The Argosy — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

318 THE ARGOSY. Countess Palitzin, was like a madwoman in her fear. She was all anxiety to see me. ‘‘ Arrested !’’ I cried, scarcely believing my own ears. ‘‘ By whom? For what ?”’ ““By the police. I don’t know for what,’’ wailed the girl. ‘‘ But the countess e ‘*T’ll go to her at once,’’ I cried, interrupting her ; and without another. word I set off at once for Olga’s house with the greatest haste. What could it all mean ? Whose blow was this? Coming at such a moment it shattered all my plans to fragments. CHAPTER XXIV.—CRISIS. I FOUND matters just as Olga’s maid had told me. ‘The countess was in the deepest distress, and was wringing her hands and crying herself blind in agitation and alarm. Olga had been out in the afternoon, she told me, and had come back con- siderably excited. She had stayed some time in her room and the maid now said she had been turning over her clothes. I knew what this meant. ‘Then she had written the letter to me and sent the girl with it; but the latter had scarcely left the house before the police had arrived, had asked for Olga, and had arrested her, refusing to say a single word as to the cause. Olga had of course gone with them, protesting to the countess that there must be some mistake, and that no doubt she would soon be again at liberty and return home. When kissing her aunt the girl had whispered to her to tell me at once, with an assurance that she was not in the least frightened. Knowing what I knew about the system of imprisonment in Russia, and how common a thing it was fora prisoner to be arrested on the flimsiest suspicion, to enter a jail and be kept from all communication with friends and family, I did not by any means share the calmness she had professed. The suddenness of the arrest, combined with the complete overthrow of all my plans, incensed me beyond measure. I put to the two women all the questions that occurred to me, but got no further light. JI could not hide my concern, but I did my best to make the Countess Palitzin believe that it would be in my power to help Olga. I hurried from the house to Paula Tueski. I reckoned to get from her the best hints as to where my exertions could be most usefully exerted. But I did not find her, and the news at her house was disconcerting. She had been called for suddenly and had gone out, leaving no word where she was to be found nor when she would return. All quite contrary to her usual custom. I went on then to the chief police office. I was in uniform, of course, and was received with the greatest politeness, but no information was given tome. The man who granted me an interview was complacency itself. ‘‘T am grieved to be able to give you no information, lieutenant,’’ he said politely. ‘‘ But you know how our hands are tied and how one’s lips are sealed in this office. In anything but that matter Iam your most obedient Eomichbooks / % a Se m. os & >. com