The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 85 absence and all that had happened. She had heard a somewhat garbled account of it in which the part I played had been much exaggerated, and she received me with the greatest tenderness and sympathy, and even tears of what seemed pleasure, but she explained as cold, glistened in her eyes. We had a long and closely confidential chat ; and she made me feel, more by her trustful manner and gentle attitude than by her actual words, how much she had missed me during the days of our separation and how thankful she was to be free of Devinsky for good, and how much she felt she owed to me on that account. For myself I was sorry when I had to leave her. She was the only person in Moscow to whom I could speak without restraint; a fact that made our interviews so welcome that I was loathe to end this one. It was almost dusk when I left, and as I walked home I was thoughtful and preoccupied. The question of Olga’s safety was pressing very hardly on me and made me extremely anxious. ‘The more I saw of her the more eager I. was to get her out of harm’s way ; and the consciousness that she must share the consequences of any disaster that might happen to me were I discovered troubled me greatly. I was beginning to anticipate more vividly, moreover, the coming of some such disaster. "The time was passing very quickly. It was getting on for nearly three weeks since the Nihilist meeting, and I knew that my Nihilist ‘‘allies’’ would be growing anxious for a sign of my zeal. They were probably well aware that I was doing nothing to redeem my pledge. There was also the undeniable danger inseparably connected with the infernal intrigue with Paula Tueski. I had so neglected her in my character of lover that I was hourly expecting some proof of her indignation. I had only seen her twice in the three weeks ; and each time in public; and though - Olga and she had interchanged visits, I knew perfectly well that she was not the woman to take neglect passively. I blamed myself warmly, too, for my own inactivity. My whole policy had been to try and gain time, and yet I had made no use of it, except to get into broils which had increased the already bewildering complications. That this would be the effect of my quarrel with Devinsky and Durescq, I could not doubt when I came to think the matter over in cool blood. I had been the means of getting them ruined ; and naturally every friend they had in Russia would take part against me. I knew that Durescq had friends among the most powerful circles in Russia, and I had nothing to oppose to their anger save the poor position of a lieutenant in a marching regiment, and a past that was full of blackguardism and evil repute. Per- sonally this was all nothing to me; but when I thought of the indirect results it might have for Olga it troubled and worried me deeply. Everything pointed to one conclusion—that Olga should leave Russia while she could do so in safety. I was meditating on these things when a girl stopped me suddenly, asking if I were Lieutenant Petrovitch. She then gave mea scrap of paper; and I glanced at it and read : ‘The old rendezvous, at once. Urgent. P. T.” Eomichook (S@)