Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 193 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Why not? Weare not all, as you perhaps imagine, savages. Here, Vassili.” A short, stout Cossack sergeant rode out, saluting, and the captain continued in French: ‘You will take care of this honest soldier, Vassili, and if you finish a bottle of vodka, his majesty will pay for it.” ‘* Very good, my captain,” replied Vassili, and Gabriel startea as he spoke, for the accent was unmistakably Alsatian, of the peasant kind. But be had no time to ask questions, for Count Feodor eontinued briskly: ‘“Now, general, if you will produce your handkerchief we will make all secure and lead you to our camp.” Gabriel complied and the Russian took care to bind his eyes securely, so that he could see nothing. Then he gave up his sword, a Cossack took hold of his bridle reins on each side and the little troop trotted off. CHAPTER XIX, — THE ATAMAN AT HOME. GABRIEL was determined, blindfolded or not, to find out all that he could as to the disposition of the Russian forces, and put his wits to work at once, His only means of judging as to the way he went was by noting the turns of his horse, and listening to catch any sounds that indicated camps near by; but his astute conductor was determined not to ey him even this slender chance if he could, for he entered into a gay and unmilitary conversation with him, at once plying him with questions about Paris and musical matters, pictures, books, celebrated ilosophers, and the like, that interested briel in spite of himself and compelled him to answer. Thus he soon lost sense of the way he was ing, though he knew they had got off the ard road and were winding in and out of a number of devious passages, while the buzz of voices and stamping of horses showed they were in some camp. He did not suspect what was actually the case, that Count Feodor was taking him up and down the streets of a single pulk or regiment of Cossacks on purpose to bewilder him and only wondered at the length of the ride, which lasted nearly an hour, when they again struck off at a sharp trot over a sandy heath and rode straight away for another half hour till Count > Feodor said to hi: ‘‘ We are nearly there now.” Presently they halted and heard a Pa clat tering of arms, and Count Feodor said; ** Please to dismount now. We are there.” Gabriel complied and was about to push off his bandage when he felt the other seiza his hands and heard him say: ‘*No, no, general, not yet. On honor, you know; on honor.” So he had to remain blinded till the count had taken him by the arm and led him across a yard that was strewn iete'g with litter, ce into a house of some kind. Then he heard a door close behind him, and some one said: | **'You can take off the bandage now.” He was not sorry to obey the order and found himself in a small room, with earthen floor and brown rafters overhead, between which shone a smoke-begrimed thatch. The solitary window had no glass in it but oiled linen instead and the furniture consisted of two stools of wood and a long settee or bench. He took in all this at a glance and then per- ceived that there were two people besides him- self in the room, . One of them was a short man, with the bod of a giant, a long beard that bad been red and was now wie white; a Cossack uniform so loaded with gold lace that he was evidently a rson of some distinction; and a broad Tartar ace with brown eyes that twinkled at him over the china bow] of a German pipe that he was smoking furiously. But it was the second person who arrested Gabriel’s attention most; for in him he beheld the mysterious recluse of the secret yoseegee of Fontainebleau, whom he had suspected of play The Man in Red before the emperor. he stranger was attired in the undress uni- form of a Russian general, a dark green coat coming nearly to his heels and a round cap, both laced with silver. He evinced no recognition of his former an- pa ry Fer ig? but said: ‘His highness Prince Platoff, does not under- stand French, I am here to interpret for him, general. Whatis your errand?” ‘‘T bear a letter 4 the Czar from his majesty the Emperor of the French, monsieur. I desire permission to presentit in person to bis majesty of Russia.” The strange general translated, but the Cos- sack Ataman shook his head and made some an- aswer in Russian, blowing the ashes out of his ipe in a manner strongly indicating contempt Sowa the request. ‘‘The prince says the idea is not admissible under the circumstances, your letter—” He will forward “The Man in ‘Red. ‘* But how shall I get an answer? It is very important, monsieur—pardon me, but I do not know your name.” ‘*My name is—never mind. You can call me Interpreter if you please. Your. answer will come soon enough. You may be sure of that.” ‘* And you positively refuse to let me see the Czar? Remember that the Emperor Napoleon is not accustomed to send, but to receive flags, monsieur. Common civility dictates that when the greatest monarch of Europe sends an auto- graph letter to his brother sovereign no out- sider shall interfere between them.” And Gabriel’s voice rose to a tone of anger as he spoke, for he was mortified and humiliated at the way he was being treated by those Rus- sians he had beaten at Friedlaud and Borodino. The general without a particle of emotion translated his address and the Ataman of the Cossacks laughed—actually laughed as he an- swered in the dryest conceivable tones: ‘* His highness says,” reported the interpreter coolly; ‘‘ that the Emperor of the French, if he be such a great man, should have kept at home in his own gorge He has come to Russia and will find out before next year, that he is only a man like the rest of the kings Russia has beaten,” “The answer,” returned Gabriel hotly, ‘is what might be expected from a savage like those who fired on my flag to-day. I will take back my letter and your blood be on your own heads,” Again the interpreter translated, and this time the Ataman looked disturbed marys | ques- tions which the other repeated to Gabriel: ‘“‘ His highness wants to know if you positive- ly will not deliver your letter to him?” “No, I will take it back first. I was sent to see the Czar and I will see him or go back.” “But if you go back, your letter will not reach the Czar and we shall not know what your emperor wishes.” ‘* So much the worse for you.” And Gabriel turned away and was going to the door when the Ataman cried: ** Stoi! Stot!” He halted and the Russian said something to the interpreter who reported: ‘His highness is willing to have you sent on to the Czarif you can assure him that the em- peror desires peace.” “*T can,” replied Gabriel. ‘‘I have read the letter myself,” **And what does his majesty desire to offer as the price of peace?” asked the old Cossack, his eyes Srebenine. ‘* That I can tell the Czar; no one else,” ‘‘Ask him, general, if he knows who the Ataman of the Cossacks is,” ‘*T suyypose he is a general,” was the answer, when the Guestion was put into French. ‘‘Tell bim that the Ataman of the free Cos- sacks of the Don has a right to enter the pres- ence of the Czar at any time, to sentence to death and to | emg ie criminals, and that he is the viceroy of the Czar in the Ukraine.” Then the old Cossack leaned back and watch- ed with twinkling eyes the effect of his boast- ing announcement. Gabriel only shrugged his shoulders. ‘*T was sent to the Czar, and if I cannot see him I can go back,” he answered, a reply that seemed to stagger the old Ataman. ‘* Now,” continued Gabriel firmly, ‘‘ bind my eyes again, and send me In a week more you will be sorry for it.” ** What does he say?’ demanded Platoff. When it was translated he said: “Let him go on to see the Czar, general, It is as well, perhaps, for, to tell the truth, my fellows are getting anxious to go home, and if these French will leave Russia and go back in peace it may be well.” The pale-faced general looked at him with some contempt and replied: ‘‘Keep to your own calling, Ataman, and you'll make no mistakes. You think the French terrible fellows. Don’t you see that they begin to tremble?” The Ataman looked puzzled. ” To tremble? But they have taken our holy city! The general shrugged his shoulders, ‘* You said you would let me manage this. 1 know the French better than you.” ‘But he will have to give up bis letter,” re- monstrated tue Ataman earnestly. ‘The letter is of no importance, They were trying to gain time to retreat.” “To retreat!” echoed the Cossack. ‘‘ But in that case, lord general, the Czar ought to see the letter. Wedon’t want them to retreat just yet. Don’t you see?” Gabriel saw that some dispute was going on and longed to understand it, but it was put to a sudden termination here by the clatter of ac- couterments in the yard outside when the Ata- man rose and hurried out, leaving Gabriel alone with the general, _ CHAPTER XX. THE CZAR, Ir was evident to the young envoy that some person of distinction had arrived, for he heard the Russian officers roaring out orders, and the Ou! clash of arms told that arms were being pre- sented. But cooped up in that dingy room, he could not tell even what troops were round him, Not to exhibit any anxiety, he threw himself down on the settee and observed to the general, with a yawn: ) ‘* These Russians have no idea of the courtesies of warfare. I wonder that a man like you could take service with them, It must be very distasteful.” The strange general] smiled slightly. ‘Perhaps, and perhaps not. You must re- member that I do pot hold the same opinions as D Sonat abriel looked at him gravely, *‘T hope not. For example, I hold that the roper place for a French soldier is under the ench flag.” ‘‘T agree with you, but the French flag is white with three golden lilies on. the field. When that waves over Paris you'll find me under it,” ‘‘Then you will never see Paris,” retorted Gabriel, emphatically. ‘‘On the contrary, [ shall enter it as the ally of Russia, toreplauce Louis X VIIL. on the throne of his fathers.” ‘*It would be an honorable entry, sir, on, the side of feudal tyrany, to replace the free choice of a nation.” “The choice of a nation! Bah, monsieur. You forget that when he proclaimed that he was emperor, the people were gagged and the prisons full of victims. You are a young man, monsieur, and don’t remember as well as some others what took place ten years ago.” The pale features of the strange general were suffused by a faint tinge of color, and his eyes burned like live coals. He seemed to be angry for the first time. Gabriel looked at him keenly and woncered who he could be that spoke so warinly of events concerning which, he himself had but little exact information. So he said: ‘* Perbaps you were a prisoner then.” The stranger’s eyes sparkled, but he com- pressed his lips and answered: ‘No. Iwas dead. That is enough of my- self. Now, boron mission. I know whatis in our letter. is man who thinks he made imself, wishes to fool the Czar into grantin an armistice. I warn you that he will not ge it. More, you will retreat from Moscow and lose yourarmy. If you wish to save your own life, resign your commission and take service with the Czar.” Gabriel started up angrily. ‘** How dare you make such an offer to me? - By heavens, if I were not—” ‘*In my power, owing me your life,” slewly interrupted the other. “Well, yes; if it were not for that I would | cast my glove in your face, As it is, if you are not a coward, you will cease to insult me, sir,” The general looked at him in a way that puz- zled Gabriel. He could havesworn that a lit- tle admiration lurked in that glance, but the strange man answered coolly: , “Very well. You may need my protection some day, and be glad to enter the service of . Russia, Never mind. You sto one night at the house of the Princess Doktoroff, on the way; did you not?” “Yes,” said Gabriel, surprised, “but how did you know it?’ ‘*The princess told me. Her nephew is on the ataman’s staff. He brought you in, you Enew,, Her husband is one of our best gen- erals. ‘“‘And she is a Frenchwoman,” remarked Gabriel, thoughtfully. ‘‘I wish I knew where I bad seen her in Paris.” The general curled his lip. ‘What need to ask? You'll never guess, But she takes an interest in you.” ‘*In me, general?’ “ Precisely, in you. Do you know, count, that one may have people who take a deep interest in one and never know them? You come of an Alsatian famil ” “T do, if family it can be called of which [I © am the only living relic.” ‘‘Indeed! Where are the rest?” ‘* My father died on the field at Volney and my mother was killed by a shell.” ‘‘ But your father had a relative in the army, more than one.” ‘You are mistaken. He had a sister of whom I never heard him speak save once.” ‘‘ And what said he then?” asked the general, fixing his eyes on Gabriel’s searchingly. The young man hesitated, **Tt is a family matter, and no one’s concern, He was angry with her.” e ‘‘ And why?” pursued his inquisitor, ‘“T have said itisa family matter; and you are a stranger, sir.” The other gave him a short laugh. ‘“You are very cautious. But I know what was said. I will see you on it at some other time. I fancy you are a lucky man, Count Gabriel, for here comes his majesty himself.” As he spoke the door was thrown open and into the room stepped a tall figure that Gabriel | recognized at once as the Emperor of Russia, the full uniform of a field COMMIC NO Kal eroy | eh eA tlle elitist yc lll ce alta. ct tt ie — 3 rt tt a ae tlt ty a — 7 . : ett tg i tes sei ienaneansee—etn Oe a ee FG tennant till