Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

THE BROTHERHOOD OF SILENCE, . 145 your word and supposed that you would wait for me. She can offer you her own thanks at a more opportune time.” I saw that he was endeavoring with all his strength to control himself, but the veins on his forehead swelled until I thought that they would burst. For a full minute we stood facing each other thus, both silent, and then he turned and led the way in the direction of the official cabinet. ‘“ Prince,” I said, just before we entered, “ you have no cause to quarrel with me. Remember that in the interview that is to come.” He stopped short, turned and faced me there before the door of the Czar’s cabinet. ‘“ Are you quite sure of that? ” he demanded. ‘“T am quite sure. I remember another interview of this kind, when you advised me what not to do. You have no warmer friend in Russia than Daniel Derrington, prince.” For a moment he hesitated. I saw that he was hesitating, for I knew that he really liked me. But I also knew that he loved the princess, and that he was jealous, for I had done an unprecedented thing in taking her to his house under the circumstances. For a woman to commit herself to the care of a man in the way that the prin- cess had trusted herself to me, meant much more in Russia than it does in New York. The prince could find no excuse for the act; still less for my delay in following him when he left his own house in our possession. Presently he spoke. His words came slowly and with careful deliberation. “What I say now, Mr. Derrington, you may accept in whatsoever spirit you please, but, upon my soul, J do not believe you!” I bowed, and we entered the cabinet together. CHAPTER XIII.—THE Czar DEFIED. In all the interviews that I had had with the Czar during the many months of my association with him, he had maintained the condition that he had him- self made at the beginning, which was that we should meet on the basis of friends and equals. Whenever we were alone together he commanded me to forget that we were other than two friends who were enjoying an opportunity to chat with each other, and as at such times we invariably conversed in French, he always insisted that I should address him by the simple term ‘‘ monsieur.’ When the prince was with us, as was nearly always the case, the degree of familiarity was slightly, though hardly perceptibly, modified, and I must say that I had learned to enjoy such chats exceedingly. For Alexander I had begun to feel a sincere affction. I doubt if there was any other man in Russia who understood him as thoroughly as I did. During the many long hours that we had passed together he had told me many things concerning himself, his ideas, and his hopes, which had revealed the real man—that is, the man behind the Czar—to me, and I knew that of the thousands of crimes attributed to him only a few had ever come to his knowl- edge until it was too late for him to interfere, or impolitic for him to do so. 10 COMIC OOOG ‘SS COLNT