Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

148 THE ARGOSY. Their own opportunities for observing others are so much more limited. The Czar angry, was a much easier man to influence than the Czar satirical. “What do you mean?” he demanded. “ Why will Durnief fail to carry out my personal orders? Dare the princess refuse to accompany him?”’ ‘“ She most certainly would not have the bad taste to refuse, and if she did, the captain would doubtless bring her by force, only he has the misfortune to be now a prisoner.” ‘“ Durnief a prisoner? The captain of my personal guard arrested? By your order, sir? ”’ “ By my order, your majesty.” “You have dared to do this? ”’ ‘““T would dare to arrest the prince, or your own son, if I found him inimical to your interests, and I beg you to understand that I gave the order before I knew that you had sent him on the errand for the princess.” “Ttis a lie!” It was the prince who spoke; but before I could reply to the accusation, the Czar waved his hand and commanded silence. “Was it the princess who informed you that Durnief was a Nihilist?” he asked calmly, the smile returning to his face. “No,” [ replied, understanding the motive behind the question, for I could read the Czar like a book, and I already knew much concerning the villainy of Durnief, “ but it was he who informed you that she was one.” “ By heaven, Derrington, you know too much. I begin to think that the days of your usefulness are past in St. Petersburg. There seems to be no limit to the authority that you assume, and now you have begun to dictate to me. I will not have it. I command that you tell me why you thought it necessary to take the princess from her own hcuse tonight.” - I knew that the crucial moment had come. I knew that if I weakened now I was lost. The only possible escape for me was to see the Czar alone, and that I determined to do. The manner of the prince upon my arrival at the palace, his conduct in the cabinet, the greeting that the Czar had vouch- safed me, and his bearing towards me since then, led me to a shrewd guess, and [ determined to hazard it, and to play my last card, so to speak, by making one bold statement. “Your majesty,” I said deliberately, ‘has never until now had less than perfect confidence in me. The prince, being jealous, and too impatient to await an explanation at my hands, has prevailed upon you to order me under arrest for a time, in order that I may not return to his house, where I left the princess. If I do not mistake, he now has such an order, signed by you in person, in one of his pockets. Permit me to tell you and him that there is another reason why he procured that order, for my men at this moment have instructions to place him under arrest. He only sought to anticipate me, that is all. Order him to his apartments, and to remain in them, for unless I am free to act as I see fit this night, I would not give that ”"—and I snapped my fingers—“ for the life cf a single member of the royal family.”’ Then I folded my arms and waited. (TO RE CONTINUED.) GOH GoOOO (GO) awa