The Argosy — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

280 The Missing Rubies. The unhappy woman fell upon her knees, and stretched out her clasped hands to these inexorable accusers. Her eyes were wild and strained with the horror of the moment: her face deathly pale. The white shawl had fallen off her shoulders, revealing the emeralds and diamonds that glittered on her bosom; and the two men beheld the gems with a fierce contempt, visible in every line of their stern | features. ‘“‘T was only a girl when I sinned against you!” she cried piteously. “Ts there no pity in your hearts? Let me go in peace, and I will promise anything that you ask. You are poor—take my jewels.” Her trembling fingers strove to unclasp the necklace ; but Wouriski stopped her by a haughty gesture. “We will not touch your jewels,” he said, contemptuously. ‘‘We had you brought here to-night—Stavieski and I—that we might take your life. Remember that you have forfeited the right to live— remember that we are not assassins, but righteous judges. If you know any prayer, say it. Your time has come.” “Tt is not possible that you mean to kill me!” Madame Valerot cried wildly. ‘‘ The murder will be discovered ; you will lose your own lives. You will be followed—even if you fly—and “Silence!” interrupted Wouriski, sternly. ‘“‘ What do we care about our lives? If we can save a few of our poor friends from misery and exile, we are content to be sacrificed. And you, if you were suffered to live, would go on with your infamous work of spying and betraying.” There was a wildness in the eyes of both these men that struck Pauline, even in this hour of awful terror. Were they, indeed, reasonable beings, or madmen? And yet, as she remembered their terrible wrongs, and the share that she had had in inflicting these injuries, the last spark of hope died out in her heart. ‘They had watched her unawares ; they had discovered the kind of work that this woman, seemingly so gay and frivolous, was really doing in the world. And she had believed herself perfectly unsuspected and safe. She made a final effort to collect her energies and speak calmly. Her dry lips and parched tongue scarcely permitted her to utter the words that were in her thoughts. “Tf you will spare me, you may make your own conditions,” she said, humbly. ‘I will do nothing in future that can give you offence. Only forgive me for the past, and you shall shape my future according to your will. Perhaps I may even be of use to you. Recollect that I am by birth, and at heart, a Pole.” At heart a fiend!” cried Stavieska, advancing towards her, in a frantic burst of rage. ‘*‘ Wouriski, my friend, do youhearher? She is trying to make us believe that she will give us the benefit of her services ; the services for which the Muscovite has paid her so well. Bah! ‘Those who serve the cause of patriotism, serve it for love alone. COMIC OOOKS.G©