The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

WHEN I WAS CZAR. Had: Prince Kalkov taken that prompt step, he might or might not have been able to intercept the papers after finding they were not on me, but certainly things would have gone very differently. If the prince did not discover the trick of the dummies until the embassy messenger had left Petersburg, the chances in my favor would be vastly in- creased. To my surprise, no attempt at all was made to interfere with me. | pre- sume I was closely watched; but it was done so cleverly that I saw no signs of it. It was not my cue to show any anx- iety about it; and I drove from store to store, making a few purchases and many inquiries, until the time came for me to return to the hotel to Helga. She was surprised to see me. Over lunch I told her niy news, and we dis- cussed the position. “ He feels so sure, Harper, that he has put it off. But it will come before the day is out.” “The papers are well away by this time,” I laughed; “so he can do his worst.” “He means to. I have seen M. Boreski. He had heard of my arrest and release, and he came to my house when I was there.” “T thought he was out of Russia? ” “The Duchess Stephanie has patched up everything with her fam- Uy. So he told me. He is to get back his Polish title, with a pardon for his old conspiracy and compensation for his lost estates.” “They must be glad that she is mar- ried.” “T think it is they are rather afraid of what she might do next. It was a strange meeting,” and she smiled. “ He is not really a strong man; I mean, he likes some one to lean on. He seemed afraid lest the fact of his coming to me should be known, and yet felt bound to come to warn me. He is very conscious of his new dignity.” “To warn you?” “Yes, about this journey to Siberia. The duchess had heard of it and told him—she must be in close consultation with Kalkov, after all; probably’ work- 173 ing hand and glove with him to recover the papers. The intention is that I shall be kept there as a prisoner—if we ever reach there, that is. M. Boresk1 warned me strongly against going.” “ Did he know anything about your father?” ‘No; on that point the prince ap- pears to have kept absolute secrecy.” “Tt all seems to fit in. It will be in- teresting to see what he does next.” ‘““Y have seen some one else who is most anxious to see you,” said Helga, with a bright smile. “ A most earnest admirer.” | “To see me?” “Will be another American citizen, I think, but first wishes to go to Siberia with us.” “‘That’s easy to guess, Helga. He is a good fellow. You mean Ivan?” “Yes,” she nodded. “ He used to be devoted to me alone.” “Did you tell him?” “About what?” This with an air of supreme innocence. “That you’re no longer alone, and that his devotion has now to be divid- ed?” | “Yes; and actually he wasn’t sur- prised ; but oh, so ridiculously pleased.” “ Ridiculously ? ” She answered with a glance and a smile, and then said: “T think he is the most faithful serv- ant that ever lived.” “You'll find his equal in America.” “What a wonderful country your America is!” she said. “You'll say that in earnest when you’ve been there a while;” and with this mixture of banter and gravity we covered our real anxictics while we waited for Prince Kalkov to come. He was punctual. The clock was on the stroke of three when he was an- nounced. “You are to the moment, prince,” I said. | “T said three o’clock, monsieur.” “You are not looking well.” In truth he was looking very ill. His face was drawn and careworn and abso- lutely colorless, his eyes tired, and his whole expression suggestive of a strained effort to rally an already over- taxed strength. GORMIGOOO YN S (COL