Princess Zara

her in almost every capital of Europe, and I was therefore not greatly surprised when, having just left the dining table at my club

he secluded corners of the library, each equally delighted to be again in the company of the other. We had never known each other intimately, and yet we were friends; friends after that f

g in the highest and best acceptation and meaning of tha

I had ever made any effort to delve into the secrets of Saberevski's past, or to read without his knowledge and consent, any portion of that history which he kept so care

ss the border of Russia again, Derrington; but I may, and probably will some day, find myself in New York; when I do, you shall know of it." That day when I received his card, the last words he had uttered to me recurred to my mind, and it was with unmixed pleasure that I presently greeted him. I knew that there had been a time when he was high in place at the court of his native city, St. Petersburg; I knew that he had been prominent in the favor of Czar Alexander, and I had no doubt that he wa

with a table which held a box of them, together with some liquid refreshme

ugh. I have been thinking about you considerably of late, and this morning when I found that my wandering life had dropped me down in your city, I determined to

presence. My manner of greeting him had demonstrated th

ation just now, Derrington? A

ding my head solemnly. "I suppose I wil

o very far away from its reach,"

nment! I have

eft the

ressed by the duties of a secret service agent and as often determined to leave the service for good. But as often, I had returned to it upon the request of one department or another of my government, when my ser

table awaiting action, Daniel?" he asked me, and there was ju

," I replied. "I have earned a perio

road, Der

N

he process of dry ro

a time a

e other side of the wat

ing a

o his left knee and blew a

t. "One wouldn't pick you out as a blasé individual who is tired of everything the world has to offer. Y

rue," I

it there and try to assure me that you are content to tie up against a rotting wharf,

nticing to me ju

an intrigue. You ought to butt in, as you fellows express it, upon French statecraft which leaves nothing to be desired in the way of double dealings. You should try Austrian lies, or G

. "That seems to be the only impor

he repeat

tired of it your

in his chair, and the suggestion of a

est, "I haven't any doubt that you have always regarded me as a queer sort of ch

egan. But he raised

you, but in connection with myself. I am a much older man than you are; fifteen years and more, I should say. All my life, up to the time we last parted, has been passed in the personal service of his majesty, the czar. I have been as close to him as any man can ever obtain, and I am probably the only one who has enjoyed his confidence to the e

all, Alexis. I am quite glad enough to see y

gesture of

I have been impressed by the idea that there is a great work for you to do; a great duty for you to perform. A stupendous obstacle to human development exists in one part of Europe

," I

of the greatest achievements that remains un

hich you just now

es

t is

hil

replied wi

t even the suggestion of a smile

always spells the word death. It is death to those who antagonize it, and it is death to them that uphold it. It is death to the minister, the governor, the official, and it is death to the poor devil who plots in the dark,

encountered much of the conditions he described. But I regarded them, as well as Saberevski himself, with the American idea and from an American standpoint. It had always seemed to me so unnecessary that conditions should exist as I had heard them described over there. I had always believed that if the government of Russia would only go

Petersburg again. There is nothing remaining for me to do save to sit down quietly in some far country of the world, and watch from a distance the passing of events which some day, near or far as the case may be, will end in his assassination. What my work has been and what it would still be if I could remain near to his imperial majesty, you can guess, and I need not give it a na

tions as that one, after that, in which we dis

became obsessed by the idea although I di

at the club, during more than two months, and we were

Herald of that morning which announced the arrival in New York of a Russian princess. The fact had not

ity this morning, and is at one of the hotels. I mention it because you may not have seen the notice, and might like to pay yo

e said, "I wil

n Fifth avenue, a hansom cab stopped at the cu

hesitation, I complied. I did not even ask to be told our destination and was somew

country, are you, Alexis?

walk to the end of the pier with me, or will you wait here?

ad referred to, as sailing that day, and thought it rather strange that he seemed to see

king a waving hand or a gesture of farewell directed towards my friend. But I saw none to which he seem

ok me by the arm and we r

a sealed envelope in my hand. It bore no address or sup

inside one of your pockets and carry it with y

that be?" I

t in my face, he continued: "Fate, or inclination, will take you there again, sometime, and the day will naturally follow when you will l

t," I sai

e again, break the seal of this envelope and read the contents of a message I have written; or if

ld not go ther

tter until you see me agai

ter I was in S