The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

WHEN I WAS CZAR. erty and probably life of us both were at stake. Kalkov had planned to force the things into my hands; and as soon as he thought you had given them to me, he dogged every movement of mine after leaving you this morning, and came here to get them by force. All this pretense for a journey to Siberia was just a lie; and we got wind of it in time.” “Why didn’t you tell me? ” “T had no proofs, my dear fellow. I wished you to be able to pass your word that you had given them back to me— you did hand them me, remember, and I gave them back under the different cover. I deceived you intentionally, I know—but more than my life was at stake,” and I glanced across at Helga. “Tt might have been a gravely com- promising matter for me, Denver,” he said seriously. “TI should have taken the conse- quences of my act, of course, and my father would have exhausted every re- source to put things right. But you see now what would have happened if I had had the papers here. The dummies were taken from me by force, and I was put under arrest; and my wife also.” “JT am sure Mr. Marvyn will see it as we do,” said Helga. “T wish to,” he replied. “ And was it the discovery of the—that he’d been tricked—caused this collapse?” I nodded, and he whistled. ‘“ Phew, that’s a circumstance. What are you going to do?” “ There’s only one thing. I must see the Czar—and you must hold on to those papers like grim death till I can take them to him.” “But with this hanging over you “My dear fellow, it’s got to be done, and done at once, before the prince gets up enough strength to interfere. The emperor will see me, I know; and vour people must arrange it. It’s abso- lutelv essential. I’m done if I don’t get to him.” “But you see——” ‘““There’s a most plausible reason for the audience, Mr. Marvyn,” interposed Helga quickly. “ His majesty will be most anxious to know at first hand the indefinite charge d3 179 facts about Prince Kalkov’s illness; and we alone can tell him.” “Splendid, Helga, splendid,” I said; and Marvyn agreed. “Get my name to him somehow; any old way ’ll do; and I’ll answer for the rest.” “Vl go and see about it at once,” he declared. “ Meanwhile, what’s to hap- pen to you? ” “Short of cutting our heads off, I don’t care,” J replied as we rose. “ Don’t worry about that;” and I hur- ried him away. * Now, M. Drougoff, we are at your disposal,” I said to the police agent as soen as Marvyn had gone. “ What are you going to do with us? I may tell you ‘American embassy people are working enereetically in the affair, wait upon his majesty.” “My people tell me that a very seri- ous charge is hanging over you both —I mean apart altogether from this.” “They tell vou wrong, then. My wife was charged of some Nihilist practises and imprisoned by order of Prince Kal- kov; but the prince himself ordered her release from the prison last night, and was present when she came away with me.’ “But yourself? ” “T have never been charged, and, as I say, was with Prince Kalkov yester- day when my wife was released.” “It is a very extraordinary compli- cation. What is behind it?” “There is a good deal behind, of course; but the prince himself can best explain it when he is well enough. At present I am only concerned to know whether you wish to put us under lock and key. We are quite ready.” He was manifestly perplexed what to do: “] cannot release vou, monsieur; you will see that ? ”’ “It’s only for an hour or two at the worst,” and I went back to the tea table. “TI will send and inquire how the prince is.” “‘{t’s a question whether he recovers in time to stop the interview with the Czar,” said Helga. “No, he can’t stop it now.” After a few minutes the messenger and I am. sure to receive very soon a summons to COMMUC AOOLK (COL