The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 83 they insist I shall give way and meet Durescq first. But this will only make it the more easy for us to insist on our plan of fighting. Don’t give way on that. J am resolved that one of us shall fall ; and chance shall settle which.”’ Essaieff tried to persuade me to insist on meeting Dovinsky. first ; but I would not. ‘“No. He shan’t carry back to St. Petersburg the tale that we in Moscow are ready to bluster in words, and then daren’t make them good in our acts.”’ ‘*T hope he’ll carry back no tale at all to St. sie ee friend grimly ; and then he left me. I completed what few preparations I had to make in view of the very probably fatal issue of the fight ; wrote a letter to Olga and inclosed one to Balestier, as I had done before ; and was just getting off to bed, when Hssaieff came back to report. His message had added to the already great excitement, and there had been at first the most strenuous opposition to our plan of fighting. But he had forced his way, and the meetings—with the ‘‘ butcher’’ first, and if I did not fall Devinsky afterwards—were fixed for eight o’clock. He promised to come for me haif an hour before that time ; and he urged me to get to bed and to have as much sleep as possible to steady my nerves. They were steady enough already. I gloated over the affair; and I meant so to use it as to set the seal to my reputation as ‘‘ that devil, Alexis,’’ whether I lived or died. But after all I was balked. I slept soundly enough till Borlas called me early in the morning and told me strange news. A file of soldiers were in my rooms, and the sergeant had requested me to be roused at once, as he had an important message. I called the man into my bedroom and asked him what he wanted. ‘You are to consider yourself under arrest, lieutenant,’’ he said, salut- ing, and drawing himself up stiffly, ‘‘ and in my charge.”’ “What for?’’ ‘““T don’t know, lieutenant. JI had my orders from the colonel himself first thing ; and if you please, I am to prevent your leaving the house. You'll understand my position, sir. Will you give me your word not to attempt to leave ?’”’ ‘‘ Where are your written orders?’’ I knew the man well and he liked me. ‘* My orders are verbal, lieutenant ; but very strict and imperative.’’ ‘* Privately, do you know anything of the cause of this?’”’ ‘“You’ll have a letter from the colonel, I think, lieutenant, within an hour, requiring you to go to him. Major Devinsky is also confined to his quarters, sir; and also I think Captain Durescq. We've heard in the regi- ment, sir, wiht happened at the officers’ club last night.’’ A certain look on his lined, bearded face, and in his eyes as he saluted me when he said this, told me much. I chafed at the interference, and anathematized the colonel for having apparently taken a hand in the matter. This butcher would now be able to >?) answered my CoOMmmcooolxs (S@)