The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

WHEN I WAS CZAR. 165 “One thing at a time; and for the moment we’re talking about my case. Yes ’—I spoke with intentional slow- ness, as if thinking it out—“ yes, I shall cable him to hurry over. I wonder I never thought of it. “Tf I can’t get to the emperor, he can, right away; and if he don’t make it an international affair inside two . Shakes, then I don’t know my own father. That treason charge was just a lovely thought of yours, prince.” The prince rose. I had turned the tables on him at his own bluff, but like a good player he kept his end up. “We do not allow prisoners to have the use of our telegraphs, monsieur,” he said hastily. | “The embassy can send it in cipher. Same thing,’ I replied, unconcerned. “The worse you make things for me, the bigger the fuss when it does get out.” He turned from me to Helga. “You wil go back to your cell, and you and M. Denver will not meet again, mademoiselle;’ he declared, like the bully he was. “T am quite ready,” she answered, not flinching a hair’s breadth; “ now that I have heard what is to happen ”—and she rose and met his look steadily. And we stood thus a space in silence. Both sides recognized that the situa- tion was just bluff. I had shown him the rottenness of his position; and he knew that, despite my easy words, I was anxious to get the thing arranged with- out any of the trouble I had outlined. And yet neither was willing to take the first step down. Then I offered him a bridge. “Ts this worth while, prince?” I asked very quietly. “What do you mean? ” “I have shown you my hand, and you can see it’s a strong one. Why not take the card you’ve heen keeping up your sleeve. You have one, you know.” “ Do you mean you are willing to sub- mit to me?” “No, indeed I don’t. I’ve shown you I can set you at defiance and face the worst you can do with absolute confi- dence that I shall win. But I’m willing to listen to what you came to say. “You haven’t given us the proof that C. OUgle Helga’s charge against you in regard to her father is mistaken. What’s the proof?” : “I can prove it by the man most con- cerned.” Helga went white to the lips. “Name?” I asked curtly. “By her own father—Prince Lay- alski. He is still living—in Siberia.” ““My God, my poor father!” cried Helga, falling into a chair and covering her face with her hands. I crossed and laid my hand on her shoulder. “ Courage, Helga, courage. This may be good news, dearest.” “It is not good news, monsieur, but the worst for his daughter,” continued the prince relentlessly. “ You have forced me to tell you. His life was spared against his wish when his of- fenses were proved; and it is by his own desire that he has remained in Siberia, dead to all who knew him.” “It is a lie, a base lie, a lie of lies! ” cried Helga, with sudden passion. “ He is dead, and you—you, Prince Kalkov, are his murderer.” “You are ungenerous, even for an enemy, mademoiselle,” replied the prince, with a bow that was not without courtesy and dignity. “ Had you come to me openly years ago, I would have told you the truth.” “Jt is false, and you know it. You tried to wreak your malevolence on me. You know I speak the truth, just as you know you were afraid I should tear the mask from your life and ruin you in the eyes of the emperor. How can you be so hase! ” “The full truth of your father’s case was and is known to but two men in the empire, mademoiselle: The emperor himself is one and I am the other. I had and have nothing to fear from any disclosure or inquiry.” “ God, that such villainy should pros- per!” she cried, again with passionate vehemence. “What I have told you is the truth, and I offer you the means to prove my words.” “What means?” I asked. “T will not dishonor my father by even listening further,” exclaimed Helga. COMRRIC LOO COL