The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

120 BY RIGHT OF SWORD, ‘“ He persists in forcing his attentions on me, and Iwill not have them,’’ she said. All my suspicions had been stung into activity by the mention of the name of the grand duke; and as I looked at her she appeared to be watching .me too closely to be natural as she added: ‘‘He cannot refuse to meet any one to whom I give the right to protect me from him.”’ It was an intrigue, I was sure of it ; and this lovely woman was making me her tool. JI answered guardedly. ‘A lieutenant in a marching regiment who should presume to challenge that man would stand a better chance of being whipped at the cart’s tail than of meeting him.”’ ' He is a great swordsman, I know,”’ she said, as if to pour suspicion on my courage. But I was not a‘fool to be tripped up by a gibe. If I had wished to marry the woman I would have consented readily enough there and then and risked all; but my object was to get out of Russia and to get Olga out with me. ‘‘ I should not fear him were he twice as skilful ; but this is no mere matter of sword fence.’’ ‘* Kasy words, lieutenant.’’ : ‘I will make them good, princess, replied I quietly. ‘‘But I must first see the course clearer for the meeting. What say your friends? Can I depend on their influence ?’’ ‘Won't you do this for me, then? AmI mistaken in you?’’ ‘There was a sharp accent of irritation in her tone that I noticed now. ‘* Princess, it does not best become a beautiful woman to doubt a man’s courage until he is proved acraven. Here is no matter of personal courage only ; but I should be loosing upon me all the waters of bitterest political intrigue. Alone I should be absolutely powerless to stem the torrents that would sweep me to certain ruin. Alone, therefore, I cannot do what you ask. But understand me, give me the powerful support of your family, and I will meet the man, were he fifty times the highness that he is—if we can arrange the meeting.’’ She seemed disappointed at this— quite unreasonably so—and tried to move me. ButI stood firm, and then with evident reluctance she told me her brother was with her in the matter, and that if I would see him all would be simple. ‘“My brother, Prince Bilbassoff, is, as you know, Minister of the Tnterior and is now in Moscow in connection with the visit of the emperor.’’ I had not known who her brother was, but when she gave me the name and told me where I could see him, a rapid conclusion leaped into my thoughts. Prince Bilbassoff was the real power behind the police, and I was prob- ably going to find now why Christian Tueski had had to hold his hand against me. I went at once to see him. I found him the very opposite of the popular ideal of a bureaucrat—a short, gray, close haired, spare man, with the air of a man of the world, and a pleasant, cheery manner that suggested nothing formidable or even powerful. Yet without doubt ‘the man was in many respects the most powerful and the most feared in all Russia. Eomichook (E@)