The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

72 BY RIGHT OF SWORD. I did not tell her any particulars of my night with the Nihilists, nor of the mission with which I was charged. It would probably only distress her, aud could do no good ; unless I might find it necessary to use it to compel her to leave Moscow. I questioned her as to her own connections with the Nihilists, and from what she told me I saw that, though they were slight in themselves, they were enough to put her in the power of a woman such as Paula Tueski, and emphatically much more than sufficient to make her ar- rest a.certainty if I were to be arrested, or if anything should happen to throw increased suspicion on me. Our meeting after her letter to me was a very pleasant one. She came up to me with a smile and begged me again to forgive her. ‘That was not difficult. | ‘‘T can speak frankly to a brother now. I couldn’t always, you know, Alexis,’’—she glanced with roguish severity into my face—‘‘ because a few days ago you used to get very bad tempered, and even swear a little. But I’lladmit you are improving—in that respect ; though I am afraid you are as dogged as ever. But I can be dogged, too; and if I speak frankly now, it is to tell you that nothing you can do will make me go out of Russia until you are safe. You may form what opinion you like of me—though I don’t want that to be very bad—but a coward you shall never find me.”’ “I didn’t think you a coward. You know that; you said it in your letter ; and I shall not forgive that rudeness of yours, if you persist in this attitude.’’ ‘‘ What is the use of a brother if one can’t be rude to him, pray? As for your forgiveness, you can’t help that now. You've given it. Besides, on reflection, I should not be frightened of you. Will youmake mea promise ?”’ ‘Yes, if it has nothing to do with your going away.’’ ‘'it: has: ‘Then I won’t make it. But I’ll make a truce. I will not press you to go away, unless I think it necessary for my own safety. Will that do?” ‘Yes, Pll go then,’’ she answered readily, holding out her hand to make a bargain of it, as she added: ‘‘ Mind, if it’s necessary for your safety.’’ ‘‘ You’re as precise as a lawyer,’’ said I, laughing, as I pressed her hand and saw a flush of color tinge her face a moment. ‘“ Now,’’ she said, after a pause, ‘‘ I havea surprise for you. I havea letter from an old friend of yours—a very old friend.’’ 3 ‘An old friend of mine. Oh, I see. An old friend of your brother’s, you mean. Well, who is it now? Is there another complication ?”’ “No, no. An old friend of my new brother’s. From Mr. Hamylton Tregethner.’? She laughed merrily as she stumbled over the old Cornish syllables. ‘‘I don’t like that Englishman,’’ she added gravely. ‘‘ Do you know why ?’’ ‘* Not for the life of me.’’ ‘Well, I do not like him; but I can’t say why.’’ Her manner was peculiar. ‘‘ See, here is the passport. Mr. Tregethner has sent it and he seems to have crossed the Russian frontier without the least difficulty, He has gone to Paris by way of Austria. When shall you go?’’ She did not Eomichook (F<)