The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

166 “Mille. Helga can communicate with her father, or you, monsieur, can go to him,” said Kalkov, disregarding her protest and turning to me. “Yes,” she cried scornfully, “and you would get one of your pliant tools to answer my letters or personate my dead father. I know you and your methods too well, monsieur.” “T understand your anger, madem- oiselle, and pass over your taunts. I have offered you the proof I promised. I have now said my last word, mon- sieur,” he added, turning to me. “Can I bring the prince back with me?” I asked. “Certainly, if he will come. But he will not.” “No, for then I should see the de- ception,” said Helga with scorn; and then with a change to eagerness: “ Can I go to him?” “No, that is impossible!” “Why?” I asked. “There are limits to my powers. I cannot send armed escorts to Siberia and back to satisfy the doubts of all our prisoners.” “T can go alone,” declared Helga. “ And return—here?” with a signifi- cant lift of the eyebrows. ~ “Yo vou think I would break my pledged word?” asked Helga indig- nantly. “T have no doubt you would en- deavor to keep it. But it is a risk I should not feel entitled to take. I re- peat, I cannot provide an escort for any prisoner for such a distance.” “I would escort her,’ I broke in quickly. He turned and looked at me coldly and steadily as he replied deliberately: “ You are not her husband yet, mon- sieur. And if you were,” he added, after pausing, “‘ what greater security should I have for her return? ” “You want no more than these pa- pers, I suppose—if she did not re- turn?” “If she can persuade her father to return, that will be better still. We are ready to bury the past.” “Your objection, then, is not to mademoiselle’s going to find him, but only lest, having found him, she should still use these documents ? ” — GORMIGOOO THE ARGOSY. “You have stated it precisely. We must be absolutely secured on that point.” “Leave me to find the way, then. Give me an hour, and either return here or I will see you at the palace.” “TI will return,” he said dryly; “ for if you do not decide, I shall take the other course.” With that threat he went away. It was a curious situation he left be- hind him. Helga had not said a word since his pointed sentence in reply to my offer to take her to her father, and I could not, of course, guess what she thought. But I knew my own mind very clearly; and that is always a circum- stance in a two-sided discussion. At the same time I was not a little embar- rassed. Helga was the first to speak. “Can it be true, do you think? Or is it only anot ier of his schemes? ” “It differs a good deal from any others—at least, in one point.” “T don’t believe. I won’t. I am sure it is false. My father was the soul of honor and loyalty.” “You would at any rate see him.” “ Ah, my God, what would I not do to see him! ” she cried. But I wished to get her away from this strenuous mood; so I said with a smile: “Even comply with his suggested condition ? ” “TI was not thinking of that. How can you?” “It would be a long honeymoon trip.” She shook her head as if my tone jarred. “ Can’t you see all it means to me? ” “T know what it means to- me.” “Don’t!” she exclaimed impatiently. “ Be serious.” “TI think we’ve been serious long enough. Believe me, I know all that this portentous news must be to you. Pray God it is true, that your father is alive. But there are some anxieties we can face better with a bright face. So smile to me, and say you'll go with me to find and bring him back.” [ held out my hands. She hung back a moment, with head (SO in