The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 115 intention to run away from Paris and Balestier would cause more delay. The fellow was not only a coward but an idiot as well; and I could have kicked him liberally, if my foot could only have reached from Moscow to Paris. As it was, Balestier, with the best will in the world, would probably be blundering about and plunging me still deeper into the mud, when he not only could, but would, have given me valuable help if I could have got at him to tell him what to do. I felt like Tantalus when I thought of it. CHAPTER XVII.—AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE. THE second complication was a much bigger matter; and it was of so strange a description and fraught with consequences of such critical import- ance to Olga and myself that of all my experiences of that time it deserves to be classed as the most remarkable. Like all else then, it came quite un- sought by me, and as the direct and unavoidable consequence of the first step in my new life—the duel with Devinsky and my consequent repute as a swordsman. 7 A day or two after Tueski’s funeral, and while the city was still quivering and staggering under the effects of the supposed Nihilist blow, a great ball took place at the Valniski Palace. Count Valniski was among the richest men in Moscow, bidding hard for power and courting popularity right and left among all classes. To this ball all the officers of my regiment were invited, together with many of their friends. Among the latter Olga had a card ; and although we were certainly in a poor mood for a function of the kind, we felt it expedient to do what all the world was doing, lest by remaining away we should attract attention to ourselves. It was a very’ brilliant affair, as these big Russian balls always are, and the crowd included many of the best and smartest people in Moscow. I moved about the rooms, not dancing much, but exchanging a word now and then with my brother officers and with other people who claimed acquaint- ance with me. Olga had plenty of partners among my comrades, and as she was dancing with one of them I stood watching her and thinking how completely I had dropped into the new social grooves of this Moscow life and how quickly my first feelings of strangeness had worn off, when my friend Essaieff came up to me. ‘“ Alexis, I have a commission that concerns you,’’ he said. “Well? ”’ “You’re in luck. Try and guess.”’ ‘“Can’t,’’? I replied, shaking my head. ‘‘ Unless the war’s broken out and I’m to have astep. What is it?’’ “'There’s a woman init. High up, too.’? ‘There were only two women in Moscow I ever thought about ; and one of them I wished to see safe out of Russia and the other anywhere out of my way. EComichbooks (S@)