Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 193 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 (SSR an ee SR ees. 87> 5 38 miles the first day, without seeing any foe till near sunset, when he heard shots in the advance and pretty soon a hussar came in at a trot to say that the extreme advance had been fired on and roughly handled by a number of wild- looking savages who seemed to attack without order, each man on his own responsibility. . Nevertheless, they had killed three of the Eighth Hussars, wounded a score more, and carried off two officers prisoners, leaving only one dead man behind. Then the young general ordered out two regi- ments to occupy the roads for five miles ahead and disclosed the fact that the Cossacks were only about three hundred in number. And these three hundred had given a check to the advanced guard of twelve thousand cui- rassig’s and a regiment of light cavalry. ** Decidedly,” said the count, in a thoughtful tone that evening, ‘' these fellows have learned a deal from us in the Friedland cam- pa ~ 7? Ho. was addressing no one particuarly, but, as usual, his orderly, Casse Tete, took up the parable and answered: ** Very true, my general. They are not good for much out of their own country, but any cock will fight on his own dunghill. And one must admit the country isonlyadunghill. Not a hill bigher than a mole’s nest. But they live here, afterall. Will pan honor stop at that house for the night‘ 1t looks as if it had a good kitchen.” He indicated a large mansion ahead of them, rounded by farm buildings, that had an air of comfort and opulence contrasting with the miserable huts they had seen so far. It looked like the home of some great Russian lord, and the count indicating his Ci ips the old soldier trotted off to prepare his master’s quarters, while Gabriel issued orders for the encamp- ment of the division for the night. Casse Tete rode up to the mansion he had selected and found it surrounded by yards full of cattle and sheep, with a number of Russians at work feeding the animals for the night. They looked at him with a mixture of sullen- ness and stupidity in their glances that showed how unwelcome was his visit, but offered no opposition as he rode up to the door of the Louse, The fact that officers’ servants to the number of near a hundred were roaming about round the house, and that the regiments were going into camp in the fields close by, bad its effect on his reception, but no one came out of the ‘evel though Casse Tete shouted till he was rse, Finally he got off his charger, tied it to a t, and entered the open doorway, when he — at once hailed in French from the end of a on ‘What do you want here, soldier? Get out!” Casse Tete drew his belt a little round, loos- ened his sword, and called out: ‘Who the devil are you? Come out here and let’s see you. The General Count of Friedland is coming here to take up his quarters for the night, so no nonsense.” ** The general count can lodge in the fields,” retorted the voice, and a stout gray-headed = came slowly forward. ‘‘The Princess — is not obliged to lodge French rob- rs. He was a regular Russian, in a sheep-skin coat and black velveteen trowsers thrust into his boots, but he spoke French like an educated man. Casse Tete frowned ferociously at him. ‘‘French robbers, eh? Well, which do you prefer—to lodge the general and have a guard put on all your property, or to have the place given up to the men?” The gray-headed man shrugged his shoulders. ‘* You'll rob us anyhow,” he answered, ‘‘ and I suppose we shall have to submit to it. But never mind, Your turn will come before you get to Moscow.” ‘*Where is the Princess Doktoroff?” asked Casse Tete, sharply, ‘ You’re an old fool, and don’t deserve civil treatment, but I am sure the lady has better sense.” ‘he old Russian looked amazed and shocked at the idea of a French soldier asking to see the princess. ‘Her highness is indisposed,” he said, in the stiffest manner, ‘‘and does not give audience to any one. Iam her steward, Mattias Feodoro- vitch. J can transact all the necessary busi- ness.” _ Casse Tete had grown too impatient for fur- ther questioning. This Russian did not seem to have the least fear of him as an enemy, and he heard the clatter of accouterments in the yard outside, from which he judged his master was coming in, expecting to find his — ar So Casse Tete seized the old Russian by the throat, shook him hard and roared: ** Old pig, call out your servants and get din- ner at once or [ll run you through the body. © want a dozen rooms at once with beds, and supper for twenty. Do you hear?” The Russian turned purple with rage and struggled hard, but Casse a Vise, and presently the old man gasped: ‘‘Tet me go. Ill do as you wish.” eS eee eae LLL LLL LL CC CC CC CT CL eEEEeeeeeeeEeEeEeee———eEeEeeeeee cece CL The Man in Red. Then Casse Tete released bim, and Mattias was as good as his word, for at his call a score of servants came running out, and when Count Gabriel rode into the court-yard and dismount- ed, he found everything ready as if at a hotel, and Mattias Feodorovitch was bowing at the door and welcoming him in good French. The general entered the house and was taken up toa large and very sumptuously furnished saloon, where Mattias requested the officers to wait, and informed them that dinner should be served immediately. Then he disappeared, and the young count began to examine the articles in the room with considerable curiosity, for it struck him with surprise to find so much luxury in the midst of a country where the people, as a rule, lived in mud hovels. : The first thing whicb attracted his attention was a large portrait of a lady which hung near a window. It represented a beautiful dark-haired wo- man, with astately, commanding presence; but what struck him most was the fact that the features were to him quite familiar, though he could not tell where he had seen them. Captain Latouche, of the Death’s Head Cui- rassiers, a gay young Gascon on his staff, no- ticed the attention with which he looked at the picture, and said: ‘*A fine woman, general. I could fancy a man losing his heart to such a being easily enough. ut she does not look like a Rus- sian. ‘‘No,” said Gabriel, thoughtfully. “If it were not for the national dress, I could swear that was a Frenchwoman. Ask the steward who she is.” Mattias coming in very soon afterward, the captain made the inquiry, and the steward an- swered respectfully : ‘‘ That’s the gracious princess, Olga Doktoroff, sir, the owner of this estate,”’ ‘* Ts she here now?” asked Gabriel. ‘The princess is indisposed,” was the stiff reply, ‘‘and seesno one. I am her steward.” Yaptain Latouche looked at his chief, and seeing encouragement in his eye, said to the steward: ‘‘The general wishes to see the princess if she consents. You will take her the message at once. ‘‘Yes,” added Gabriel; ‘‘ tell her we do not wish to insist if she be really ill, but we desire to pay our respects and to ascertain what prop- erty she wishes specially protected.” “T can tell you that,” quickly answered the old steward, ‘‘ without yuye ge RS “Do as I tell you,” retorted Gabriel, sharply, ‘and take care you give the message as I give it to y u. I desire to see the princess. M —? General, the Count of Friedland. off. He began to be suspicious of the constant de- nial of the princess, and wanted to see if he could remember who she was. Mattias looked frightened and obeyed Presently he came back, looking very and subdued, and said: -** Her highness will receive you, general.” The general was following him, when there arose a great noise in some of the inner regions of the house, with the voice of Casse Tete ra in anger, and almost immediately the cuirassier burst into the saloon, driving before him with blows of the flat of his saber, a stupid-looking Russian cook, and roaring out: ‘* Poison us all, will you?” CHAPTER XV. THE PRINCESS OLGA. ‘‘WuatT means this, Forton?’ cried the young eneral, angrily, as his factotum drove the ussian into the room, ‘‘ How dare you come in like that?’ Casse Tete knew, when his master called him ‘‘ Porton,” that he was angry; and it was neces- sary to justify himself, so he saluted and an- swered respectfully: ‘Pardon, my general, but we are in the ene- my’s country, and it is necessary to be cautious. I found this fellow in the kitchen putting poison in the dishes meant for your honor, and I brought bim up to know what we should do with him,” The oflicers of the staff looked at each other —* , and Captain Latouche muttered to aptain Rochefort: “The devil! This war will be no joke.” The young general, however, took another view, for he turned to the steward, who was very pale, and said to him: ‘“Ask this man whether he wants to poison usin reality. I don’t believe it.” The steward spoke in Russian to the cook, who answered something in a sullen way, when Mattias Feodorovitch dealt him a sound box on the ear and »egan to scold him in Russian. Count Gabriel interrupted him: ‘‘Never mind talking to him. Tell me, did he really want to poison us?” I’m afraid he did, excellency ; but indeed it was without orders, and I have scolded him for humble ete held bim like | it.” He spoke as coolly as if the man had only been detected in a petty theft, and added: Se -about to do. “Tf your excellency will let him that he is whipped soundly.” But here the officers began to grumble so loud about “ the example ” that Gabriel cut the matter short by ordering the man to the guard- tent, and then said to his staff? “T will rejoin you at dinner, gentlemen. Casse Tete, see to it thyself. We cannot afford to trust these fellows. Now, Monsieur Feodoro- vitch, lead on to the presence of the princess,” But here again Casse Tete, with his accus- tomed freedom, burst out: ‘You should not go alone, my general. If the servants try to poison us, the mi:tress may have a dozen cut-tbroats hid in her boudoir. Let me go with you at least.” ‘* Attend to thy duties, Forton, and keep thy tongue still if thou dost not wish to be sent back to France,” answered his master, sternly. ‘*To France, my general?” retorted the in- corrigible Casse Tete. ‘‘ No such luck for us till next year, 1’m afraid.” ‘Silence, and go to the kitchen!” cried the general, irritated beyond endurance, Casse Tete saluted and vanished. Tben Gabriel followed the steward up and down stairs and passages, till they came to an- other saloon, into which he was ushered, while the Russian pronounced the words: ‘The Count of Friedland, madame.” Gabriel advanced, saying: **I deeply regret, madame, to put to incone venience a lady of your rank and distinction, but war has no rules, you know.” He had got thus far when he saw the lady's face plainly for the first time, and stammered: ‘* Pardon me—but—I am sure I have seen you before, madame.” ’ It was the original of the portrait down-stairs, and the figure seemed to him still more familiar. She was a lady, that was clear from the ease of her manner, as she answered: ‘That is very possible, monsieur. In fact, it. was only because I krew‘who you were, that L consented to receive you. You are not like the rest of this parvenu emperor’s court. You have the old blood in your veins.” Gabriel drew himself up, for it was against. his principles to hear the emperor abused. ‘* Pardon, madame,” he observed; ‘ but there is a rank conferred by genius which is superior to that of blood. e all honor Charlemagne far more than his impotent descendants, and it is the genius, not the blood of Peter of Russia that gives him the name of Great.” The lady smiled, ‘‘T will not argue the point about the Czar Peter, who was a rude old savage; but I repeat I am glad to see you, because you have the old blood in pas veins. Your fatber—” ‘* My father,” he interrupted, ‘‘died for the Republic, madame, and there is nothing in the blood of asimp'e chevalier that is better tham that of a citizen.” ‘Yet you area count,” she objected, with a mocking smile. ‘* Count of a battlefield, madame. Our nobility of the empire earn their titles as cid the Pala- dins of Charlemagne, by the sword. A century hence, our descendants may be as lazy as those: of the French noblesse of old times,” The princess | at him in a manner indicating curiosity. * Do yea know,” she said, ‘‘I have not heard such talk as that fora long time, count. And yet I was born in France,” ‘* It is qaay bo tell that, madame.” ‘“Why! My accent, I one. “ Partly, but I knew it before I heard you speak, madame.” ‘* Indeed?” ° as Hag igh e £9, I'll see As soon as I set eyes on your rtrait in the saloon, I said that I had seen you fore, and all m 'y staff agreed that you had the true French air.’ “Their penetration and yours were both admirable. But you must also remember that Iam a Russian now, and that my husband com- mands an army against you,” “IT had heard so, madame, In respect for him and you both I have ordered guards placed. on all your property, to protect it from pillage.” “You are exceedingly kind, monsiepr. And now let me ask you why did you come to this country?” ‘**To take Moscow.” ‘You will never take it, count.” ‘*On the contrary, madame, we shall not onl take it, but hold it, unless your friends burn it before we get there.” “And i, by chance you get there, you will never get Pack alive.” ‘We shall see, madame, But I didn’t crave the honor of seeing you to boast of what we are It was in truth to tax my mem- ory, in sight of your face, and to find out where I bad actually seen you before.” She smiled in the same mocking way. ‘And you think you have seen me?” ‘*T am sure of it, and in Paris; but I cannot spenengver the Princess Doktoroff as being ever ere. ‘“* The Princess Doktoroff never was there, my dear count.” EOmichboo ‘Ss (E()