The Argosy — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

300 THE ARGOSY. ‘ Where is my sister now ?’’ I asked, after a moment’s consideration. “Where you left her, of course. Decide how you wish her to come to Moscow. Shall my men fetch her? Shall that man bring her back himself ? Or will you ride out? It isa matter of the merest form—but as yet, of course, you are unaccustomed to your influence and power.’’ He was the devil at tempting, and though he had told me his motive, and I knew the rank impossibility of doing what he wanted, I could not help a little thrill of pleasure at the consciousness that this power lay within my grasp. 7 ‘I will ride out and bring her in myself,’’ I said, with a flush of pleasant anticipation at the thought. ““As you will. This will do everything,’’ he said, as he wrote me an order in the name of the emperor. I knew its power well enough. ‘‘ One condition, by the by. You must not fight this Devinsky ; nor do anything to provoke a fight.’’ : : ‘“T won’t promise,’’ I answered.. 3 ‘“Then I give no order. Your life is ours, not yours to play with. ‘That is the essence of the matter.”’ ‘I will promise,’’ I said, changing suddenly as I thought of Olga and the delight of seeing her again. ‘‘My word onit. Ido nothing except in self defense, or in defense of my sister.’’ “Well be off with you, then,’’ he said, rising and shaking hands, and speaking as lightly as if I were a schoolboy being sent off for a ride; and as though there were not between us jot or tittle of a plan in which life and death, fortune and marriage, were the stakes. I hurried away to make preparations ior riding back at once; and half an hour later I had had my first meal for twenty four hours and was again in the saddle, pricking at top speed along the northern road, followed by one of the prince’s confidential servants, sent, as the former said, with especial in- structions to look after the welfare of one who was soon to be a member of the family. There is no need to describe with what different emotions and thoughts I made the present journey. It is enough to say that I-dashed along at top speed, haunted by half a fear that something might yet go wrong with the plans, and that Olga might still be in some danger ; while a desire more keen than words can express came upon me to have her once more under my own care. At the same time the sense of power to which the appeal had been so astutely made was roused, and I was conscious of an unusual glow of pride. When I reached the house where I had had the ugly experience of the previous night, I looked out for any sign of hostility. But there was none. A man came immediately in answer to my summons, and Devinsky was wait- ing for me in the large hall, which I scanned curiously after my night’s expe- rience in it. The sight of Devinsky roused me, but I put the curb on my temper. I handed him the order in silence. He read it and sneered. ‘It is a good and safe thing to shelter behind government powers,’’ he (E(0) Eomichook 4 Pd a : id TR AS