothes; and

ined his stat

up in this business," said the officer. "Yo

t, and the officer in charge

ps you'd like to stand by," he said. "She may wa