The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 121 He appeared to be expecting me, for the instant I was announced he got up aud welcomed me with a hearty shake of the hand and said: ‘““T thought my sister would have to make us acquainted, Lieutenant Petrovitch. She said she wouldn’t, but I expected you. Women think beauty will do everything, and somehow are always calculating without the effects of self interest. Don’t you think so?’’ Hespoke with a sort of easy club mannerism, and just let his eyes rest a moment on my face. ‘* Of course you know the drift of what has passed, then? ’”’ ‘“Of course I do. As well as I know that your coming to me means that my sister’s method has failed. I from the first disagreed with it.. I know a great deal about you, Lieutenant Petrovitch, and I think I could have saved time. But my sister was attracted to you—women always like you hand- Some young fire eaters, especially women like my sister—and as she is to take a rather large hand in the matter, she wanted to play it her own way. She appealed to your feelings, lieutenant. I should have gone straight to your interest ; and really it will be to your interest to do this.’’ ‘Will you tell me plainly what is wanted? ”’’ ‘“ Certainly. The death of the man whose name has no doubt been men- tioned to you.’’ “Why?” ‘Not because he has insulted my sister, though that is fortunately a plausible pretext ; but because he is a menace to the empire.’’ His bluntness astounded me. ‘Do you take me for an assassin ?”’ ‘“No. I take you for a very resolute young man, with a great skill of fence, a large desire to push your fortunes high, and not too much scruple to act like a sword scabbard between your legs and trip you up. If you weren't that, you’d be no use tome. As you are, I open before you a career such as lies before no other man in the emperor’s wide dominions.”’ ‘* And if I refuse? ”’ He laughed and shrugged his shoulders. ‘“You won’t refuse,’? he said, shaking his head. ‘‘ If you do, you will be a young fcol—too foolish to be trusted at large.’’ I knew what he meant; and when I looked at him next, I understood why men feared him, That laugh of his would usher a man to the knout or the gallows. ; I thought rapidly. ‘I like the project,’’ I replied. ‘‘ But can you arrange the meeting?’’ He was quick as a flash and detected the false note in my voice. ‘““Tieutenant, there are two courses open to you,’’ he said in a tone so sharp, stern, and ringing that the change surprised me. ‘‘ You can accept or refuse the offer—but don’t try to fool me.”’ ‘Well, then, I’m not a murderer,’’ I rapped out, angered by his words. ‘“That’s better,’ he said, with a return to his light, clubbish manner. ‘But this is no murder. The man isa traitor, and no juster act could be compassed than his death.”’ ‘Then why not do it openly ?”’ Comicoookxs (S@)