The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

182 [ burst into a laugh. “Yes, I will. I have no firearms;” and I pulled my empty hand from my pocket. Then at last came the proof that I had not blustered in vain. Harold Marvyn came hurrying in, accompanied by a man I recognized as the officer whom I had seen the pre- vious day in the ante-room of the emperor. “T am glad to see your highness is so far recovered,” said Marvyn; “ but what does this mean?” “That two dangerous Nihilists are on their way to prison, monsieur,” came the reply, sharp and stern. Marvyn’s indignation at the tone showed in his face. ‘The emperor has commanded Mr. Denver’s immediate presence at the palace, your highness. This is an out- rage upon an American citizen.” “ Outrage or no outrage, they are go- ing to prison, monsieur.”’ “Colonel Vilda,” said Marvvn, turn- ing to him. “YT have the emperor’s commands, vour highness. They are peremptory, and I must obey them.” “ And the woman?” The old bully’s tone was worthy of him. “Mme. Denver is to accompany her husband to the palace, to be in readi- ness should his majesty require to see her.” “She is a colonel.” “'Thev are his majesty’s commands, vour highness.” ‘““ At least, let them be detained here until I can communicate with his maj- esty,” implored the old man. “ Impossible, your highness; his maj- esty’s commands are most explicit.” “T am at your service, colonel,” I said. | “We have a carriage waiting, M. Denver.” He offered his arm to Helga, and I followed with Marvyn, and went out without even casting a glance at Kal- kov; but-I saw the two doctors bend over him anxiously. “You had to hustle. Marvyn.” “Some,” he nodded. “Tt was a near thing.” Nihilist, dangerous THE ARGOSY. “So it looked.” And with that and a laugh of relief we got into the carriage. ‘CHAPTER XXXIL THE ENEMY’S OVERTHROW. HELGA was waiting for me with a look of eager anxiety when I came out to her from my interview with the em- peror. “ Well?” she asked. “Yes, it is all well,” I answered, smiling. ‘‘ All well, all the best it could be—for us. Not for the prince,” I added dryly. “And my father?” “ Justice will be done to his memory, my dear, full justice. You were right in the kernel of your plans—to get to the Czar.” “TI was certain of that,” she said. “Jf you could have got to him all this would never have happened. I never saw a man more moved. I left all the papers with him, and he’s going to study them himself, and then see you. Never a breath of the truth has ever been allowed to reach him.” “My dear father,’ she murmured. “At last,” and she sighed. “Old Kalkov has had things his own way, and has had a fine past, but I don’t envy hum his future.” Marvyn entered the ante-room then. ‘* How have things gone, Denver? ” “ Couldn’t have gone better, thanks to you.” “ By gorm, I’m glad,” he exclaimed, with a sigh of relief. “ The ice was so thin I was afraid we should be through.” “It will bear every one except Kal- kov, and it'll put his light out. You may gamble on that.” “It was a big risk to carry,” he said, thinking of himself. IT smiled. “You should have had half an hour of ours,” I suggested. “Yes, I know,” he answered with a quaint -smile. “ But one’s official re- sponsibilities make such a difference, Denver.” “True, but even unofficially one can have a sort of sneaking regard for one’s GORMIGOOO (COL