diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-21 21:19:39 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-21 21:19:39 -0800 |
| commit | d2a2b2f2269dfd21aa35b99c57b9a07071f9e769 (patch) | |
| tree | d86f53a3c93f539cfbfa32837051709be1007ee8 | |
| parent | a9be78c0966d747dcd40614f8575e4a0917382d5 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-0.txt | 11999 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-0.zip | bin | 235437 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-h.zip | bin | 1290045 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-h/68123-h.htm | 14501 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 786897 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-h/images/coversmall.jpg | bin | 255724 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-h/images/title.jpg | bin | 49136 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68123-h/images/titlelogo.jpg | bin | 32757 -> 0 bytes |
11 files changed, 17 insertions, 26500 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1232b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68123 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68123) diff --git a/old/68123-0.txt b/old/68123-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e23dc42..0000000 --- a/old/68123-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11999 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The chronicles of Michael Danevitch of -the Russian Secret Service, by Dick Donovan - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The chronicles of Michael Danevitch of the Russian Secret Service - -Author: Dick Donovan - -Release Date: May 19, 2022 [eBook #68123] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Sonya Schermann, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL -DANEVITCH OF THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE *** - - - - - -DICK DONOVAN’S DETECTIVE STORIES. - - -Post 8vo., illustrated boards, 2s. each; cloth, 2s. 6d. each. - - THE MAN-HUNTER. - CAUGHT AT LAST! - TRACKED AND TAKEN. - A DETECTIVE’S TRIUMPHS. - WHO POISONED HETTY DUNCAN? - IN THE GRIP OF THE LAW. - WANTED! - LINK BY LINK. - FROM INFORMATION RECEIVED. - SUSPICION AROUSED. - DARK DEEDS. - RIDDLES READ. - -Crown 8vo., cloth extra, 3s. 6d. each; post 8vo., illustrated boards, -2s. each; cloth limp, 2s. 6d. each. - - TRACKED TO DOOM. With 6 illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. - THE MAN FROM MANCHESTER. With 23 illustrations by J. H. RUSSELL. - THE MYSTERY OF JAMAICA TERRACE. - -Crown 8vo., cloth, 3s. 6d. - - CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH. - - -LONDON: CHATTO & WINDUS, 111 ST. MARTIN’S LANE, W.C. - - - - - THE CHRONICLES - OF - MICHAEL DANEVITCH - - - - - THE CHRONICLES - OF - MICHAEL DANEVITCH - - OF THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE - - BY - DICK DONOVAN - - AUTHOR OF - ‘THE MAN-HUNTER,’ ‘TRACKED AND TAKEN,’ ‘CAUGHT AT LAST,’ - ‘A DETECTIVE’S TRIUMPHS,’ ‘VIDOCQ,’ ETC. - - [Illustration] - - LONDON - CHATTO & WINDUS - 1897 - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - THE CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH: - - INTRODUCTION 1 - - THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A MILLION ROUBLES 7 - - A MODERN BORGIA 33 - - THE STRANGE STORY OF AN ATTACHÉ 60 - - THE FATE OF VASSILO IVANOFF 91 - - THE MERCHANT OF RIGA 116 - - THE GREAT CONSPIRACY 143 - - THE CROWN JEWELS 166 - - THE STRANGE STORY OF A SECRET TREATY 193 - - HOW PETER TRESKIN WAS LURED TO DOOM 227 - - - THE CLUE OF THE DEAD HAND: - - I. NEW YEAR’S EVE: THE MYSTERY BEGINS 262 - - II. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS--THE NARRATIVE CONTINUED - BY PETER BRODIE, OF THE DETECTIVE SERVICE 276 - - III. THE DEAD HAND SMITES 288 - - - - -MICHAEL DANEVITCH - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -A year or two before the outbreak of the Franco Prussian War a daring -attempt was made upon the life of the Emperor of Russia. He had been -out shooting in the neighbourhood of St. Petersburg, and was returning -at dusk in company with numerous friends and a large suite. As the -Royal carriage passed an isolated house on a country road, which was -bordered on each side by a dense pine forest, a bomb was hurled from an -upper window of the house. Fortunately it did not strike the carriage, -as was intended, but, going over it, fell between the horses of two -of the Royal Guard. The horses were blown to pieces, the riders were -killed on the spot, and several other men were more or less injured. -For some minutes a panic ensued. The Emperor’s driver whipped his -horses into a gallop, and everybody seemed at a loss what to do. The -house, however, was soon surrounded, and a man and woman were seized -as they were in the very act of escaping. It was soon made evident -that this man and woman were mere tools, and the arch-conspirators -had availed themselves of the confusion caused by the bursting bomb -to get off. Darkness favoured the fugitives, and though the forest -was scoured they were not captured. Subsequent investigation brought -to light that the plot for the Emperor’s taking off had been the work -chiefly of a daring and notorious Nihilist, whose capture the Russian -Government had long been trying to effect. His connection with this -dastardly attempt caused a heavy price to be set upon his head, and -every effort was made to arrest him. But, extraordinary as it seems, he -succeeded in evading his pursuers, and, after travelling many hundreds -of miles through the country in various disguises, he managed to get on -board of a vessel bound to Constantinople--so much of his flight was -subsequently learnt when it was too late; but at Constantinople all -trace of him was lost, though there was reason to believe that he had -escaped to either France or England, and a large staff of the most able -Russian and Polish detectives were sent out to scour Europe. - -One winter night of that memorable year, I was on my way from Paris -to London viâ Calais. It had been a wild and stormy day; a high wind, -bitter cold, snow, sleet, hail, rain--such were the atmospheric -conditions. We had had an assortment of the worst samples of weather, -and as night approached it was only too evident we were in for ‘a -buster.’ There were very few passengers by the night train from -Paris. It was not a night when anyone was likely to be travelling for -pleasure. On our reaching Calais Station the wind had attained the -force of a heavy gale, causing a tremendous sea to run in the Channel, -and we who were pressed for time heard with dismay that the boat was -not likely to attempt the crossing before the morning. - -The cramped and starved passengers made a rush for the buffet, but I -had to see the guard of the train, owing to a hand-bag of mine having -gone astray. This bit of business occupied me for quite twenty minutes, -and then, almost frozen to the marrow, I made my way to the buffet. The -large stove in the centre of the room was surrounded by the passengers, -so I seated myself at one of the long tables and called for hot soup. -It was not until I had finished the steaming bouillon, and had begun -to thaw, that I became conscious I had a _vis-à-vis_. On the opposite -side of the table, on the carpeted settee in a corner next the wall, -sat a man with his legs upon the settee, his arms folded on his breast. -The place was lighted by lamps. The light was dim, and the man was in -partial shadow; but I noted that he wore a heavy fur coat, he had a -peakless fur cap on his head, and was puffing away at a long and strong -cigar. At his elbow on the table was a large basin of tea, and floating -in the tea were three or four slices of lemon. - -I really don’t know how it was that I was suddenly attracted to this -stranger. Some people may try to explain it by saying it was animal -magnetism, odic force, or something of the kind. I shall offer no -explanation myself; I merely state the bare fact. My eyes having got -accustomed to the semi-gloom, I was enabled to observe that he had a -clean-shaven face, with a rather prominent nose, a clean-cut mouth, -which, taken in connection with the formation of the chin and jaw -generally, indicated an iron will, a dogged determination. It was -altogether a very striking face, full of character, and with points -that removed it far from the category of the commonplace. - -Having partaken of the rest of my supper, and feeling more comfortable -and cheerful, I lit a cigar, called for coffee and a _petit verre_, -assumed an easier position at the end of the seat, so that I was -enabled to lean my back against the wall, my shoulders being thus -parallel with the stranger’s, the table separating us; then I spoke -to him in French--made some ordinary remarks about the weather, and -expressed a fear that we were doomed to pass the night there in the -buffet. He answered me very affably, and in a rich, well-modulated -voice. Fancying that I detected a foreign accent in his French, I -politely asked him if he was a Frenchman. He smiled pleasantly, and -expressed a wish to know why I doubted his being French. I told him -frankly, whereupon he laughed again, and in perfect English, except -that it betrayed a foreign tongue in its pronunciation, he said: - -‘I guess _you_ are an Englishman.’ - -I admitted that I was, and we chatted away first in French and then -in English for a long time; we exchanged cigars; he drank with me, I -with him. Now, throughout the conversation there was one thing I was -conscious of--the whole drift of his talk was to elicit information. -This was done so delicately and skilfully that the majority of people -would not have been aware of it. But I was. It was part of my business -to know when I was being pumped, to use a vulgar but expressive phrase; -I was also, even as he was, a seeker after knowledge, and I fancy I -framed my questions perhaps not much less skilfully than he. At any -rate, we seemed to become _en rapport_, and it is safe to say we -interested each other. There was a reciprocal attraction between us. -After a time the conversation flagged; tired nature was overcome, and -we slept where we sat. At about seven in the morning a porter with -stentorian lungs came in and aroused us from our uneasy slumber by -bawling out that we were all to get on board the boat, as she was about -to start. Confusion at once reigned; there was a hasty gathering up of -bags, wraps, rugs, and other impedimenta, and a stampede was made for -the steamer, each man trying to be first, in order that he might secure -the best place in view of the stormy passage we were likely to have. -For myself, I went leisurely; I was too case-hardened a traveller by -land and sea to concern myself even about the Channel in its anger. -I had, in the confusion, lost sight of my acquaintance of the night, -and for the moment had forgotten him, when suddenly I heard his voice -behind me. He had caught me up. - -‘You, like me, don’t give yourself much concern,’ he remarked. ‘We -shall have a rough crossing, no doubt, but it doesn’t alarm me; I have -been sodden with salt water too often.’ - -This struck a keynote again; we passed on board. As we reached the -deck, he asked me if I was going below; I said no, I preferred to -remain on deck. So did he. We therefore secured two camp-stools, placed -them so that we sat with our backs to the funnel for the sake of the -warmth, enveloped our knees in rugs, buttoned up our coats, battened -our caps down, and made ourselves as snug as it was possible to do -under the circumstances. - -It was a wild and wicked morning, and still very dark, though in the -far east there was an angry gleam of glary light. The crossing was -a rough one--as rough a one as I ever remember to have experienced. -When we reached Dover we were all bedraggled and weary-looking, and -thankful indeed for the hot coffee that was served out to us at the -refreshment-bar. It was now broad daylight, and for the first time I -was enabled to distinctly see my companion’s face. It was altogether -a remarkable face. A more pliable and mobile one I never saw. It -never seemed to be quite alike for five minutes at a time. His eyes -were small, but with, as it seemed, an almost unnatural brilliancy; -and there was a suggestiveness about them that they were looking you -through and through. His complexion was olive; his eyes were black. -In stature he was about the middle height, with a well-knit frame. I -noted that his hands and wrists indicated great muscular strength. He -trod with a firm step; he walked upright; he was a man whose presence -asserted itself. None but a fool would be likely to overlook him even -in a crowd. There is one other thing I must mention: his manner was -that of an exceedingly well-bred man; he was the pink of politeness. - -The ‘something’--call it by what name you will--that had drawn us -together, kept us together, and we became the sole occupants of a -first-class compartment, in which we journeyed to London. Long before -our destination was reached, I had made up my mind that my _compagnon -de voyage_ was no ordinary man, and from certain things I made a guess -at his profession, and wishing to put my opinion to the test, I alluded -to the attempt that had been made some time before on the Czar’s -life. At this his eyes transfixed me, as it were. Question and answer -followed, and at last, when I was sure that I should not make any -mistake, I led him to understand that my visit to France had indirectly -been in connection with the crime in Russia. When we reached London, -I found he was going to stay at a hotel close to Trafalgar Square. I -gave him my card. He gave me his, which simply bore the name - - MICHAEL DANEVITCH. - -I knew then from the name that I had formed the acquaintance of one -of the foremost detectives in the world--a man who had had more to do -with unravelling political crimes than any living being; and there was -hardly a civilized Government that had not, at some time or other, -availed itself of his services. He was endowed with wonderful gifts, -and having once got on to the track of a criminal the criminal was -to a certainty doomed. Danevitch’s visit to England on this occasion -was in connection with the attempt on the Czar’s life. He ultimately -succeeded in unearthing one of the criminals in London, and though -the English Government would not give the rascal up, Danevitch lured -him to France by a wonderfully clever ruse. There he was arrested; in -due course the French handed him over to Russia, and he expiated his -wickedness on the scaffold. The story of this thrilling capture will -be told in the course of this series. The acquaintance which I struck -up with Danevitch on that ever-to-be-remembered night ripened into a -very warm friendship, which continued for many years. The result was he -promised me that if he predeceased me he would leave me all his notes -and papers that had any reference to his professional career, and give -me full permission to do what I liked with them. Subsequently he was -in a terrible railway accident in Russia: the train by which he was -travelling came into collision with another train, and there was an -awful smash. Poor Danevitch was so injured that both his legs had to be -amputated. For several weeks he seemed to be doing well, but a change -took place, and he realized that his fate was sealed. He sent for me, -and during the fortnight that passed after my arrival he told me his -history to a large extent, and handed me the promised records of the -extraordinary cases in which he had played so important a part. It is -from these records that I now compile this series of stories. - - - - -THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A MILLION ROUBLES. - - -One evening, towards the end of summer, four Government officials left -Moscow for St. Petersburg in charge of an enormous amount of money, -partly in specie, but for the most part in Russian rouble notes. -The money was consigned to the Treasury in St. Petersburg. All the -officials had been in the Government service for a long time, and were -selected for this special duty on account of their trustworthiness -and the confidence reposed in them by the heads of the department -to which they belonged. The oldest man, and the one in command of -the little party, was upwards of seventy years of age. He had been -in the Government service for forty years, and was greatly trusted -and respected. His name was Popoff. The next in seniority was Ivan -Basilovitch, who had been thirty-three years in the service. Then came -Strogonoff, with twenty-eight years’ service, and lastly a young man -named Briazga, with ten years and a half to his credit in the service -of the Government. In addition to these four Government officers, four -gendarmes, fully armed, accompanied the treasure as a guard of safety. -The party travelled by the ordinary train, but had a special saloon -carriage, the packages of money being placed at one end. The only -doors to the carriage were at the opposite end, one on each side, the -off-side door being locked by means of a secret lock, which could not -be opened except with the proper key. - -The bullion was carried in oak boxes fastened with iron bands. The -notes were in small square boxes, sewn up in strong canvas. In addition -they were securely corded with fine but extraordinarily tough cord, -which was made especially for the Government, and could not be used -except for Government purposes. Every package bore the State seal. -Anyone unlawfully breaking the seal was guilty, according to the law -of Russia, of treason, and liable to death or banishment to Siberia. -In due course the train reached St. Petersburg, where the packages of -money were examined, counted in the train, and found correct. They were -then loaded into a covered Government waggon, counted and examined -again, and also found correct; and all being ready, the waggon drove -off, accompanied by the four officials and the gendarmes. At the -Treasury the packages were once again counted, examined, and found -correct, and the deputy of the Minister of Finance himself gave the -necessary receipt to the head-officer. The important duty being thus -completed, the gendarmes were dismissed to their quarters, and the -officers went to their respective homes. In the course of the next -day Danevitch received a sudden command to attend without a moment’s -delay at the bureau of the chief of the police. He found that important -functionary looking very grave and serious, and it was obvious he was -disturbed by something of more than ordinary importance. With official -brevity he told Danevitch about the money having been removed from -Moscow to St. Petersburg the previous night, and added: - -‘This morning, in the presence of the Minister of Finance himself and -the official staff, the various packages were opened. Two of the note -boxes, although intact as regards seals and cords, and which ought to -have contained five hundred thousand rouble notes each, were found to -be stuffed with blank paper. There has been some clever hanky-panky -business, and you are wanted at the Treasury immediately. Now, it -strikes me, Danevitch, that though you’ve cracked some very hard nuts -in your time, this one will prove too much for you.’ - -‘Why do you think so?’ - -‘Why do I think so! Well, because the whole business has been managed -so cleverly that the thieves have calculated every chance, and are -not likely to have left any trail behind them that can be followed -up. However, see what you can do. You may succeed, but I’m afraid you -won’t.’ - -Danevitch made no comment on his chief’s remark, but at once betook -himself to the Treasury, where he found everybody in a state of great -excitement. He was at once conducted into the presence of the Minister -of Finance, with whom he had a long interview, and from whom he learnt -all the details of the transit of the money. Necessarily the detective -sifted these details, examined them one by one, and took such measures -as occurred to him to prove that they were absolutely correct. In the -end he was satisfied that they were. The Minister then showed him a -long telegram he had received from the Treasury Office in Moscow, in -which it was stated that the money was packed in the usual way in the -presence of the cashier-in-chief, six of his subordinates, and a large -staff, all of them proved and tried servants. Every box was numbered, -registered, and sealed, and there was not the shadow of a doubt that -when the boxes left Moscow each contained the full sum marked against -it in the books of the department. Danevitch saw at once that if that -was correct it proved that the robbery must have occurred in transit, -which obviously necessitated a prearranged plan of a very ingenious -nature; moreover, it pointed to the confederacy of every man, including -the gendarmes, engaged in safe-guarding the treasure. It was difficult -to believe in such a conspiracy; but on the first blush it seemed the -only rational conclusion that one could come to, otherwise the officers -and the police must have been culpably negligent of their duty to -have allowed a stranger to have walked off the boxes, leaving dummy -facsimiles in their place. However, Danevitch would express no opinion -then, although the Minister was anxious that he should do so; but it -was the detective’s invariable rule to keep his opinions to himself -until he was in a position to speak with something like certainty. As -he himself was in the habit of saying, he never prophesied until he -knew. It was a safe rule, and it saved him from many an error. - -Having completed his investigations in St. Petersburg so far as he -could at that stage, he proceeded without loss of time to Moscow, where -he satisfied himself, from the evidence laid before him, that the money -really left the Moscow Treasury all right; and it was impossible the -boxes could have been exchanged between the Treasury and the station. -The treasure was conveyed in a closed waggon, which was locked and -barred, and in its passage through the city it was guarded by twelve -mounted soldiers specially told off for the duty. At the station the -waggon was backed right up to the railway-carriage, and was unpacked in -the presence of quite a little army of officials. Again, unless there -had been a huge conspiracy, the boxes could not have been abstracted -there. This narrowed the inquiry somewhat, because it made it clear -that the exchange must have been effected while the train was on its -journey between the two cities. But admitting that to be the case, -it at once suggested that the eight men, that is, the four officers -and four gendarmes, were in league together. To that, however, was -opposed the fact that the gendarmes were only told off for the duty an -hour before they started, and up to that time had had no intimation -they were going. Therefore, assuming the four clerks had prearranged -the matter, they must have corrupted the gendarmes _en route_. That, -however, was such a far-fetched theory that Danevitch would not -entertain it. - -The next phase of inquiry upon which Danevitch entered was that of -ascertaining as much as possible about the four Government officials -who travelled in charge of the treasure. These inquiries elicited the -fact that they bore irreproachable characters, and were held in high -esteem in the department. Popoff was a married man with a family. -He was in receipt of a good salary, and appeared to be free from -financial worries of any kind. The same remarks applied to Basilovitch -and Strogonoff. They were both married and family men, and to all -appearances in comfortable circumstances. Briazga was unmarried, but -he was regarded as a very steady, well-to-do young fellow, and was -known to be the main support of his father, mother, and an only sister, -whose name was Olga. She was younger than her brother, and, owing to an -injury to the spine when she was a child, she had been more or less an -invalid all her life. - -Danevitch realized at this stage, even as the chief of the police -predicted he would, that he was called upon to crack a very hard nut -indeed, and he did not feel confident about being able to crack it at -all. The minutest investigation had failed so far to elicit anything -that would have justified a suspicion of a conspiracy amongst the eight -men. And yet without the connivance of them all it seemed impossible -that the boxes could have been changed. But there was the indisputable -fact that they had been changed; nevertheless, there was not a single -item in the list of circumstances that supported the hypothesis of -a conspiracy. How, then, had the robbery been worked? Of course the -Treasury people, as well as everyone connected with the Finance -Department, to say nothing of the higher authorities themselves, were -in a very perturbed state of mind, for apart from the largeness of the -sum carried off, the robbery proved that, in spite of the safeguards -employed when money was being conveyed from one town to another, -there was a risk which up to that time had not been suspected. It was -decided at last by the head officials to offer a reward of ten thousand -roubles for any information that would lead to the capture of the -thieves and the recovery of the stolen money. Danevitch was opposed -to the offering of a reward, and pointed out the absurdity of it; as -he said, even supposing the whole of the eight men of the escort had -been concerned, they were not likely to betray each other for the sake -of ten thousand roubles, when they had a million to divide amongst -themselves. And if anyone else had come to know who the thieves were, -he would not be blind to the fact that he could blackmail them to the -tune of a much greater sum than ten thousand roubles to induce him -to hold his tongue. Therefore, as Danevitch anticipated, the reward -brought forth no informer. In the meantime he had been working on his -own lines, and had satisfied himself the money had been put into the -train all right at Moscow, and that, unless with the connivance of ever -so many people, the boxes could not have been changed between the St. -Petersburg station and the Treasury Office; consequently, the business -must have been done while the money was in transit between the two -towns. Further than that, it was as clear as daylight that the robbery -had been prearranged, because the facsimile boxes had been prepared -beforehand; the cord used to bind the false boxes was Government cord, -and the Government seal was so cleverly imitated that the forgery could -only be detected after close inspection. All this proved unmistakably -that there was a traitor in the camp. - -In one of many interviews that Danevitch had with the Minister of -Finance, that gentleman said: - -‘Danevitch, you must bring the thief to light. It is absolutely -necessary that an example should be made of him as a deterrent. -Although the loss of the money would be a serious one, we would rather -lose it than let the thief escape.’ - -‘I think, sir, that the thief will not escape; and it is possible, even -probable, that the money may be recovered.’ - -‘Have you any clue?’ asked the Minister quickly. - -‘None whatever.’ - -‘Then, why do you speak so hopefully?’ - -‘Because it seems to me that sooner or later I am sure to find a clue, -and then--well, then I shall succeed in bringing the criminal to -justice.’ - -His belief that sooner or later he was sure to find a clue was quite -justified, although he had been doubtful at first. It was pretty clear -now, however, that the thief had an accomplice, otherwise it would -have been impossible for him to have carried out the robbery. Now, -Danevitch knew too much of human nature to suppose that two or three -men and more than likely a woman, as he shrewdly suspected, would be -able for all time to conceal the fact that they had suddenly acquired -wealth. A something would leak out--a something that would betray them -to the keen eyes that were watching for the sign. Danevitch had learnt -the great lesson of patience. He did not aim at accomplishing the -impossible, but he knew where it was a case of human ingenuity he had -the best chance, inasmuch as he was an expert in the ways of criminals. -From the moment that he had gathered up all the details of the robbery, -he had set a watch upon the movements of every one of the eight men -who had travelled with the treasure from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The -gendarmes belonged to Moscow, and had returned, but they were watched, -nevertheless; though not a movement of theirs was calculated to arouse -suspicion. The four Government officials were also watched, but no -sign came from them. But of course they knew they were being watched; -they would have been dolts indeed if they had remained in ignorance of -what everyone else knew; for Government treasure to the tune of one -million roubles could not be abstracted without causing a sensation and -setting the populace on the tip-toe of expectation and the tenter-hooks -of curiosity. The theory by which Danevitch was guided was this, that -one or more of the eight men who travelled that night when the money -was stolen between Moscow and St. Petersburg must certainly be in a -position to throw some light on the robbery. On the other hand, every -one of the eight knew for a fact, or by instinct, that he was suspected -of some complicity, consequently he would take particular care not to -do anything calculated to give emphasis to that suspicion, and justify -active legal measures being taken against him. - -Although Danevitch, by reason of the eminence he had attained in his -calling and the originality of mind he had displayed in dealing with -some of the most notorious crimes of his day, was allowed more latitude -than his confrères, he was nevertheless subordinate at this time to -the chief of the police, and that functionary, having an eye to a -decoration or promotion if the mystery should be cleared up, strongly -advocated the wholesale arrest of the eight men, and flinging them into -a dungeon in the infamous fortress of Peter and Paul, or the still -more infamous Schlusselburgh in Lake Ladoga, there to remain until -misery and madness loosened their tongues. Against this inartistic and -brutal measure Danevitch set his face, and he asked to be allowed to -work out the problem in his own way. The Minister of Finance, and it -was said even the Czar himself, supported Danevitch, so that he was not -hampered with the red-tapeism of the bureau. - -A month passed; no arrest had been made, and apparently not a trace of -the criminal discovered. The Treasury officers were in despair, and the -chief of the police showed a tendency to lower Danevitch from the high -standard of estimation to which he had previously elevated him. It is -true that Danevitch had many big successes credited to his score, but -even a successful man cannot afford to make a big failure. The chief -told him this, and Danevitch replied quietly: - -‘I have not yet made a failure.’ - -‘But you have not recovered the money; you’ve brought nobody to book.’ - -‘No, not yet.’ - -‘Not yet! Are you still sanguine, then?’ - -‘Certainly.’ - -The chief laughed a little bitterly as he replied: - -‘Well, perhaps it is good to be sanguine, even in a hopeless cause. It -keeps a man’s spirits up, doesn’t it?’ - -The chief was comparatively new to his office; that is, he had only -held it two years. He had received very rapid promotion owing to strong -influence at Court, and influence in Russia often counts a good deal -more than merit; indeed, it does in most countries. It was said that -the chief had certain friends of his own he was anxious to move into -the front rank, hence he was not averse to see Danevitch go down a bit. - -About a week after this conversation between the chief and Danevitch, -an old peasant woman left St. Petersburg by the Moscow train. She did -not book to Moscow, however, but to a place called Vishni Volotchok, -about midway between the two cities. She was an uncouth, clumsy, -burly-looking woman, wearing the big mob frilled cap, the heavy -woollen wrap crossed over the breast, the short homespun linsey-woolsey -gray skirt, coarse gray stockings, and big shoes of her class. She bore -with her a ponderous basket, containing a stock of slippers, boots, -shoes and sabots, and, being a travelling pedlar, she was furnished -with an official license, a formidable-looking document, stamped and -viséd. In due course she reached her destination. Vishni Volotchok -is a small town of some importance. The station is the principal -refreshment place between St. Petersburg and Moscow, and a long wait is -generally made by the trains going and coming. The old woman’s license -having been duly examined and viséd, she was allowed to go her ways, -and soon after she proceeded to a fairly large house situated close -to the railway, and facing a road that crossed the track. It was a -detached house, built for the most part of wood. There were numerous -outbuildings--a large barn, stables, cowsheds, and similar places. It -was the residence of a landed proprietor named Ivan Golovnin. It was -almost dark when the old woman reached the house; she tried to sell -some of her wares to the servants, but was not successful. Then she -pleaded illness, and begged, as she was a stranger in the town, to be -allowed to pass the night in the barn. With true Russian hospitality, -the servants took her into the great kitchen, and made her up a bed -by the stove. As she had not recovered her health the next day, she -was allowed to remain, and, in fact, finding herself in comfortable -quarters, she stayed for three days; then she took her departure, -before doing so presenting the three principal servants with a pair of -shoes each. Being market-day, she went into the market, disposed of the -rest of her stock-in-trade, and returned at once to St. Petersburg. - -It chanced that a couple of days after the old woman’s return to the -capital, Danevitch was at the Bureau of Police, having some business -to transact with the chief, who was excessively busy and excessively -bad-tempered. - -‘By the way,’ said Danevitch, as he was on the point of leaving, when -he had transacted his affairs, ‘concerning the robbery of the Treasury -notes, I shall _succeed_ in bringing the criminals to justice.’ - -The chief glanced at the detective and smiled. It was not a smile of -satisfaction, but of doubt; and yet he knew that Danevitch had the -reputation of never speaking with anything like certainty unless he -felt absolutely sure. But the chief was somewhat sceptical; it was even -possible he was not altogether free from jealousy, knowing as he did -that Danevitch was looked upon with great favour in high quarters. - -‘There’s a cocksureness in your statement,’ said the chief brusquely. -‘I suppose you’ve discovered something?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘What?’ - -‘You must pardon me, but I am not justified in disclosing even to you -at present what I know.’ - -The chief’s face darkened. He was aware that, though Danevitch -was nominally his subordinate, he had but little control over -him. Nevertheless, it galled him to think that he, the chief of -his department--in Russia it is a very influential and important -position--should not be considered worthy of the confidence of -Danevitch the detective, high as he was in his calling. He was weak -enough to display his chagrin, and remarked with some warmth: - -‘Well, you have your own way of working, of course; and perhaps you are -right, though on the other hand you may be wrong. But since you do not -choose to take me into your confidence, and as the authorities expect -that my department will unravel the mystery, I must now inform you that -unless you produce evidence within the next twenty-four hours that you -really are on the track of the criminal or criminals, I shall take the -business out of your hands, and put it into the hands of others.’ - -Danevitch was not the man to be affected by any such empty threat as -this. Conscious of his own strength, and firm in the resolve to pursue -his own undeviating course, as he had done for years, uninfluenced by -jealousy, criticism, or the opinions of others, he bowed to the chief -and merely remarked: - -‘If in the course of the next twenty-four hours I am in a position to -reveal anything, I will do so. If I am not you are at liberty to act -according to your own views. Permit me also to remark that, though you -are pleased to doubt my abilities, people in high quarters do not.’ - -This galled the chief, though he had sufficient tact to refrain from -provoking further argument, which would not only be profitless, but -beget ill-feeling, so he allowed Danevitch to withdraw. - -A fortnight later a wedding was celebrated at the Church of St. Sophia. -It was rather a stylish wedding, and a good many minor Government -officials were present, principally from the Treasury office. During -that intervening fortnight Danevitch had not given any sign to the -chief that he was making progress; nor had the chief taken any steps -to put his threat into execution. Nevertheless, he had displayed some -impatience, and one day, during an interview with the Minister of -Finance, he said: - -‘I am sorry, your Excellency, that we have made no progress in the -Treasury robbery business; but the fact is, Danevitch’s self-assurance -and enthusiasm somewhat misled him. He speaks confidently where he -ought to doubt, and is hopeful where other men would despair.’ - -‘Hopefulness is rather a good trait in his character, isn’t it? You -know the old saying, “He who despairs never succeeds.”’ - -‘True, your Excellency,’ answered the chief, somewhat crestfallen. ‘But -light-heartedness does not always command success.’ - -‘No, perhaps not; but it deserves it.’ - -‘Well, the fact is this, your Excellency, I am of opinion myself that -more active steps should be taken to bring the culprits to justice. -Now, we have to deal with facts, not fancies. A very ingenious robbery -has been committed, and the Treasury of the State is a heavy loser. The -thieves must still be in existence, and, being in existence, it ought -not to be beyond the ingenuity of a trained mind used to working out -criminal problems to discover where they are.’ - -‘I admit the force of your argument,’ answered the Minister sedately. - -The chief bowed. He was pleased with himself. He believed he had made -an impression. - -‘Of course,’ he went on, ‘it is most desirable that the culprits should -be brought to book, and punished in such an exemplary manner that it -would stand out as a warning for all time, and deter others who might -feel tempted to tamper with the coffers of the State. But desirable -as this is, it is even more desirable that the whole of the stolen -money should be recovered. Your Excellency, however, will readily see -that every day that passes lessens the chances of that, because the -rascals will be revelling in their ill-gotten gains, and squandering -them with the recklessness peculiar to criminals who enrich themselves -dishonestly.’ - -‘That is not Danevitch’s opinion,’ answered the Minister. - -‘Possibly; but presumably he has no warrant for his opinion. It is a -mere expression of opinion, after all--nothing more.’ - -‘Let us grant that. Now, what do you suggest?’ - -What the chief wanted was to have all the credit for unravelling the -mystery. It meant to him promotion, and strengthening his influence in -high quarters. As matters then stood, there was no confidence between -him and Danevitch, who had so consolidated his position as to be -independent. The chief therefore suggested that Danevitch should be put -upon a case of secondary importance then occupying the attention of the -authorities, and another man of the chief’s choosing should be selected -for Danevitch’s work. This other man was a creature of the chief, -though he kept that little fact strictly to himself. - -The Minister was not deceived by the specious arguments of his visitor; -nor was he so obtuse as to fail to see the jealousy and ill-will -underlying those arguments. - -‘Personally, I should object to anyone else taking up the matter at -this stage,’ he said, ‘and as far as my influence goes I should use -it to prevent any change being made. For myself, I have confidence in -Danevitch. He is an able man, and until I find that my confidence is -misplaced I shall continue to believe in him.’ - -The chief was nonplussed, and he felt that it would be imprudent to -pursue the subject any further. He therefore took his leave. But just -as he was in the act of bowing himself out, the Minister exclaimed: - -‘Oh, by the way, on Thursday next there is to be a marriage in the -Church of St. Sophia. A daughter of one of my subordinates is to wed -one Peter Golovnin, the son, as I understand, of a wealthy landed -proprietor. Curiously enough, I met Danevitch last night by chance, and -he asked me if I was going to the wedding. I told him no, I had had no -invitation; whereupon he expressed surprise that my subordinate had -not paid me the compliment of inviting me. At the moment there did not -seem to me anything out of the way in the remark, but subsequently, -on pondering over it, I could not help feeling that it was full of -significance. Danevitch had a deep motive in what he said. Have you any -idea what the motive was?’ - -The chief was not only utterly amazed, but deeply annoyed. He tried, -however, to conceal his annoyance, though it was very hard to do so. In -his own mind he was perfectly sure that Danevitch had a motive, though -what that motive was he could not possibly guess, and his annoyance was -occasioned by having to confess his ignorance. - -‘And does your Excellency intend to go?’ he asked. - -‘Well, yes, I think I shall. I fancy developments may take place.’ - -As the chief went away, he resolved that he, too, would be present at -St. Sophia, for he knew Danevitch too well to suppose for a moment that -his remark to the Minister of Finance was a meaningless one. - -The marriage was rather a grand affair. The bridegroom was a -good-looking young man, about six or seven and twenty; but he had the -appearance of one who had led a reckless and dissipated life. There -were incipient lines in his face, and a want of brightness about the -eyes that was not good in one so young. The bride was, perhaps, two -years younger, with rather pretty features and an abundance of dark -hair. Some affection of the spine, however, had cruelly distorted -her figure, and she was twisted out of shape. Her name was Olga, -and she was the only sister of Briazga, the Government clerk in the -Finance Department, who was present during the ceremony. The Minister -of Finance was also present, thinking from Danevitch’s remark that -something was to happen. The wedding went off all right, however, and -the whole party seemed very jolly and happy, until Briazga, suddenly -espying the Minister, went up to him and, looking very confused and a -little excited, said: - -‘You do us an honour, sir, by gracing the ceremony with your delightful -presence. I scarcely expected you would have been here.’ - -‘I suppose not,’ answered the Minister dryly; ‘but as you did not -honour me with an invitation, nor even condescend to mention that your -sister was to be married, I thought I would be a witness on my own -account.’ - -Briazga grew more confused, and stammered out a lame apology, adding: - -‘The fact is, sir, I have endeavoured to keep the matter secret from -all except my most intimate friends, for the simple reason that, as -we are comparatively poor people, we could not afford to have much -ceremony, and I felt it was too humble an affair to ask you to come to -it. But since you have come, may I venture to hope that you will now do -us the supreme honour of joining the luncheon-party at my house?’ - -The Minister excused himself on the score of business engagements; but -five minutes later, when Briazga had left him, and he was going out of -the church, Danevitch came up to him. - -‘I saw you talking to Briazga,’ the detective remarked. - -‘Did you? Where were you? I didn’t notice you in the church.’ - -‘Perhaps not; but I haven’t been far off. Briazga has invited you to -the luncheon?’ - -‘How do you know?’ asked the Minister, in surprise. - -‘I guess it.’ - -‘Then, you must have the power of a seer.’ - -‘Not at all, your Excellency. Nothing could be simpler. You being here, -your subordinate would have been guilty of an unpardonable rudeness and -affront if he had not paid you the compliment to invite you. But, of -course, it was a mere formality. He doesn’t wish and does not intend -you to go if he can prevent it.’ - -‘I suppose not; nor do I wish to go.’ - -‘But I should like you to go,’ answered Danevitch. ‘Indeed, I consider -it of some importance that you should go. A little drama may be enacted -in which you can play a part.’ - -The Minister looked hard at Danevitch, as if trying to read his -thoughts, and asked pointedly: - -‘Do you suspect Briazga of having stolen the Treasury notes?’ - -‘Will you pardon me for simply saying at this moment that it would be -imprudent for me to answer your question?’ - -‘Will you be there?’ - -‘Again I must respectfully decline to answer the question.’ - -‘But you have an object in wishing me to be present.’ - -‘Undoubtedly.’ - -‘Then I will go.’ - -Whereupon the Minister hastily pencilled a note on a slip of paper -torn from his note-book, and sent it by one of the church attendants -to Briazga. In the note he simply said he had changed his mind, and -would do himself the pleasure of being present at the wedding-feast, as -he found he had a couple of spare hours on his hands. Danevitch moved -off, and had not got far away, when he was accosted by the chief of the -police, who remarked sarcastically: - -‘I understood there were to be some developments at this wedding.’ - -‘From whom did you understand that?’ asked Danevitch, without any -attempt to conceal the annoyance he felt. - -‘It is not necessary to mention names. I heard that you were to be -here, and the Minister of Finance was to be here. The information -was significant, so I came too. You suspect somebody amongst this -marriage-party?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Who is it?’ - -‘Pardon me, I decline to state at the present moment.’ - -‘Why?’ - -‘Because I have no proof.’ - -‘You are seeking a proof, then?’ - -‘I am.’ - -‘Do you expect to find it?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Where and when?’ - -‘I cannot say. It’s problematical. A few hours will decide. As soon as -I am sure of my ground I will report to you.’ - -The chief recognised the uselessness of further questioning, and left, -while Danevitch withdrew into the background as the wedding-party -left the church and drove to Briazga’s house. He lived in what was -known as the English quarter, near the English quay. There were no -English living there then. Bad times and oppressive restrictions had -ruined most of them, and they had gone away. The house inhabited by -Briazga had been formerly occupied by an English merchant; it had many -conveniences and improvements not usually found in the average Russian -house. Here the Government clerk had lived very comfortably with his -father, mother, and sister Olga. The father and mother were well -advanced in years. They had a small income of their own to live upon. - -Soon after the wedding-party had arrived at the house, an old woman, -a professional fortune-teller, presented herself and begged to -be admitted. There was nothing unusual in this. Vagrants of both -sexes make a good living in Russia by attending wedding-parties and -forecasting the future of the bride and bridegroom. As the Russians -are a superstitious people, they encourage these fortune-tellers, who -are feasted, and generally add to the entertainment by story and -jest. Having been treated well in the servants’ quarter, the woman was -introduced to the company. The bridegroom, who was hilarious and full -of vodka and wine, immediately presented himself to have his fortune -told; but when the woman had looked at his hand and peered into his -eyes, while the company waited in breathless expectancy, she said: - -‘I cannot tell you your fortune.’ - -At this there was considerable laughing and jeering, and on all sides -arose the question, ‘Why, why?’ - -‘Oh, ladies and gentlemen,’ exclaimed the seer, ‘pray don’t laugh. I -can read all your fortunes--better, perhaps, than you would like me to -do.’ - -‘Then, why don’t you begin with the bridegroom?’ was asked by several. -‘He is anxious to know what is before him.’ - -‘Good; it shall be told,’ answered the woman sharply. ‘Give me a pack -of cards.’ - -The pack of cards was brought. She spread the cards on the table in -several rows. Next she shifted them about, and placed them in squares -and circles, and all the time the company gathered round and waited in -eager expectancy for what was coming. Presently the woman jumbled the -cards up together, then repacked them and told the bridegroom to cut -them four times, and the bride three. That done, the fortune-teller -seemed absorbed in some abstruse calculation as she slowly sorted the -cards out in four rows. - -‘You are a precious long time,’ exclaimed the bridegroom irritably. ‘It -strikes me you are a humbug.’ - -‘Patience, patience,’ murmured the woman. ‘There is something wrong -about the cards. They won’t come right.’ - -‘Because you don’t understand them,’ suggested somebody. - -‘Possibly; but patience, patience; I shall understand them directly. -Ah! I see something now. It’s strange, very strange!’ - -The curiosity and interest of the company were fully aroused by the -mysterious manner of the old woman, who seemed deeply absorbed in what -she was doing; but Briazga was annoyed, and he called out: - -‘Ladies and gentlemen, let us stop this nonsense. The woman is an -impostor, and is only wasting our time, which can be more joyfully and -pleasurably employed. It is an auspicious occasion, this, and we don’t -want it marred by any unpleasant incident. Let us banish the woman to -the kitchen.’ - -At these words the old fortune-teller drew herself up with a certain -dignity, and remarked: - -‘It is customary for my people to be kindly and hospitably entertained -at these festive gatherings; and I myself have the reputation of being -a most successful fortune-teller; it is not my fault now that the cards -will not come right. But I read certain things about the bridegroom -which I am sure he would like to know. Say, shall I proceed?’ - -The bridegroom himself answered. - -‘Certainly,’ he exclaimed, and there was a curious look on his -wine-flushed face. ‘I want to know my future; let the woman go on.’ - -Briazga appeared to be very greatly irritated, but as there arose -a murmured assent from the assembly he yielded to the evident -desire of his guests, who now crowded round the table and urged the -fortune-teller to rearrange the cards. This she did, and having laid -them out again in five rows, she uttered an ejaculatory ‘Ah!’ and after -a pause added: - -‘It is better; but still there is a block somewhere. Can you, -sir’--this to the bridegroom--‘place on the table five thousand rouble -notes? That will perhaps break the spell.’ - -It was a common thing for these fortune-tellers to request that small -sums of money might be produced; but five thousand roubles was a large -sum, and there was a general murmur of surprise, while Briazga appeared -to be particularly uneasy and troubled. He was trying to push his way -through the crowd to get at his brother-in-law, for there was such a -hubbub and din of voices that he could not make himself heard; but -before he succeeded in accomplishing his purpose, Peter Golovnin, with -a boastful air and a drunken leer on his red face, pulled from his -pocket a leather wallet, which, on opening, was found to be stuffed -full of notes. With an unsteady hand he proceeded to count out five -notes of the value of one thousand roubles each. Having done so, he -laid the notes upon the table, and once more there was breathless -silence as the company craned their necks in their eagerness to see -what the old woman would now do. The bridegroom himself seemed the -least concerned of anyone, and, with a coarse, drunken laugh, remarked: - -‘I suppose the old fool thought I did not possess so much money. It -shows what an impostor she is, otherwise she would have been able to -tell you exactly how much I have in my wallet. However, let her go on, -and if she fails this time I will kick her out.’ - -The fortune-teller seemed in no ways affected by the threat, but busied -herself in rearranging the cards. She spread out the five bank-notes. -On each of four she placed a knave from the pack, and on the fifth she -put a queen. Suspicious eyes watched her every movement, as more than -one person present was of opinion that she wanted to purloin the money -by some hanky-panky business. - -‘There is a lot of knavery here,’ she remarked thoughtfully. ‘The -queen, as you will see, is the victim of knaves, and I am afraid will -come to grief.’ - -‘Who does the queen represent?’ asked someone. - -‘The bride,’ answered the fortune-teller. - -At this there was a strong murmur of disapproval, and the bridegroom, -with an angry cry, put out his hand to sweep up the notes, but the -woman, quicker than he, gathered them in a heap, and said sternly: - -‘Do not touch them for a moment, or you will break the spell.’ Then -suddenly she snatched them up, and exclaimed: ‘These notes are forged -ones. That accounts for my difficulty.’ - -This was the signal for a general uproar, and the company, believing -that the woman wished to steal the money, seized her, and she would -have been roughly handled had she not shaken herself free, and -energetically forced her way to the Minister of Finance, who was -present, and, thrusting the notes into his hand, said: - -‘Sir, I know you; you are the Minister of Finance. Look at those -notes. They are forged! I give them into your keeping. No man has a -right to have false notes in his possession. You, sir, as an officer -of the State, have it in your power to demand an explanation. Ask the -bridegroom, your Excellency, why he carries forged notes in his purse.’ - -The Minister took the notes, though he seemed distressed and puzzled. - -‘The wretched hag lies!’ thundered the bridegroom. ‘The notes are -perfectly good. My brother-in-law, if he respects me and the good name -of his family, and loves his sister, my wife, will order his servants -to whip this lying fortune-teller, who has broken up our party and -destroyed our pleasure.’ - -There was a disposition on the part of some of those present to act on -the suggestion made, and subject the old woman to rough treatment; but -the Minister, holding up his hand in a deprecatory manner, said: - -‘Ladies and gentlemen, control yourselves, please. Keep quiet. The -woman is quite right. These notes are not genuine ones. But no doubt -Mr. Golovnin can offer some explanation as to how they came into his -possession.’ - -‘Yes,’ cried Golovnin excitedly. ‘They were given to me by my father, -and I cannot believe they are false. If they are, then he himself has -been cheated, and it will break his heart.’ - -‘That the notes are not genuine, there can be no possible doubt,’ -said the Minister gravely; ‘and that you or your father should -be in possession of forged notes representing so large a sum is -extraordinary.’ - -‘I pray you return them to me,’ wailed the bridegroom, looking very -sorrowful and sad, while his trembling bride stood beside him the -picture of puzzled distress. She seemed scarcely able to realize -the situation, and her tearful eyes wandered from her husband to -her brother, and from him to the Minister of Finance, as if in dumb -entreaty to clear the mystery up, and not mar the pleasure of her -wedding-day. But the Minister, although not there in any judicial -position, clearly recognised that, as a servant of the State, he had a -duty to perform, and, despite the painfulness of the situation in which -he thus found himself, he felt forced to that duty. - -‘I cannot return the notes,’ he said gravely, ‘and I must ask you to -let me examine the other notes in your wallet.’ - -At this request, Golovnin pulled out his pocket-book without the -slightest hesitation, and, producing a packet of notes, handed -them--with the air of a man conscious of his own rectitude--to the -Minister, who, having subjected them to a close scrutiny, pronounced -them to be forgeries also. - -The company were startled by this into a united cry of astonishment and -alarm, while the unhappy bride, with a low moan, fell to the floor in a -swoon. - -‘Surely, sir, there is some mistake,’ suggested Briazga, pallid and -pale as a corpse. - -‘Of course it’s a mistake,’ shouted the bridegroom; ‘his Excellency is -wrong--entirely wrong. It is impossible the notes can be forged. I am -sure they are genuine.’ - -‘Briazga,’ said the Minister sternly, ‘you have been handling notes -long enough in the Treasury to be able to tell a genuine one from a -false one. Look at these, and give me your honest opinion.’ - -The Minister placed the notes on the table. Briazga took them up with -a trembling hand one by one, and examined them, holding them to the -light, and subjecting them to other tests, while the amazed guests -held their breath in anxious suspense, as they waited for his verdict. -Slowly and deliberately, notwithstanding that he was suffering from -intense nervous emotion, Briazga went through the notes one by one, -while his superior watched him intently and curiously. At last, when he -had finished his task, he said: - -‘Sir, I am forced to confess that every note there is nothing more than -a clever imitation. But my brother-in-law must surely be the dupe of a -knavish trick. The matter is capable of explanation.’ - -‘It must certainly be investigated,’ answered the Minister. ‘It is far -too serious to be lightly passed over. I shall have to carry the notes -away, and consult with the authorities as to the steps to be taken.’ - -‘Stay,’ exclaimed the bridegroom, with a pitiful wail of despair; ‘this -may mean for me utter and irretrievable ruin. Remember, sir, it is my -wedding-day, and my ruin involves also the ruin, and perhaps the death, -of my wife, who has been my wife not yet a day; to say nothing of the -ruin, dishonour, disgrace of those near and dear to me. Let me beseech -of you, therefore, to delay taking any action until I myself have made -inquiries. I am convinced--absolutely convinced--there is some hideous -mistake somewhere. I am the victim of a cowardly trick. I will swear -on oath that when I left home the notes I put into my pocket were good -ones. Is it not possible that the hag of a fortune-teller has brought -this about by her devilish art?’ - -At this everybody looked to see where the ‘hag’ was, but she had made -herself invisible. In the hubbub and confusion consequent on the -discovery that the notes were forged, she had managed to slip away -unperceived, and had left the house. - -‘I regret very much indeed,’ answered the Minister, ‘that such an -unhappy affair as this should have occurred on your wedding-day; but it -is far too grave a circumstance for me to adopt the course you suggest. -In fact, I should not be justified in doing so. I repeat, I have a duty -to perform, and I must do it, however unpleasant the consequences may -be. Of course, as you say, the matter is capable of explanation, and -any explanation you may offer will receive due attention; but a very -serious official inquiry will have to be made, and the origin of these -notes must be traced.’ - -With a dignified bow to the dumfounded company, the Minister passed -out of the room and left the house, carrying the notes with him. On -reaching his official residence, he found a letter waiting for him. It -was from Danevitch, and read as follows: - - ‘YOUR EXCELLENCY, - - ‘I am suddenly called away from St. Petersburg, but shall be back in - three days’ time. I am happy to say I can restore the whole of the - stolen notes to the Treasury. I hope your Excellency enjoyed yourself - at the house of Briazga on the occasion of the wedding-feast.’ - -The Minister was a little mystified by this letter; and though he -knew that Danevitch was not the man to make a rash statement, he sent -for the chief of the police and questioned him. But that worthy had -to confess that he himself was no less mystified. He said some harsh -things about Danevitch, and even went so far as to express some doubt -whether Danevitch was capable of fulfilling his undertaking to restore -the whole of the stolen money. - -‘I’ve faith in Danevitch,’ said the Minister. ‘What he says he means; -and though he puzzles me very much, I feel certain that all will come -right in the end.’ - -The chief had no answer to this, so he simply bowed and took his leave. - -True to his promise, Danevitch returned to St. Petersburg in three -days’ time, and, to the amazement of the officials and all concerned, -he duly delivered to the Treasury the whole of the missing million -roubles, and was enabled to lay such information before the authorities -that Briazga and Ivan and Peter Golovnin were immediately arrested. - -Ivan Golovnin lived at Vishni Volotchok, where he owned some property. -He was an old man, and had been married twice. By his first wife he had -had a large family, and they were nearly all scattered. By his second -wife he had one son, Peter. This young fellow had been a managing clerk -in a fur store in St. Petersburg, and had known Briazga’s family some -years. Olga Briazga had fallen desperately in love with him, but her -deformity prevented him reciprocating her passion. Between Olga and -her brother an extraordinary affection existed--an affection unusual -even between brother and sister. He idolized her; and when he saw she -was breaking her heart about Peter, and that her life was in danger, -he told Peter he would enrich him if he would marry her. From this a -conspiracy was hatched, in which Briazga, Peter and Peter’s father -joined interests. The old man was induced to enter into it for his -son’s sake. It was prearranged that when Briazga was next engaged -in the duty of conveying treasure from Moscow to St. Petersburg, an -attempt should be made to purloin some of it; but from the first he -gave his co-conspirators distinctly to understand that, while he would -do all he possibly could to assist them, he would not keep a single -rouble himself. The opportunity came at last with the removal of -treasure from Moscow. Briazga knew a week beforehand that he would be -employed upon the duty, and he also knew what money would be removed. -Everything, therefore, seemed to favour him, and he lost no time in -communicating the intelligence to the Golovnins. Peter at once set to -work to prepare two facsimile boxes, and to fill them with paper, the -whole being the exact weight of the Government boxes when filled with -a million’s worth of rouble notes. The Government cord and the forged -seal were supplied by Briazga. The train conveying the treasure stopped -for a long time at Vishni Volotchok, that being a buffet station where -passengers usually dined or supped. The night of the robbery happened -to be very dark and very hot. On arriving at Vishni Volotchok, the -treasure escort went four at a time to the buffet to eat and drink. -Briazga was included in the first four. When they had finished they -relieved the other four; but the night being sultry, Briazga’s party -sauntered about the platform smoking, the door of the treasure waggon -being locked. On the plea of getting some tobacco, Briazga returned to -the waggon; he was not absent more than ten minutes--indeed, not so -long; but during the time he was enabled to open the off-side door with -a secret key, and to hand out the two boxes to Peter, who was lying -in wait with the dummies. Thus was the robbery cleverly committed, -as proved by the evidence twisted and wormed out of the culprits -themselves by the inquisitorial nature of the Russian law. - -The sequel of the remarkable story has yet to be told. When Danevitch -took the matter up, he came to the conclusion after a time that the -robbery had taken place at Vishni Volotchok. There were numerous and -obvious reasons for that conclusion. It was no less obvious that -one or more of the eight persons composing the escort must have had -some hand in the robbery. He soon determined in his own mind that -the gendarmes were guiltless. This reduced the suspects to the four -Government officials. Now, assuming that the deduction was a correct -one, it was no less clear that there must have been a confederate at -Vishni Volotchok; so Danevitch set to work to find out which of the -officials had any connection with that place, and he soon ascertained -that the Briazgas and the Golovnins were acquainted. That stage of the -inquiry reached, he began to feel that he would ultimately succeed in -unravelling the mystery. The means that he employed to track down his -quarry Danevitch was careful never to make public, for very obvious -reasons, but he had a habit of setting them forth fully in his diary, -and from that source I am able to give them here. - -It was known almost throughout Russia that this remarkable man had a -protean-like faculty for changing his appearance. He could so alter his -voice and features that, in combination with change of dress, he could -defy detection even by those who were well acquainted with him. His -most favourite disguise was that of an old woman, whom he could imitate -to the life. In the character of a female, therefore, he penetrated -into the Golovnins’ home. He found, by close watching, that Peter made -frequent journeys backwards and forwards between the house and a small -plantation of firs, about a quarter of a mile away. As there was no -apparent reason why the young man should go to the plantation so often, -Danevitch was induced to search it, with the result that he found -the two stolen boxes artfully concealed in an old quarry, which was -almost entirely hidden by creepers and brambles. The boxes had been -opened, but the contents were intact. This find was a great triumph for -Danevitch, but his work was far from complete. It was necessary that he -should spread a net that would capture all the culprits, and he carried -this out with singular ingenuity. That one or both of the Golovnins -had had a hand in the robbery was pretty evident, but others must also -have been concerned, and they might escape if caution was not observed. -When he ascertained that Peter Golovnin and Olga Briazga were on the -eve of marriage, the plot seemed to make itself clear to him, and when -he gained entrance to the marriage-feast in the rôle of fortune-teller, -his triumph was complete. In the boxes hidden in the wood at Vishni -Volotchok he had placed a large number of cleverly imitated notes, -taking the genuine ones away. The imitations had been lying at one of -the police bureaus for a very long time. They had been seized on the -premises of a notorious note-forger. Danevitch was sure that Peter -Golovnin, the bridegroom, would liberally supply himself with money -from the boxes for his marriage, and if the forged notes were found in -his possession, the evidence would be overwhelming. - -It remains to say that the guilt was brought home to all concerned. -They were condemned to death, as they had committed a crime against the -State, but the sentence was commuted to banishment for life to Siberia. -Poor Olga Briazga, whose love for Peter Golovnin had been the cause of -the crime, accompanied her unhappy husband to Northern Siberia, where -he was doomed to pass the first ten years of his sentence. - - - - -A MODERN BORGIA. - - -During his long and remarkable career, Danevitch was called upon to -solve problems of a very varied nature, and, while his efforts were not -always crowned with success--and he never hesitates in his journals to -confess his failures--the percentage of his triumphs was very large. -Necessarily, of course, his work lay amongst the by-ways and alleys of -life, so to speak; for so long as there are crimes and criminals--and -that will be as long as the world lasts--men must be found who will -endeavour to lessen the one and bring the other to book. In his own -particular way, Danevitch was a genius; and it almost seemed sometimes -as if Nature had endowed him with an eighth sense, for he saw and -grasped points which no one else could see. Although a born detective, -there are many other callings in which he might have risen to eminence, -notably that of the stage. He was a perfect actor, and his powers of -mimicry and of changing his expression and personal appearance were -little short of marvellous. He could with ease assume the rôle of an -ambassador or a peasant market woman, and he possessed to a remarkable -degree the faculty of patience, which is indispensable to anyone who -wishes to distinguish himself in the detective’s art. Moreover, he was -well educated, and a fluent linguist, and these accomplishments helped -him immensely. In referring to the case which I am now about to relate, -he himself speaks of it as ‘a remarkable and complicated one,’ which -all but baffled him; and he cites it as an example of the depths of -depravity to which human nature is capable of descending. - -It appeared that one summer night Colonel Ignatof, who was in command -of an infantry regiment of the line, temporarily stationed in Moscow, -returned to his barracks after being out all the evening, and, -complaining of being very ill, ordered that the regimental doctor -should be immediately sent for. From the time that the order was given -to the arrival of the doctor in the commanding officer’s room not more -than ten minutes elapsed. But during that short space the Colonel had -vomited violently, and the doctor found him lying on the bed, cold, -pallid, and collapsed. The soldier-servant who was with him said that -his master had suffered awfully, and had described his feelings as if -a fire was raging in his inside. The doctor administered remedies, -which so far had a good effect that the patient rallied, and on being -asked if he could account for his sudden illness--he had always been -an exceedingly robust and healthy man--he faintly murmured that he -believed it was attributable to some iced fish soup (a favourite -Russian dish), of which he had partaken freely. He thought it probable -that the fish from which the soup had been concocted were not quite -fresh. It seemed a natural supposition, for the intense heat of the -short Russian summer makes it very difficult to keep meat and fish -fresh for many hours. - -He was next asked where he had partaken of the soup, but before he -could give an answer he was again seized with violent retching. When -the spasm had passed, he collapsed once more, and all the remedies that -were tried failed to restore him. He continued, however, to breathe for -two hours, and then died. As the symptoms from which the unfortunate -man had suffered were identical with those set up by irritant poison, -an order was received that a post-mortem examination was to be made. In -due course this order was carried out, and resulted in the discovery -that death was due to an irritant poison that had set up violent -inflammation of the stomach. This seemed to be quite consistent -with the unfortunate man’s own theory that his illness was due to -unwholesome soup. - -The fish soup is a very common dish in Russia. It is made from various -kinds of fish boiled to a pulp. It is then highly seasoned, thickened -with rich, luscious cream; a quantity of olive-oil is next added, -and the mess is iced until it is nearly frozen. It is a singularly -seductive dish, but only those who have strong stomachs can stand it. -As it is only partaken of in the summer, great care has to be exercised -that the fish is quite fresh. Any carelessness in this respect is apt -to produce serious illness. The peasantry, who cannot afford cream, -and enrich the soup with large quantities of inferior oil, often -suffer severely, and not infrequently die, after a hearty meal of this -national soup, for as often as not the fish used is stale, and, as most -people know, decaying fish is a virulent poison. - -It was a knowledge of these facts which no doubt led the medical men -to jump to the conclusion that the Colonel’s death was entirely due to -the soup, a conclusion that seemed quite justified by what the dying -man himself had said. Some attempt was made to discover where he had -dined, but as this was not successful, the doctors certified that the -deceased had died from internal inflammation after partaking of soup -which was probably not fresh. Here the matter ended. The dead man was -buried with military pomp and ceremony, and many eulogies were uttered -over his grave. It was known amongst his intimate friends that he was -a married man, but owing to ‘incompatibility’ he and his wife had long -lived apart. All his effects he left by will to a nephew named Peter -Baranoff, who was a Captain in an artillery regiment, which was also -stationed in Moscow. - -It was generally supposed that Colonel Ignatof was well off, if not -wealthy, but it became known after his death that he died worth very -little. This gave rise to much gossip, and it was more than hinted that -he had squandered his means and substance on a certain lady to whom he -had been greatly attached. However, these little incidents were not so -rare as to cause any great surprise, and the Colonel and his affairs -were soon forgotten, and the world went on as usual. Colonel Ignatof -had been in his grave about twelve months, when Moscow was furnished -with another sensation. Although he had died poor, relatively, his -nephew had got something like three thousand pounds, besides a fair -amount of jewellery, some plate, books, and other odds and ends. The -young fellow had never been very steady, and after his uncle’s death -launched out into excesses which brought him under the notice of his -superiors; and he was warned that he would have to regulate his conduct -a little better or he might be called upon to resign his commission, -as his name was mixed up with a good many scandals, and there had been -much talk about certain gambling debts he had incurred and was unable -to meet. However, an unexpected and effective stop was put to his -‘goings on,’ and set everybody talking again. - -Late one night a man was picked up near one of the gates of the Kremlin -wall in a state of unconsciousness, and was conveyed by a police patrol -to the nearest station-house, as the natural inference was that he was -intoxicated. He was speedily identified as Captain Peter Baranoff, from -cards and letters found in his pockets. Within half an hour of his -admission his symptoms had become so serious as to cause alarm, and -it was deemed advisable to communicate with the military authorities. -No time was lost in doing this, but before any instructions could be -received Baranoff collapsed, and within an hour of his admission he was -dead, in spite of all the efforts made to restore him to consciousness -and prolong his life. - -The case, as may be supposed, surrounded with mystery as it was, -caused an immense sensation. The deceased man’s social position, his -connection with the army, and the financial difficulties in which it -was thought he was involved, removed the matter out of the sphere of -an ordinary affair, and it was the ‘talk of the town.’ As no reason -could be assigned for his premature decease, an autopsy was made, and -it was then found that, as in his uncle’s case, there was violent -inflammation of the coats of the stomach and the intestinal track. -In the stomach itself were the remains of some half-digested morsels -of fish; and it was also made evident that a little while before -his death the deceased had partaken freely of vodka. This led to -the supposition--which was probably correct--that intoxication was -accountable for the unconscious condition in which he was found; but -intoxication would not account for his death. He was a young fellow of -splendid physique, and none of the organs were diseased. His death, -therefore, was not due to any natural cause; and after some discussion -amongst the medical men, it was decided to certify that he had died -from eating impure food, which, by its poisonous action, had set up -inflammation, which had been much aggravated by the vodka. Of course, -there was a good deal of curiosity to know where he had spent the -evening, and how it was he should have been wandering alone outside -of the Kremlin until he fell unconscious. The inference was that -he had been revelling with friends at one or other of the numerous -haunts which abound in Moscow, and which often lure young men to their -destruction. Some attempt was made to trace his movements on the -evening of his death; but all the attempt resulted in was that it was -proved he left his quarters between six and seven. He was in private -clothes, and he incidentally mentioned to a friend that he was going to -the opera, and afterwards intended to sup with a lady acquaintance. He -did go to the opera, but left early--that is, before ten o’clock. From -that time until he was picked up unconscious later there was a blank -that could not be filled in. - -Strangely enough, at this time there was no suspicion of foul play. -That he should die in a similar manner to his uncle was considered -rather remarkable, but there the surprise ended. But within a week -of the burial a sharp-eyed and thoughtful medical student, who was -pursuing his studies in the great college at Moscow, addressed a few -lines to the _Moscow Gazette_, in which he ventured to suggest that the -doctors who examined Baranoff’s body had failed in their duty in not -causing a chemical analysis to be made of the contents of the deceased -man’s stomach; and he advanced the opinion that both Baranoff and his -uncle had been wilfully done to death. - -At first this idea was laughed at. It was spoken of as being -‘ridiculous,’ and the suspicion of foul play utterly unjustified. In a -few hours, however, public opinion changed. It would be difficult to -tell why, unless on the hypothesis that a new sensation was wanted. -A clamour arose, and grave doubts were thrown upon the doctors’ -judgment. Now, in Russia public opinion has not the weight that it has -in England, and the popular voice is often stifled whenever it begins -to grow a little too loud. But in this case there were certain details -which lent a good deal of weight to the suspicion of foul play; and in -official quarters, after much discussion, it was considered advisable -that some notice should be taken of it. Probably it would have been -otherwise but for the seeming fact that the medical men had done their -duty in a very perfunctory way, and had not been at sufficient pains to -establish the accuracy of the conclusion they came to from what they -saw during their scientific investigations. It was pointed out that -all the symptoms exhibited by the two men were quite compatible with -the suggestions of drug-poisoning; that the theory that both met their -end through inadvertently partaking of stale fish was so remarkable a -coincidence that it could not be regarded as a commonplace matter; and -that in the interest of justice, no less than of science, some further -investigation should be permitted. - -In the end an official order was issued that Baranoff’s body should -be exhumed, and the usual means taken to test, by the aid of chemical -knowledge, whether or not the deceased man came by death through an -accident, through natural causes, or as the victim of foul play. -In order to leave nothing to be desired in the way of research, a -Professor of Chemistry, who stood at the very top of the profession, -was instructed to make the analysis. This he did, with the result that -he came to the conclusion that the deceased had met his death from -a strong dose of black hellebore. As soon as the authorities were -informed of the result of the analysis, they had Colonel Ignatof’s body -taken up and subjected to chemical examination. And in this instance -also the Professor declared that death had been brought about by black -hellebore. - -At this period black hellebore was by no means a well-known poison -outside the medical profession, and the average doctor was perhaps -quite ignorant of the morbid symptoms it set up in the human subject -when a fatal dose was administered. It is classed amongst what is -known as the true narcotico-acrids, and bears the botanical name -of _Helleborus niger_, and is familiar to the general public as -the Christmas rose. Few people, however, who admire the beautiful -rose-tinted flowers of the Christmas rose, which serve to enliven the -house in the gloomy winter months, have any idea how deadly a poison -can be extracted from its roots and leaves. Its active principle, -according to chemists, is an oily matter containing an acid. Its -effects on the human being are violent retching and vomiting, delirium, -convulsions, and intense internal pains. These symptoms generally -appear in from an hour to two hours after the fatal dose is swallowed, -and death usually results in about six hours. If administered in -alcohol or food of any kind, no suspicion is aroused on the part of -the person who takes it, as the taste is quite disguised. The morbid -appearances produced in the human body are inflammation of the stomach, -the digestive canal, and particularly the great intestines. Poisonous -fish or food of any kind almost will produce these symptoms. Therefore -the medical men who certified that Colonel Ignatof and his nephew, -Captain Baranoff, both died from the effects of impure fish used for -soup were misled, and jumped to too hasty a conclusion. Some excuse -would be found for them, however, in the fact that the effects of -hellebore were not as well known then as now; at any rate, not in -Russia. And as the Colonel’s own dying opinion was that his illness -was due to the iced fish soup he had partaken of, it was perhaps -pardonable, all the other circumstances considered, that the doctors -should have been put upon a false scent, and it is pretty certain that -but for the medical student’s letter to the _Moscow Gazette_, which -sounded the alarm, no suspicion of foul play would have been aroused. - -Like most vegetable poisons, hellebore is difficult to detect, and it -can only be discovered in the dead body by means of the most delicate -tests. The chemical Professor who was charged with the important duty -of examining the remains of Ignatof and Baranoff had made toxicology -an especial study, and he had given particular attention to the very -large class of vegetable poisons, having travelled for this purpose in -various countries. He stood at the head of his profession in Russia, -and it was owing to his skill and care, and the technical knowledge he -brought to bear, that he was enabled, beyond all doubt, to establish -the fact that the two subjects he was charged to examine were the -victims of poison. - -So much having been determined, the question was mooted whether or -not the poison had been administered wilfully or accidentally. The -theory of accident was at once negatived. It was like an outrage on -common-sense to ask anyone to believe that two men, related to each -other, should each die within a year from precisely the same cause. The -coincidence was too remarkable to be admitted as probable; therefore -the matter resolved itself into murder--it was an ugly word, and all -the incidents suggested a tragedy of no ordinary kind. The case was -placed in the hands of the chief of police, who was instructed to use -every means possible to unravel the mystery. An attempt was at once -made to trace the movements of the two men for some hours before their -death. In the Colonel’s case this was not an easy matter, as he had -been dead for a year; but it was discovered that Captain Baranoff -called on a friend of his--a civilian named Alexander Vlassovsky, who -lived in a villa just on the fringe of the town--and they went together -to a café-restaurant, where they dined. After dinner they played -billiards for a short time, when they separated, as Vlassovsky had an -assignation with a lady. He did not know where Baranoff was going to. -He did not ask him, and the Captain volunteered no information. It was -proved, however, that he went to the opera, and left about ten. It was -stated most positively that when Baranoff quitted the café he was in -the pink of health, and in most excellent spirits. Some hours later he -was found in a state of unconsciousness outside of the Kremlin walls. -It followed, therefore, if the story about the café was correct--and -there was no reason to doubt it--that Baranoff must have partaken of -the fatal dose a short time before he was discovered, for the action -of the poison is very rapid. From the time, however, of his leaving to -the time he was discovered unconscious all remained a blank. Nothing -could be ascertained of his movements. It was obvious that wherever -he had been to, or whoever were the people he had been with, somebody -had an interest in keeping his movements dark, as the efforts of the -police quite failed to elicit any information. It was the same in the -Colonel’s case, and no one could discover where he had been to on the -fatal night. Moscow is a large city, honeycombed with evil haunts; -crime flourishes there to a greater extent than in any other town or -city in the whole of Russia. It has been the scene of very many deeds -of violence, for blackguardism is rampant, and numerous are the traps -for the unwary. Its population is perhaps more varied than that of any -other city of the world. Here may be seen cut-throats from the Levant; -fishermen and sailors from the Baltic; Circassians, Cossacks, Tartars, -Persians, Bokharians, Georgians, Greeks, and Jews of almost every -nationality. It may be imagined that in such a place, and amongst such -a heterogeneous collection of humanity, wickedness of every description -finds a congenial soil. Notwithstanding that, Moscow is known to all -Russians as ‘The Holy City,’ and a devout Russian, who pins his faith -to the Russo-Greek Church, regards Moscow with the same veneration that -a Mohammedan looks upon Mecca. - -After several weeks of fruitless effort to solve the mystery in which -the deaths of Colonel Ignatof and his nephew was involved, the police -had to confess themselves baffled. It seemed pretty evident that both -men had been cruelly done to death by the hand of an assassin. But -whose was the hand that committed the deed, and the motive for it, -could not be ascertained. - -It was at this stage of the proceedings that a request was made to -Michael Danevitch--who was then in St. Petersburg--to come through -to Moscow, and endeavour to solve the mystery. He complied with the -request, and at once waited upon General Govemykin, the military -governor of the city, by the General’s special desire. - -‘I want you,’ said the General, ‘to use every means that your skill -can suggest to clear up the mystery surrounding the deaths of Colonel -Ignatof and Captain Baranoff. Both these gentlemen were murdered; of -that there seems to be no doubt; and the murderers must be brought to -book. During the last few years a good many soldiers have lost their -lives in this city by foul play, and in several instances justice has -gone unsatisfied. Now two officers, men of unblemished reputation and -good social position, are killed by the same means, and yet the police -are unable to bring the crime home to anyone. It seems to me that it is -little short of disgraceful that the police supervision of a city like -this is so deficient.’ - -‘Is it deficient?’ asked Danevitch. - -‘Yes; otherwise, how is it officers and gentlemen can be brutally done -to death and the murderers escape?’ - -‘As far as I gather, this is no ordinary crime,’ remarked Danevitch. - -‘Well, perhaps not; but it shows a weakness in the organization when -our police fail to get the slightest clue to the perpetrator of the -crime. Now, what are you going to do?’ - -‘I don’t know,’ Danevitch answered, as brusquely as the General asked -the question. - -‘If you don’t know, what is the use of your taking the matter in hand?’ - -‘Pardon me, General, but I am not a prophet, therefore I cannot -foretell what I am going to do.’ - -‘Well, no, perhaps not; but you must have some idea of the lines you -intend to proceed upon.’ - -‘I shall simply try to succeed where the police have failed.’ - -‘And you may fail, too,’ exclaimed the General, who was a little piqued -by Danevitch’s brusqueness. - -‘Oh, that is very likely,’ was the answer. - -‘If you do, I’ll take some other and more drastic means to solve the -problem. Officers and men under my control shall not be done to death -with impunity.’ - -Danevitch was not affected by this display of temper, and when the -subject had been exhausted he withdrew. He recognised that the case was -a difficult one, and, in view of the fact that the police had exhausted -all their efforts, he was by no means sanguine, although he was of -the opinion that the ordinary methods of the Russian police were very -clumsy, and, in their eagerness to lay their hands on somebody, and -their fossilized belief that the whole populace was ever engaged in -some deep and dark conspiracy against constituted authority, they often -committed the most ludicrous errors. He never hesitated to condemn -the police methods of his country. He described them as inartistic, -unscientific, and brutal. His outspokenness on this score made him very -unpopular with the police, and they did not like him to have anything -to do with cases in which they had failed. It is needless to say this -did not disturb him. He had an independent mind; he worked by his own -methods, and he never allowed himself to be influenced by jealousy or -ill-will. - -His first step in connection with Colonel Ignatof’s death was to try -and get hold of his private letters and papers, as he was of opinion -that they might furnish him with a keynote; but he was informed that -private documents of all kinds belonging to the Colonel had passed into -the possession of his nephew, and when the nephew died all his papers -were secured by his executor, who declined to allow them to be seen by -anyone until he himself had gone through them; for, though he did not -give it as his reason, he was afraid of anything becoming known that -might cause a family scandal. Danevitch next sought an interview with -Alexander Vlassovsky, with whom Captain Baranoff had dined on the night -he met his death. - -Vlassovsky was a fashionable young man, and lived in what was known -as the Slobodi quarter, where most of the wealthy merchants had -their villas. The business he carried on in the city was that of a -stockbroker, and, judging from his surroundings and the style he kept -up, he was in a flourishing way. He was a bachelor, and made no secret -about it that he was fond of gaiety. - -According to the account he gave, he had been acquainted with Baranoff -for a long time, and had lent him considerable sums of money to enable -him to keep up his extravagances; for though Baranoff’s people were -people of note, and exceedingly proud, they were not rich. At any rate, -the young man was not able to get much from them, and his pay as a -Captain was too small to enable him to uphold the position he aspired -to. Of course, his financial transactions with Vlassovsky had been kept -very secret, for had they become known to the military authorities, he -would have got into serious trouble. - -It will thus be seen that the relations between the young men were -those of borrower and lender. They were not friends in the ordinary -sense. Indeed, Vlassovsky remarked to Danevitch with some bitterness: - -‘You know, like most young officers, he was as proud as Lucifer, and -seemed to think I was not his equal; though he was never averse to dine -with me and drink wine at my expense.’ - -‘Why did he come to you on the night of his death?’ - -‘To borrow money.’ - -‘Did you lend him any?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘How much?’ - -‘Two hundred roubles.’ - -‘What security did he give you for the various sums you lent him?’ - -‘Nothing beyond his acknowledgment.’ - -‘And you were satisfied with that?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Why?’ - -‘Because, if he had failed me at any time, I could have reported him to -the military authorities, and that would have been his ruin.’ - -‘But you never had occasion to do that?’ - -‘No, certainly not.’ - -‘Did he ever pay you back any of the money he borrowed?’ - -‘Oh yes.’ - -‘Where did he get the money from to pay his debts?’ - -‘How can I tell you that? He did not make me his confidant.’ - -‘Did he owe you much at the time of his death?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘How much?’ - -‘Nearly ten thousand roubles.’ - -‘That is a large sum! I suppose you will lose it?’ - -‘Oh dear no!’ - -‘Why? Did he die worth money?’ - -‘His life was insured for ten thousand. I hold the policy and a letter -from him to the effect that, should he die before paying me my due, I -was to receive the policy money.’ - -‘Have you any idea where he spent his last evening, after leaving you?’ - -‘It is known that he went to the opera, because some acquaintances saw -him there.’ - -‘But after that?’ - -‘I haven’t the remotest idea.’ - -‘Do you know nothing of his affairs of gallantry?’ - -‘Absolutely nothing.’ - -‘You think, however, that he had lady acquaintances?’ - -‘I should say there isn’t a doubt about it. He was wild.’ - -‘And possibly his death was due to jealousy on the part of a rival?’ - -‘Very possibly.’ - -‘Did you know his uncle?’ - -‘I did.’ - -‘Did you accommodate him with money?’ - -‘Yes, occasionally.’ - -‘Was he in your debt when he died?’ - -‘No; he paid me all he owed me a little while before his death.’ - -‘Have you any theory to suggest with reference to the deaths of these -two gentlemen?’ - -‘None whatever.’ - -‘Were you very much surprised when you heard of the strange way in -which they both died?’ - -‘I can’t say that I was.’ - -‘Why were you not?’ asked Danevitch quickly. - -‘In the first place, I didn’t know they had been murdered.’ - -‘But when you did?’ - -‘Then I thought they had made themselves obnoxious to somebody, and the -somebody had put them out of the way.’ - -‘And yet you have no idea who that somebody is?’ - -‘No.’ - -Danevitch stopped his questioning at this point. As he left the house -of Alexander Vlassovsky he was of opinion he had ‘struck a trail’--to -quote his own words--and he began to think out the ways and means of -proving whether he was right or wrong. - -In a semi-fashionable quarter of St. Petersburg lived a lady known -generally as Madame Julie St. Joseph. She was of French origin, but had -been a great many years in Russia. Her husband had carried on business -in Moscow as an engraver and chromo-lithographer. He had been dead, -however, a very long time, and seemed to have passed from the public -mind; but it was vaguely remembered that he was almost old enough at -the time of his death to have been his wife’s grandfather. - -Julie St. Joseph was exceedingly handsome, and at this period was about -forty years of age. She might have passed, however, for being even -younger, as she was remarkably well preserved, fresh-looking, bright -of eye, and with an abundance of animal spirits, which seemed rather -to indicate the girl than the matured woman. Much wonder was very -naturally expressed that the pretty widow had remained a widow so long, -for, as was well known, she had had offers of marriage innumerable, and -might, had she been so disposed, have made an excellent match. But the -pretty Julie was fond of gaiety and freedom. As a wealthy widow--it -was universally believed that she was wealthy--she could do as she -liked, and attract around her men of all sorts and conditions, and of -all ages. They paid her homage. She held them, so to speak, in her -hand; she could twist them round her fingers. Quarrels about her were -innumerable, and more than one jealous and hot-blooded fellow had lost -his life in a duel of which the bewitching Julie was the cause. - -The style she elected to live in was compatible with the possession of -riches. She kept up a splendid establishment; her house was sumptuously -furnished; she had numerous servants, many horses. Her winter sledges -were renowned for their luxurious appointments; her summer carriages -were almost unique. She was a woman of the most sybaritic tastes; and -every taste was pandered to and pampered. Among her servants was a -Creole; he was a man of medium height, though of powerful build, and -with a sullen, morose expression. He was always called Roko, but of his -origin and history nothing was known. He seemed to be very strongly -attached to his mistress, and always attended her wherever she went; -but no man endowed with the faculty of speech could have been more -silent than he was. He rarely spoke, except when compelled to answer -some question; and it was rumoured that, like a faithful hound, he -slept at his mistress’s door, and kept watch and ward over her during -the hours of night, while during the day he obeyed her slightest beck -or call. - -It was the beginning of the Russian New Year, and Madame Julie St. -Joseph gave a ball. It was a very grand ball; everything was done -on a lavish scale, and the pomp and magnificence was almost on a -par with a State function. The people, however, who attended the -widow’s festive gathering could not lay claim to any high social -position--at any rate, not so far as the ladies were concerned. -The ladies who were in the habit of frequenting the pretty Julie’s -salons were of questionable reputations. Julie was not recognised as -a person of social distinction, and in the female world some rather -cruel things were said about her. The men, however, represented many -grades of life: the Army, Navy, Law; the Diplomatic Service; Art, -Literature, the Drama--intellectual Bohemia generally, though not a -few of these men were at considerable pains to conceal the fact that -they visited the charming widow, for, had it been generally known, -their own women-folk might have protested in a way that would have -been anything but pleasant, and they would have found themselves -ostracised in those higher circles in which many of them moved. -Probably Madame St. Joseph was indifferent to the opinions of her own -sex, so long as she could exact homage from men; and there could be no -two opinions about the power which she wielded over the sterner sex. -It was, therefore, scarcely matter for wonder that the ladies of St. -Petersburg should feel embittered against her. When a man is jealous, -he takes a rough-and-ready means of showing his jealousy; if he has a -rival, he generally ‘goes for him,’ and the best man wins. A woman’s -jealousy, on the other hand, finds expression in a different way. In -her bitterness she would sully the reputation of a spotless angel, and -her mother-tongue has no words strong enough wherewith to express her -hatred. No wonder that the old painters, in depicting jealousy, always -took a female as a model. Of course Madame Julie St. Joseph’s beauty, -and the power it enabled her to wield, made the women very jealous -indeed; but if her female guests lacked quality, the deficiency was -amply compensated for by the high standing of many of the men. She -knew, and was proud of the fact, that there was hardly a man in Russia, -no matter how exalted his position, that she could not have brought to -her footstool had she desired to do so. Such a woman was necessarily -bound to become notorious and have numberless enemies. But the widow -was beautiful, she was rich, she gave grand receptions, she spent money -liberally; therefore she had no difficulty in rallying around her a -powerful body of adherents; and, while half St. Petersburg spoke ill of -her, the other half lauded her. - -Amongst the guests who attended the ball in question was a -dark-skinned, somewhat peculiar-looking man, said to be a Polish -Count, named Prebenski. He had a heavy moustache and beard, and wore -spectacles. As he appeared to be an entire stranger to the company, -the hostess took him for a time under her wing; but, as he could not -or would not dance, and seemed to find irresistible attraction in -the buffet, where there were unlimited supplies of vodka, as well as -wines of all kinds, she left him to his own devices, and bestowed the -favour of her smiles on more congenial guests. At length the Count, -from the effects, apparently, of too great a consumption of strong -drinks, sought a quiet nook in an anteroom, and ensconcing himself -in a large chair, sank into a heavy sleep. Some time later, when the -night was growing very old and the grayness of the winter dawn was -beginning to assert itself, and the guests had dwindled down to a mere -handful, Roko, the Creole, entered the room. Seeing the Count sleeping -there, he paused for a moment as if surprised; then he shook the guest -roughly, but getting no response, save a grunt, he went away, returning -in a few minutes with another man. That man was Alexander Vlassovsky, -who approached the Count, shook him, called him, and being no more -successful in his efforts to arouse him than Roko had been, he told -Roko to carry him upstairs to a bedroom. That was done, and the Count -was tossed upon a bed and left there; but before half an hour had -passed Vlassovsky came into the room carrying a small shaded lamp, for -though it was fully daylight heavy curtains were drawn at the window. - -He passed the light of the lamp over the sleeping man’s eyes, shook -him, called him, but as the Count remained unconscious of these -efforts, the intruder placed the lamp on a small table and, seating -himself in a chair by the bedside, began to search the pockets of -the guest. The search resulted in the production of a miscellaneous -collection of articles, which were duly returned; but at last a -pocket-book was drawn forth; it was opened, and found to contain a -considerable number of bank-notes, representing in the aggregate -a large sum of money. These notes Vlassovsky took the liberty -of transferring to his own pocket, and replacing the lightened -pocket-book, withdrew. - -Some hours later Count Prebenski rang the bell in his room, and in -response to the summons Roko appeared, bearing a lamp. The Count eyed -him for some moments in apparent astonishment, and then asked: - -‘Where am I?’ - -‘In the house of Madame Julie St. Joseph.’ - -‘What is the hour?’ - -‘It is three o’clock.’ - -‘In the morning?’ - -‘No. The afternoon.’ Roko drew the curtains, and revealed the bright, -steel-coloured winter sky, tinged a little towards the horizon with a -flush of red. - -The Count seemed puzzled. He stared first at the sky, then at the -Creole. - -‘How is it I am here?’ he asked. - -Roko revealed all his gleaming teeth as he grinned in reply. - -‘How is it I am here?’ repeated the Count, peremptorily and hotly. - -‘Your Excellency indulged too freely in liquor, and we had to put you -to bed.’ - -‘Umph!’ mused the Count; ‘it was kind; now, tell me, did your mistress, -Madame St. Joseph, know of my condition?’ - -‘She did.’ - -‘Was she angry?’ - -‘Well, Excellency, she certainly wasn’t pleased.’ - -‘Ah! I fear I have made a bea---- a fool of myself. Give me the -wherewith to put myself in a presentable condition, and I will see -madam. By the way, has she risen yet?’ - -‘Oh yes.’ - -‘Good; as soon as I have performed my toilet, return here and conduct -me to your mistress.’ - -Roko bowed and withdrew. In half an hour he came back again, and, -followed by the Count, led the way to Madame St. Joseph’s boudoir, a -very comfortable little retreat, daintily furnished, cosy and bright -with knick-knacks, cushions, curtains, luxurious rugs, and warmed to -the high temperature beloved of Russians by means of a polished metal -radiating stove. Dressed in a most elegant fur-trimmed dressing-gown, -madame was stretched upon a divan. Beside her was a Moorish table, -on which stood coffee and cigarettes. She was smoking as the Count -entered. Without rising, she extended her delicate white hand to him, -and, smiling sweetly, said: - -‘Pray be seated, Count. Roko, pour out some coffee. Will you take vodka -or cognac with it, Count?’ - -The Count chose vodka, and his wants having been supplied, the lady -bade Roko retire. - -‘I owe you an apology, madame,’ began the Count. ‘I forgot myself last -night. It was good of you to take care of me. I am deeply indebted to -you for your hospitality.’ - -‘Oh, a mere trifle,’ smiled the lady. ‘My faithful slave found you -asleep in a chair, and as his efforts failed to awaken you, he carried -you upstairs by my orders.’ - -At this point in the conversation the door opened, and Vlassovsky -appeared on the threshold; but seeing that madame had a visitor, he -quickly withdrew. - -‘I am sorry to say I am the victim of a strange weakness,’ answered the -Count. ‘I am a temperate man, but should I be tempted to indulge beyond -my ordinary allowance it throws me into a sort of coma, from which I -only recover after many hours of death-like sleep.’ - -‘You are to be pitied, Count.’ - -‘Your pity is worth having,’ he answered. ‘Now, tell me, madame, what -penalty am I to pay for having so far forgotten myself?’ - -‘Penalty, Count!’ - -‘Yes. I am wealthy. Money is no object to me. I have notes. I am almost -alone in the world.’ - -‘Indeed!’ exclaimed the lady, with animation, and regarding her guest -with new-born interest; ‘you are fortunate. I presume you are staying -here temporarily?’ - -‘Yes. I am travelling for my pleasure. When our mutual friend Trepoff -was good enough to ask you to extend your courtesy to me, and sent me -an invitation to your ball, I accepted it with pleasure, and was glad -to leave the loneliness of my hotel; but it grieves me sorely to think -that I so forgot myself.’ - -‘Pray, Count, do not let the matter give you any concern,’ said the -charming widow, as she sat up and again extended her soft hand to him -to kiss. ‘Are you likely to remain in St. Petersburg long?’ - -‘My stay will be regulated by the amount of pleasure I experience here. -But a hotel is not the most comfortable place in the winter, and I -confess I feel dull and lonely.’ - -The lady fixed her keen eyes upon him as she remarked: - -‘Indeed, I can well understand that, Count. Now, if I might venture to -ask you to make my poor abode your residence during your stay in the -city, it would afford me great pleasure to play the hostess. Will you -accept of my hospitality?’ - -‘Really, Madame St. Joseph, I, I----’ - -‘Pray, no thanks or excuses, Count; the pleasure is mine, and I will -endeavour at least to prevent your suffering from ennui.’ - -The Count rose, and warmly pressing her hand, said he was overwhelmed -by her goodness, and no less enchanted with her beauty. He accepted her -invitation in the spirit, in which it was given, and without losing any -time would hasten to his hotel, pay his bill, and remove his things at -once to madame’s house. An hour later he drove up in a drosky with his -luggage, and was conducted to the handsomest of the guest-chambers. -That night he dined _tête-à-tête_ with madame, and in the course of the -dinner he told her that the previous night he managed to lose, or had -been relieved of, in some way, a large sum of money. When she uttered -exclamations of regret, and expressed her sympathy with him, he laughed -carelessly, made light of his loss, and said that, large though the sum -was, it gave him no real concern, and he would regard it as a fine he -had paid for his rudeness. - -The widow sighed and told him he was a fortunate man in being able to -bear such a loss without feeling it. - -A fortnight passed, and the Count found himself in comfortable -quarters. As if desirous of monopolizing his company, the widow -invited nobody to the house, and those who paid the ordinary courtesy -calls she speedily dismissed; while gentlemen who had been in the habit -of dropping in of an evening to play cards and sup with pretty Julie -were told by Roko that she was suffering so much from the fatigues of -the ball that she could see no one. One caller, Peter Trepoff, who came -specially to inquire about the Count, was told that though he had been -there he had departed, without saying where he was going to. All that -fortnight she remained very secluded. She would not accompany the Count -when he invited her to go out, and she so strongly persuaded him not -to go that he yielded and remained indoors. Every fascination, every -talent she possessed, she put forth and exerted to amuse and entertain -him, until he was as pliable as clay in her hands. One night he had -retired to rest, and had been in his room about an hour, when he heard -the handle of his door move. The door was not locked; indeed, there was -no key wherewith to lock it, and he had not concerned himself about -it in any way. Very gently, and almost without a sound, the latch was -raised and the door pushed open. Presently Roko entered on his hands -and knees. He paused and listened. Certain nasal sounds seemed to -indicate that the Count was sleeping very soundly. Roko carried a tiny -little lantern, and he flashed a ray across the sleeper’s face. Having -satisfied himself that the Count was asleep, he drew from his pocket a -phial containing a colourless liquid, and, approaching a night-table, -on which stood a jug of barley-tea, which the Count had in his room -every night, as he said it had been his custom for years always to -drink barley-tea in the night-time, the Creole poured the contents of -the phial into the jug, and having done that, he withdrew as stealthily -as he had entered. Soon afterwards the Count rose, procured a light, -and took from his portmanteau a large flask, into which he emptied the -barley-tea. Then he addressed himself to sleep again, and slept the -sleep of the just. - -At the usual morning meal he did not put in an appearance; but he sent -a request to madame, asking her to be good enough to come and see him. -The request was speedily complied with. When she appeared she looked -as charming and as radiant as ever. He was profuse in his apologies -for having troubled her to come to his room, but pleaded as an excuse -a feeling of extreme illness. She displayed great anxiety and concern, -and wanted to send for a doctor; but he told her it was nothing. He -thought something had disagreed with him; that was all. It would pass -off. A doctor was not needed. She declared, however, that if he felt no -better in an hour’s time she would insist on his seeing a doctor. An -hour slipped by, and he was still in the same condition, so a messenger -was despatched for a doctor, who speedily put in an appearance. - -To the doctor’s inquiries, the patient said he believed he had eaten -or drunk something which had upset him. The doctor was of the same -opinion, and prescribed accordingly. In the course of the afternoon -the Count said he felt somewhat better, and though the hostess tried -to dissuade him from doing so, he announced his intention of going out -to get a breath of fresh air. He wanted her to accompany him. That she -stoutly refused to do; and when she saw he was determined to go she -withdrew her opposition, and expressed a hope that he would speedily -return. He assured her that he would do so. He said he was going to -have a drive in a sledge on the Neva for two or three hours. Having put -on his Shuba, his fur gloves, fur-lined boots, and fur cap, he took his -departure. - -After an absence of about three hours, he returned, and declared that -he felt much better. He spent about an hour with the lady in her -boudoir, then retired. She was very anxious that Roko should sit up -with him, but he resolutely set his face against that, saying that -there was not the least necessity for it. He was an exceedingly sound -sleeper, and he was sure he would sleep as soundly as usual. About -midnight his door was opened silently, as on the previous night, and -once again Roko crept stealthily to the bed-table, and emptied the -contents of a phial into the barley-tea. Soon after he had withdrawn -the Count jumped up, poured the tea into another flask, which he -produced from his portmanteau, and then lay down in the bed again -until a neighbouring church clock solemnly and slowly tolled out two -o’clock. Almost immediately the Count rose, and dressed himself. That -done, he took from his portmanteau a revolver, and having examined it -to ascertain if it was properly loaded, he lighted a lantern provided -with a shutter, to shut off the light when required. Going to the -door, he opened it gently, and listened. All was silent. There wasn’t -a sound, save that made by the wind, which whistled mournfully through -the corridor. Having satisfied himself that nothing human was stirring, -the Count proceeded cautiously along the corridor, descended a short -flight of stairs to another corridor, along which he passed, and gained -the main door that gave access to the street. He opened this door, -though not without some difficulty, as there were bolts and chains to -be undone, and he worked cautiously for fear of making a noise. - -At last all obstacles were removed, and the heavy door swung on its -hinges, letting in a blast of icy air, and revealing the brilliant -stars that burned like jewels in the cloudless black sky. In a few -minutes eight men filed into the house noiselessly, and the door was -closed, but chains and bolts were left undone. The men exchanged a few -sentences in whispers. Then, following the Count, they proceeded to the -sleeping apartment of Madame Julie St. Joseph. In an anteroom, through -which it was necessary to pass to reach her room, Roko, enveloped in -furs, lay on a couch, locked in sleep. A shaded lamp stood on a bracket -against the wall. - -Four men remained in this room; the other four and the Count entered -the lady’s chamber. Here, again, a shaded lamp burned on a bracket, -and close to it an ikon--or sacred picture--hung. The pretty widow -was also sleeping. By this time the Count had undergone a strange -transformation. His beard and moustache had disappeared, revealing -the smooth-shaved, mobile face of Michael Danevitch, the detective. -He shook the lady. With a start she awoke. The four policemen had -concealed themselves; Danevitch alone was visible. It was some moments -before madame realized the situation; then, seeing a strange man by -her bedside, she uttered a cry, and called for Roko. He sprang up, and -instantly found himself in the grip of two stalwart men, while the -revolver under his pillow, which he tried to get, was seized. - -‘Madame Julie St. Joseph,’ said Danevitch, ‘get up and dress yourself.’ - -‘What does this mean?’ she asked, with a look of alarm on her pretty -face, as she thrust her hand under the pillow, where she likewise had a -revolver concealed. But in an instant Danevitch had seized her wrist in -his powerful grasp, and one of his colleagues removed the weapon. - -‘It means,’ he answered, ‘that your career of infamy has come to an -end. You are under arrest.’ - -A look of terror and horror swept across her face as she asked in a -choked sort of voice: - -‘On what grounds am I arrested?’ - -‘That you will learn later on. Sufficient for you to know that you are -a prisoner. Come, rise and dress yourself.’ - -She recognised the hopelessness of resistance, and, of course, she -understood that her faithful watch-hound Roko had been rendered -powerless. She was trapped; that she knew. But it did not dawn upon her -then that the Count and Danevitch were one and the same. Consequently -she was puzzled to understand how her downfall had been brought about. - -With a despairing sigh she rose and put on her clothes. Half an hour -later she was being conveyed to the gaol with Roko, accompanied by -Danevitch and three of his colleagues. The other five had been left in -charge of the house. When madame had somewhat recovered her presence of -mind, she assumed a bravado which she was far from feeling, and asked -Danevitch airily if he knew how her guest the Count was. - -‘Oh yes,’ answered Danevitch. ‘He is perfectly well, as you may -judge for yourself; for I it was who played the part of the Count so -effectively.’ - -With an absolute scream madame bit her lip with passion, until the -blood flowed, and dug her nails into the palms of her hands. - -‘What a fool, a dolt, an idiot I’ve been! But tell me, how was it Peter -Trepoff asked me to invite you to the ball?’ - -‘Peter Trepoff is my agent, madame.’ - -With a suppressed cry of maddening rage, the wretched woman covered her -face with her hands and groaned, as she realized how thoroughly she had -been outwitted. - -That same night, or, rather, some hours before the widow and Roko -were swept into the net which had been so cleverly prepared for them, -Alexander Vlassovsky was arrested in Moscow. Danevitch learned that -fact by telegraph when he went out in the afternoon. He had first -begun to suspect Vlassovsky after that interview when he was making -inquiries about the death of Captain Baranoff. The result was that he -intercepted letters from Madame Julie St. Joseph, who had returned to -St. Petersburg. She had a small house in Moscow, which she occasionally -visited in order to secure victims. In Moscow, where he was well known, -the wily Vlassovsky did not go near her, but he helped her as far as -he could in her fiendish work. He had been very cleverly trapped by -the notes which he relieved the supposed Count of. Those notes were -not genuine, and when he attempted to pass them he was arrested, for -Danevitch had notified the Moscow police. - -Subsequent revelations brought to light that the wretched woman had -been in the habit of luring men to their doom by means of her fatal -beauty. She bled them of their money, her plan being to cajole them -into giving her a lien on any property they might possess. This was -most artfully worked by the aid of Vlassovsky, and when the victim had -been securely caught, he was poisoned. The poisons were concocted by -Madame St. Joseph herself, and when she could not do it herself, Roko -administered the fatal dose or doses. She had picked up this man in -Spanish America, where she had been for some time, and, weaving her -spell about him, had made him absolutely her slave. - -Vlassovsky, who, up to the time that he made her acquaintance, had been -an honest, industrious man, fell under the magic of her influence, as -most men did, and became her all-too-willing tool. His nature once -corrupted, all scruples were thrown to the winds, and he hastened to -try and enrich himself. It seemed that the miserable woman really -loved him, and though he was fatally fascinated with her, he was -afraid of her; and, as he confessed, his aim was to accumulate money -as quickly as possible, and then flee from her and the country for -ever. But unfortunately for himself, during that memorable interview -following Captain Baranoff’s death, he had aroused the suspicions of -Danevitch, whose marvellous perceptive faculties had enabled him to -detect something or another in Vlassovsky’s manner, or answers to the -questions put to him, which made him suspicious. For Danevitch to -become suspicious meant that he would never rest until he had proved -his suspicions justified or unfounded. - -It need scarcely be said that with her arrest in St. Petersburg -Madame St. Joseph’s career came to an end. From the moment that -Danevitch entered her house her doom was sealed. Believing him to be -the person he represented himself to be, she begged of him to help -her financially; and, seeming to yield to her entreaties, he drew up -a document which purported to make over to her at his death certain -estates in Poland. Of course, these estates had no existence. Having -secured him, as she thought, her next step was to poison him by small -doses of black hellebore, so that he might gradually sicken and die. -Her devilish cunning was evidenced in every step she took. She would -not appear in public with him, nor did she allow any of the visitors -to her house to see him. Consequently it would not be generally known -that she had associated with him. As his illness developed by means of -repeated doses, she would have had him removed to a hotel, and she knew -pretty well that, as in Colonel Ignatof’s case, he would shrink from -letting it be known that he had been intimate with her. Her cunning, -however, overreached itself; she was defeated with her own weapons; -Danevitch had been too much for her. The poisoned barley-tea he -submitted to analysis, and the evidence against her was overwhelming. -But when she found that there was no hope, she was determined to defeat -justice, and one morning she was found dead in her cell: she had -poisoned herself with prussic acid. The acid was conveyed to her by a -warder, who was heavily bribed by one of her friends to do it. It cost -him his liberty, however, for he was sent to Northern Siberia for the -term of his natural life. - -Roko died very soon afterwards from typhoid fever contracted in the -prison, but he was faithful to the last, for never a word could be -wrung from his lips calculated to incriminate the strange woman who had -thrown such a spell around him. Vlassovsky was deported to Northern -Siberia in company with the treacherous warder. He very soon succumbed, -however, to the awful hardships he was called upon to endure and the -rigours of the Arctic climate. - -The number of Madame St. Joseph’s victims was never determined. That -they were numerous there was not the slightest doubt; and had it not -been for the cleverness of Danevitch she would probably have continued -to pursue her infamous career for years longer, and ultimately have -passed away in the odour of sanctity. Her downfall, it need scarcely be -said, caused great satisfaction in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where she -had destroyed so many of her victims. - - - - -THE STRANGE STORY OF AN ATTACHÉ. - - -It can readily be understood that Danevitch led not only an active -life, but a varied one; and the cases he was called upon to deal with -revealed many remarkable phases of human nature. He never attempted -to pose as a moralist, but he frequently deplored the fact that -wickedness and evil should so largely predominate over goodness. He -was also apt to wax indignant against the vogue to decry anything in -the nature of sensation. He was in the habit of saying that life from -the cradle to the grave is full of sensations, and that the inventions -of the fictionist are poor, flat, and stale, when compared with the -realities of existence. But this is undoubtedly the experience of -everyone who knows the world and his kind. It is only the cheap critic, -the bigot, or the fool, who has the boldness to deny the existence of -sensation in real life, and to sneer at what he is pleased to term -melodramatic improbabilities. There is no such thing as a melodramatic -improbability. The only charge that can legitimately be levelled -at the so-called sensational writer is his tendency to grotesque -treatment of subjects which should simply be faithful reproductions -from life. The curious story of young Count Dashkoff, the Russian -attaché, with whom this narrative is concerned, illustrates in a very -forcible way the views advanced in the foregoing lines. Indeed, as -Danevitch himself says, if anyone had invented the story and put it -into print, he would have raised the ire of the army of critics--the -self-constituted high-priests of purity, who, being unable to improve -or even equal that which they condemn, are all the more violent in -their condemnation. - -Count Dashkoff was a young man, a member of a very old Russian family, -who had in their day wielded great power, and before the abolition -of serfdom took place, had held sway over more serfs than any other -family in the whole of the empire. The Count had distinguished himself -in many ways. His career, up to the time of the extraordinary events -about to be recorded, had been marked by brilliancy and shade. As a -student and a scholar he had attracted the attention of many notable -men, more particularly by his well-known and remarkable work, entitled -‘The Theory of Creation,’ which is conspicuous for its erudition, -its deep research, and its wide grasp and clever treatment of a -tremendous subject. The book is, and will ever remain, a standard, -and consequently an enduring monument to the Count’s ability and -industry. On the other hand, he had made himself notorious by certain -excesses, and a recklessness of conduct which had shocked the -proprieties and outraged the feelings of those who were interested in -him and hoped that he would ultimately rise to power and position. -Of course, excuses were forthcoming on the grounds of his youth, -and, as if trying to establish a right by two wrongs, it was urged -that he had simply done what most Russian youths do who are born to -high estate and have control of wealth. As a stepping-stone to the -future greatness predicted for him by his friends, the Count, after -a probationary course in the diplomatic service at home, was sent as -an attaché to the Russian Embassy in Paris. As might be supposed, he -took kindly to Parisian life. He was what is usually termed an elegant -young man, with æsthetic tastes. When he first went to Paris he was -about eight-and-twenty, and, apart from the advantages of youth, he -had wealth, good looks, sound health, and a cheerful disposition. He -enjoyed life, and showed no disposition to mortify the flesh by an -austere or monastic régime. His private residence in the Champs Élysées -was conspicuous for the magnificence of its appointments, and was the -rendezvous of the élite of Paris society--that frivolous section -which lives for no higher purpose than to live, and is attracted to -wealth and luxury as bees are attracted to sugar. It seemed that this -apparently fortunate young man, who could be serious enough when -occasion required, was fond of attention and homage. He loved to be -surrounded with a crowd of admirers, who flattered him, praised his -bric-à-brac, and gorged themselves with the good things he invariably -set before them. He knew, no doubt, that they were all fawners and -sycophants, but, still, they made up a little world over which he -ruled, and wherever he led the noodles would follow. - -Two years of this sort of life passed, and then Danevitch was -instructed to proceed with all haste from Russia to try and discover -what had become of the Count, for he had suddenly and mysteriously -disappeared, and all efforts of the Paris police and the boasted -skill of the Parisian detectives had failed to reveal a trace of him. -The facts of the case were as follows: In the course of the month of -January the Count gave a grand ball and reception at his elegant hotel, -and the event drew together the gilded youth of both sexes. These -functions at the Count’s residence were always marked by a magnificence -of splendour and a lavish expenditure which seemed hardly consonant -with his position as a mere attaché. But it must not be forgotten that -he was the heir to great wealth, and represented a noble family who had -ever been distinguished for the almost regal style in which they lived. - -About two o’clock in the morning the Count drew an intimate friend of -his--a Monsieur Eugène Peon--on one side, and told him he wanted to -slip away for an hour, but he did not wish it to be known that he had -gone out. He would be sure to be back in about an hour, he added. A few -minutes later the concierge saw him leave the hall. He was attired in -a very handsome and costly fur coat, with a cap to match; and though -the weather was bitterly cold and the ground covered with snow, he wore -patent-leather shoes. The concierge, who was much surprised at the fact -of his master leaving the house in the midst of the revels, asked him -if he wanted a carriage. To this question the Count answered curtly, -and, according to the porter, angrily, ‘No.’ The night wore itself out. -The dancers danced themselves into limpness and prostration, and began -to depart. Some surprise had been expressed at the Count’s absence, and -various inquiries had been made about him; but it was suggested that -the seductive influences of the wine-cup had proved too much for him, -and he had retired. This hint or suggestion appeared to satisfy the -light-headed revellers, who gave no further thought to the matter. His -friend, Eugène Peon, considered it very strange that the Count should -go away and remain away in such a manner, to the neglect of his guests, -for he was the most punctilious host. But Peon set it down to an -assignation, and thought that he had found the society of some fair one -more attractive than the glitter and glare of the ballroom. The day had -very well advanced before there was anything like real surprise felt at -the Count’s prolonged absence. - -It appeared that Eugène Peon called at his friend’s hotel soon after -three o’clock in the afternoon, and, ascertaining that he was not at -home, went down to the Embassy to inquire for him there, but to his -astonishment was informed that the Count had not been there for two -days. Although astonished, Peon was not uneasy. He stated that he -saw no cause to be uneasy, although he had never known his friend do -such a thing before, and was aware that he was most attentive to his -duties. When he called again on the following morning, however, and -was informed that the Count was still absent, he began then to fear -that something was wrong, and he at once communicated his fears to some -of the Count’s close personal friends; he had no relations in Paris -at all. A consultation was held, but there seem to have been divided -counsels, and no steps were taken to ascertain the Count’s whereabouts, -though some inquiries were made of the members of the household, but -all that could be elicited was that the concierge saw his master go out -about two o’clock, and that he was dressed in patent-leather boots, a -heavy fur coat, and a fur cap. From the tone in which he said ‘No,’ -when asked if he wanted a carriage, he appeared to be angry; but there -was no indication in his gait or speech that he was under the influence -of wine. It was not until another whole day had passed that anything -like real alarm had set in. The alarm by this time had reached the -Embassy, and it was decided that the police should be communicated -with. Strangely enough, the police did not at first attach any serious -importance to the matter. They made certain inquiries in a perfunctory -manner, and for some inscrutable reason--unless it was sheer, downright -pig-headedness, a quality often enough conspicuous in the French -police--they came to the conclusion that ‘Monsieur le Comte’ had been -guilty of some little escapade, and would turn up very shortly. As this -prediction had not been fulfilled when another twenty-four hours had -elapsed, a much more serious view was taken of the young man’s absence, -and dark hints were let drop that he had been inveigled into one of the -haunts of vice which abound in the gay city, and had been murdered. The -murder theory was at once taken up; detectives were communicated with, -and the theory of murder found general acceptance. - -As may be imagined, a gentleman, who by reason of his position and his -riches had cut a conspicuous figure in society, disappearing suddenly -in this way was bound to cause a sensation, and as the Parisians dearly -love a sensation and a scandal, the matter was a fruitful topic of -conversation for several days, while much ink was expended over it by -the journalists. But notwithstanding the publicity given to the matter, -and the efforts of police and detectives, another week passed, and not -a trace or sign of the missing man had been obtained. - -Up to this point the Count’s relatives in Russia had not been -communicated with, from a desire to avoid alarm, for there were those -who still hoped he would turn up again all right; but now his Russian -friends in Paris regarded the affair as too serious to be longer -withheld. As a preliminary, a message was at once sent asking if the -Count had returned home, and almost simultaneously with the despatch -of that message a courier set out for Russia with the tidings and -details. - -As the Count--as far as was known--had not returned to Russia, great -consternation was caused amongst his friends by the report that reached -them, and no time was lost in securing the services of Danevitch, -who was instructed to leave for Paris without a moment’s delay, and -institute independent inquiries. - -‘I found, on arriving in the French capital,’ says Danevitch, ‘that by -order of the Russian Ambassador all the Count’s things had been sealed -up and his house temporarily closed. My preliminary investigations -were directed to trying to discover if there were any grounds for -believing that the missing man had committed suicide. This inquiry was -necessarily forced upon one--at any rate upon me, although I learnt -that the possibilities of suicide had never entered the heads of the -French police. And though at first they had suggested murder, they -soon abandoned that idea, for no other reason, as it appeared, than -that they had not been able to find his body. And in consequence of -this they insisted that he had taken himself off to some other country -in order to avoid the results of conduct unbecoming a gentleman and -a member of the Embassy. When they were asked to give a name to his -conduct, they declined, but darkly hinted at something very dreadful. I -myself could find no grounds for the theory of suicide, while everyone -at the Embassy, as well as all who knew him, indignantly repudiated the -slur which was sought to be cast upon the young gentleman’s character. -I could find no one who had a word to say against his honour. That he -might have had _affaires d’amour_, as the French call them, was readily -admitted; but as all is considered fair in love, as in war, these -matters were not supposed to reflect on the honour of a man. - -‘As Monsieur Eugène Peon had been very intimate with the Count, -I questioned that gentleman very closely concerning his friend’s -movements, and elicited that he had been a pretty general lover, but, -so far as he knew, the Count had formed no serious attachment to -anybody. Peon could suggest no reason why the Count should have left -his guests so abruptly, unless it was to keep an assignation. - -‘Now, it must be remembered that when he left his house it was about -two o’clock on a winter morning, and, according to the concierge, he -seemed angry when he went out. This seemed to me to point to two things -as absolutely certain. Firstly, the Count’s going out at such an hour -was not premeditated. Secondly, whatever appointment he went to keep, -it was not an agreeable one to him, and, being annoyed, he displayed -his irritation in the sharp answer he gave the concierge. These points -seemed to me of great importance, and naturally led me to an inquiry -directed to finding out if one of his servants had delivered any -message to him, or conveyed any letter during the evening. - -‘The servants had been dismissed, and it was not an easy matter to -reach them all; but by persevering I succeeded in doing so, and found -at last that the Count’s body-servant, a Frenchman, named Auguste -Chauzy, had been out all the evening, after having dressed his master, -and knowing that he would not be wanted again until the morning. He -returned, however, soon after midnight, and just as he was about to -enter the house, a man stepped up to him hurriedly, and, putting a -sealed envelope into his hand, said, “Give that immediately to your -master, Count Dashkoff. Fail not to do so, as it is a matter of life -and death.” - -‘When Chauzy got into the hall, he glanced at the envelope, and saw -that it simply bore the Count’s name--no address; but in the left-hand -corner was the French word _Pressant_ (Urgent) underlined. The valet -could not get near his master for some time after this, but as soon as -an opportunity occurred to do so, he handed him the note. The moment -the Count’s eye caught the superscription, a frown settled on his face, -and, with a gesture of annoyance, he thrust the letter unopened in his -pocket. About half an hour later, however, the valet was informed by -another servant that the Count required his fur coat and cap. They -were to be placed in his dressing-room ready for him. - -‘I questioned Chauzy about the man who had handed him the letter in -the street; but the only description he could give of him was that he -seemed to be well dressed, was of medium height, and had a dark beard -and moustache.’ - -Having brought to light the fact about the letter, Danevitch struck a -keynote, as it were--and one which had not been touched upon by the -French police. If that letter could have been found, it might have -revealed much; but it was almost certain that if the Count did not -destroy it before leaving the house he had it in his pocket when he -went out. Danevitch’s deduction from the letter incident was this: The -Count went out owing to some communication made to him in that letter. -He did not go willingly; consequently his errand was a disagreeable -one, and could hardly have been to keep a love tryst. Whoever the -writer of the letter was, he or she must have had some powerful hold -on the Count to induce him to leave his friends and guests, and go -out at two o’clock on a bitter winter morning. This line of reasoning -was one which Danevitch could not avoid, for it was his wont to argue -his subject from a given set of premises, and a strict regard for -probabilities. He was led--and it was but natural he should be--to the -conclusion that the Count’s disappearance was due to conduct which had -brought him in contact with unscrupulous people, into whose power he -had fallen. It was clear that if he was still living he was forcibly -detained somewhere or other, and was in such a position that he could -not communicate with those who were so anxious about him. If this was -not the case, it was hard to understand why he should have remained -silent, knowing well enough the anxiety and distress his prolonged -absence would cause. The other hypothesis was--the idea of suicide not -being entertained--that he had been murdered. If that was the case, the -motive for the murder was either revenge or robbery. It seemed almost -absurd to think of robbery, for this reason: it was hardly likely -that anyone would have chosen such an inopportune moment; for, at two -o’clock in the morning, and entertaining a house full of guests, he -would scarcely have much valuable property on his person. If he had -been murdered, the crime had been prompted by feelings of revenge, and -committed by someone who believed he had a deadly grievance against -the young man--a grievance that could only be compensated for by the -shedding of the Count’s blood. - -It was impossible to ignore what, on the face of it, seemed to be a -fact--that the writer of the letter was personally acquainted with -the Count, and possessed knowledge which placed a weapon in his hand. -Of course, the Count’s friends wouldn’t listen for a moment to any -suggestion that he had been guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentleman, -and, having discovered that, Danevitch kept his views to himself; -though he closely questioned Eugène Peon, who, while admitting that -he had had numerous little adventures with the Count, declared that -these adventures were only those which a young, handsome, and rich -man would engage in, and while they might be described as foolish and -reckless, they were never of a nature to reflect upon his honour. They -were, in short, simply the follies and venial sins of youth, such as -were common, in a greater or lesser degree, to all young men. Nothing -further than this could be elicited from Peon, who appeared to be a -reserved and reticent person, giving Danevitch the impression that -he always had something in reserve--that he had an _arrière pensée_, -and would not tell more than it suited him to tell. At any rate, he -declined to suggest any theory that would account for his friend’s -sudden and mysterious disappearance. - -‘Do you not know if he had any serious love affair?’ asked Danevitch -with some sharpness, as he came to the conclusion that Peon was not as -candid as he ought to be. - -‘I don’t,’ answered Peon emphatically. - -‘But surely, intimate as you were with him, you must know something of -your friend’s little gallantries?’ - -‘I do not, beyond what I have told you.’ - -Peon gave this answer with a sharpness and decisiveness which made it -clear that he would not submit to pumping, and would not be drawn on -the subject of his friend’s amours. - -During the time that Danevitch was searching for a clue--without -avail up to this stage--the Count’s friends did not remain inactive. -Necessarily, they were impatient, and grew more restless as the weeks -sped by without bringing any tidings of the missing man. The police -confessed themselves baffled, and seemed to be at a loss to suggest -a feasible theory, and they urged the friends to offer a substantial -reward for information that would lead to the discovery of the Count -if living, and a lesser reward for his body if dead. The friends -yielded, and intimated that they would pay ten thousand francs for the -Count’s recovery living, or five thousand for his body. The police -quite believed this reward would have the desired effect, and that they -would be relieved from an embarrassing situation. Of course, the human -water-rats who haunt the Seine kept a very sharp look-out indeed, and -every corpse that they dragged from the foul and reeking waters of the -sluggish river was eagerly scrutinized in the hope that it would turn -out to be the body of the missing Count. But though it was reported -several times that the dead Count had been fished out of the river, the -report, on investigation, proved to be false. Nor did the offer of the -ten thousand francs prove more potent. Not a trace of the missing man -was discovered. - -This failure of the substantial reward to bring forth any tidings -confirmed Danevitch in the opinion he had formed that the Count’s -disappearance was the result of some plot, and those engaged in it -were in a position which rendered them indifferent to the reward. This -did not imply that the detective considered it a certainty that the -Count was living. On the contrary, he inclined to the belief that he -had been murdered, but, necessarily, the murderers could not produce -his body for fear of betraying themselves. In his own way, Danevitch -worked away quietly and unostentatiously. He was perfectly convinced -that the clue to the mystery would be found in the habits of the -Count, or among some of his possessions. But the friends in Paris -opposed strong objections to any exhaustive search of his effects -being made, influenced thereby, no doubt, by a fear of anything being -made public calculated to reflect on the missing man’s honour. This -supersensitiveness was annoying, and at last Danevitch applied to the -relatives in Russia, and asked them to give a peremptory order for -him to be allowed to go through the Count’s papers. In response to -this application, the Count’s father came at once to Paris, and took -possession of everything belonging to his son, and he and Danevitch -went through the papers together. There was a mass of official -correspondence and business letters, but very few private letters, -except those from his parents and his near relatives, and love letters -from a young lady residing in Russia. She was of high family, and -well known to the Count’s people, who hoped that he would ultimately -make her his wife, as in every way the match was a desirable one. The -letters evinced a very strong attachment on the lady’s part, and were -in many instances couched in warm, even extravagant, phrases of love. -But there was nothing in them calculated to throw light on the mystery. -She knew of her lover’s disappearance, and was prostrated with grief -and anxiety, so the Count’s father asserted. - -The result of the examination of the papers so far was very -disappointing, but a small diary was found in which were some rather -remarkable passages. It was not a diary of doings and events from day -to day, but seemed to be the outpourings of the writer’s feelings and -emotions, written in a fitful and irregular manner. Those which struck -Danevitch the most were as follows: - - * * * * * - -‘I often wonder whether we are really free and responsible beings; -whether the evil we do is the result of deliberate sinning, or whether -it is due to some inward promptings which we are absolutely powerless -to resist. If the latter, to what extent can we be held liable for -our sins? I am sorely troubled at times with this thought, and yearn -for someone to whom I could appeal with a hope of receiving such an -answer as would seem to me satisfactory. The teachings of my Church -do not satisfy me. The Church says that to do evil is to incur the -wrath of Heaven; but if I cannot resist doing evil, is it right that I -should be held responsible? Of course, the world would say that this is -sophistry, but when I find myself on the one hand trying with all my -might to avoid doing anything which, according to the laws of ethics -and the canons of the Church, could be construed into wrong-doing, and, -on the other, being drawn by some vaguely defined power, which I am too -weak to resist, into doing that which I am conscious it is not right to -do, I ask myself if I can really be held responsible. It seems to me -that I have two distinct characters, clearly separated, and entirely -antagonistic to each other. The one leads me into paths that I would -fain avoid; the other causes me to weep for my frailty. I wonder if all -men are constituted like this? Perhaps they are, but are less sensitive -than I am. - - * * * * * - -‘If a man entangles himself in a net, he may exhaust himself in his -struggles to get free again, and it may even be that the more he -struggles the more tightly he may enmesh himself, until he realizes -the horror that he is doomed to remain powerless until death itself -releases him. This is figurative language, but it is by such language -that we can best convey our true meaning. It is but speaking in -parables, and parables better than anything else often enable us to -understand and grasp what would otherwise be obscure. Unhappily, I am -entangled in a net, and I have struggled in vain to free myself. If I -could undo the past, I might know true happiness once more; but that -which is done is done, and though we weep tears of blood, we can never -obliterate the record which is written on the tablets of memory. I -wonder what the pure being in Russia, to whom I gave my heart, would -say if she knew how I had wronged her. Can I ever look into her clear -honest eyes again with the frank, unflinching gaze of the happy -days past and gone? I fear not. Indeed, I feel that I dare not meet -her again. I have dug a gulf between us, and that gulf can never be -bridged. But I suffer agony of mind when I think how she will suffer -when she knows my baseness, as know she must, sooner or later. It is -hard to have to live two lives, as I am doing. To my friends I appear -all they would believe me to be; but in the solitude of my chamber my -heart bleeds as I realize how false I am. - - * * * * * - -‘I have been weak, but am growing strong again. Desperation is lending -me strength, in fact; and I shall burst these accursed bonds asunder. -I have still youth and energy, and must make an effort to climb to -higher heights. I have been walking blindly hitherto, and have missed -my way, but I see it clear enough now; and a resolute and determined -man, who finds himself surrounded by obstacles, should sweep them away. -He who hesitates is lost; I have hesitated, but will do so no longer. -Great things are expected from me, and I must not disappoint those who -have placed their hopes upon me. Marie must not be allowed to keep me -bound down in the gutter. It is not my place. I was destined to walk -on higher heights; and since it is impossible for me to raise her, -she must be cut adrift. It may seem cowardly; it may be cruel for me -to do this; but it must be done, for I cannot endure the double life -any longer. Is a man to suffer all his life for one false step? Am I -justified in breaking the hearts of parents and betrothed? No. It must -not be--shall not be. In a few weeks I shall send in my resignation, -and quit Paris for ever. It will cause a nine days’ wonder, but what -of that? People will say I am a fool, but it won’t affect me. I shall -plead that I know my own affairs best, and that circumstances of a -private and pressing nature necessitate my hasty return to Russia. This -I am determined to do, cost what it may. I have taken Eugène Peon into -my confidence. He will help me, and satisfy the curious when I am gone.’ - - * * * * * - -There was a significance in the foregoing passages which was not -lost upon Danevitch. The Count gave himself away, though, of course, -he never expected that any eyes but his own would read what he had -written. It will be said, of course, that it was foolish for him to -have committed his thoughts to paper; though it must be remembered that -there are some men who seem to derive a strange pleasure in recording -their evil deeds. It is a well-known fact that some of the greatest -criminals have kept diaries, in which they have written the most -damning evidence of their guilt. The Count’s diary proved conclusively -that there were certain ugly passages in his life, and two points were -made clear--there was a woman in the case, and Eugène Peon knew more of -the Count’s affairs than he cared to own to, and confirmed Danevitch -in his belief that Peon was a crafty man, and by no means carried his -heart upon his sleeve. - -As may be imagined, the Count’s father was much cut up, as he realized -that his son had been guilty of evil which was calculated to reflect -upon the honour of the family, that honour of which the old man was so -proud, and which he would gladly have died to shield. - -Of course it became necessary now to find out who the ‘Marie’ referred -to in the diary was; for it was obvious that she was directly or -indirectly responsible for the Count’s disappearance. No letters -could be discovered which were calculated to throw any light on the -subject, but in a small drawer of the Count’s desk there was found the -photograph of a young woman, and on the back, in a scrawling hand, was -the following: - - ‘For ever and ever thine. - MARIE.’ - -The likeness was that of a singularly handsome girl of about -two-and-twenty; but the handwriting was so bad it suggested that the -writer was not educated. - -Danevitch felt now that he was in possession of a clue--a vague one, it -was true, but it was possible it might lead to very important results. -Marie must be found, though he did not know at the moment how he was -going to find her. Paris was a big place; Marie was a very common name. -Danevitch, however, having once got on the scent, was not likely to go -very far astray, and he generally found some means of bringing down his -quarry at last. He was not indifferent to the self-evident fact that -in this case there were no ordinary difficulties to contend against; -this was proved by the large reward having failed to bring forth any -information. It showed that those who were responsible for the Count’s -disappearance had very powerful motives for keeping their secret; and -whether few or many were interested in that secret, ten thousand francs -was not strong enough to tempt one of them; and it seemed as if it -was not the Count’s money that was responsible for his disappearance. -He kept a banking account in Paris, but this had not been drawn upon -since the week before he went away, when he cashed a cheque for three -thousand francs. But at this stage a curious incident was brought to -light, which put a new complexion on the matter altogether. - -The incident was this: It appeared that the Count also kept a -considerable account at the Moscow branch of the Bank of Russia. He -owned a good deal of property in and about Moscow, part of it being a -flourishing flax-mill, which turned over a princely revenue. His Moscow -affairs were managed by an agent who had been connected with the family -for nearly half a century. It was his duty to pay all money that he -received into the bank without delay. Consequently, there was generally -a large balance standing to the Count’s credit. One day a three -months’ bill of exchange, purporting to be drawn on the Count by Paul -Pavlovitch and Co., flax merchants, at Riga, for one hundred thousand -francs, and accepted by the Count and payable at the bank in Moscow, -was duly presented by an individual, who stated that he was a member of -the firm. As all seemed right, the bill was paid, and a receipt given -in the name of Peter Pavlovitch, who represented himself as the son -of Paul. A week later the cancelled bill passed into the hands of the -Count’s agent, and he at once declared it to be a forgery. Pavlovitch -and Co., of Riga, were immediately communicated with, and they denied -all knowledge of the Count, had never had any business transactions -with him, had never drawn a bill upon him, and knew nothing of Peter -Pavlovitch. This was a revelation indeed, and pointed conclusively to a -conspiracy. It seemed to Danevitch pretty evident that the person who -forged the bill knew a good deal about the Count, and if that person -could be laid hold of the plot might be unmasked. There was another -thing, too, that appeared to be no less clear: the forger of the bill -was acquainted with the Count’s affairs, and also with Russia. The firm -of Paul Pavlovitch and Co., of Riga, was an old-established firm, and -there was nothing to strike a stranger as peculiar in their holding a -bill of the Count’s; for the Count was the owner of a flax-mill, and -did business with a good many flax merchants. Nevertheless, the bank -in Moscow was blamed for having been somewhat lax in paying the bill -without having taken steps to satisfy themselves that the person who -presented it was the person he represented himself to be. Moreover, -in the business world bills of that nature were usually collected by -a bank. However, the Moscow bank people defended themselves by saying -that, though a little out of course, there was nothing extraordinary in -a bill being presented by a member of a firm holding it. - -As soon as Danevitch heard of the incident of the forged bill, he -returned at once to Moscow, deeming it probable that he might there -pick up some thread which would lead him to a clue. The man calling -himself Peter Pavlovitch, to whom the money was paid, was described as -of medium height, of muscular build, dark-complexioned, black hair, -beard, and moustache, in age about thirty. He was well dressed, and the -receipt he gave was written in a bold, clerkly hand. Of course, there -was nothing in this description to distinguish him from thousands of -others, and Moscow was a large place; but Danevitch went to work on -the assumption that the man, whoever he might be, was well acquainted -with the Count, and he knew a good deal of his business; that, to some -extent, narrowed the inquiry, which was necessarily directed to trying -to discover a person upon whom suspicion could justifiably fasten. - -The Count’s agent was a Pole named Padrewski. He was a man of high -repute, and one in whom his employer placed the greatest confidence. He -could not even vaguely identify the self-styled ‘Peter Pavlovitch’ from -the description given, and was of opinion that he was not a resident -in Moscow, though probably not a stranger. If he was not a resident -in the city, it was likely enough that he sojourned there long enough -to enable him to transact his business, and having possessed himself -of the money, he would depart without delay. Danevitch ascertained -that the bill was presented for payment about half-past ten in the -morning. That argued that the person who drew the money and gave the -receipt had slept in the city, and probably lodged at some café or -hotel. So the detective set to work at once to make inquiries at the -various hotels and lodging-houses. In Russia, as in France and Germany, -every lodging-house-keeper and hotel proprietor is compelled by law to -keep a register of his guests. It is therefore far easier to discover -anyone who occupies temporary lodgings than it is in this country. -Now, it struck Danevitch that, if the presenter of the forged bill had -come to Moscow for the sole purpose of drawing the money, he would in -all probability select a place near the railway-station. There were -several hotels and cafés in the vicinity of the station. At all of -these inquiries were made, and, at a third-rate café-restaurant, called -in Russian The Traveller’s Joy, it was found that a man answering -the description of the one required had stayed in the house for four -days, and had taken his departure by train on the same day that the -bill was presented; and on that very day he had paid his account with -a brand-new five hundred rouble note, receiving the change in small -money. As the restaurant-keeper could not cash the note himself, he got -it done at a money-changer’s in the neighbourhood. The money-changer -made an entry of the number of the note, and by that Danevitch was -able to prove that it was one of the notes paid by the bank to -‘Peter Pavlovitch.’ This, of course, was an important discovery, -as it conclusively proved that the man who handed the note to the -landlord was the one who got the money for the forged bill. This was an -important link, and another was soon discovered. - -‘From information received,’ to quote the common police-court -expression, Danevitch learnt that during the time the pseudo Peter -Pavlovitch was staying at The Traveller’s Joy he was visited daily by a -pretty young woman, who, from her manner, style of dress, and general -get-up, was supposed to be connected with the theatrical profession. -Every evening Peter went out with her, then both returned together -and supped, and after that went out again, and some time later Peter -returned alone. The deduction from this was, assuming she belonged to -the theatrical profession, that Peter took her to the theatre at night, -brought her back to supper after she had done her work, and then saw -her home to her lodgings. Fortunately, a very minute description of the -woman was forthcoming, and from this Danevitch ultimately identified -her as a Fräulein Holzstein, supposed to be of Austrian or German -nationality. She was a music-hall singer, and had been fulfilling -an engagement at a hall in Moscow, but had then left and gone to a -place of entertainment in St. Petersburg, whither Danevitch journeyed -without delay. He soon discovered the lady he was seeking, but was -very cautious not to let her know that she was under surveillance. He -had no difficulty in making her acquaintance, in the capacity of a man -about town who enjoyed the privilege of being allowed on the stage; -and on one or two occasions she deigned to accept an invitation to sup -with him. He learnt from her that when her engagement terminated in -St. Petersburg, as it would do in a few days, she was going to Vienna -for a week, thence to Berlin for a fortnight, and after that to Paris -to perform in a sensational drama at the Châtelet. Danevitch was now -instinctively certain that he was on the trail, and he resolved not to -lose it. Therefore, when Fräulein Holzstein took her departure from -the Russian capital, he left by the same train, though she was not -aware of it. He followed her to Vienna, from Vienna to Berlin, from -Berlin to Paris. When she arrived at Paris she was met by a man who was -at once identified from the description Danevitch had received as the -man who had presented the forged bill for payment at the Moscow bank. -The scent was now getting warm, but at this stage it would have been -premature to have taken any steps calculated to frighten the quarry -which was being so patiently shadowed. This man and woman were not the -only actors in the drama, if, as was thought probable, they were in any -way connected with the Count’s disappearance; and Danevitch had yet -to prove that there was any connection between that incident and the -forged bill. - -The man who had passed himself off as Peter Pavlovitch in Moscow was -known in Paris as Henri Charcot, and by calling he was a theatrical -and music-hall agent. He rented a small office not very far from the -Châtelet Theatre; but, judging from appearances, he was not in a very -flourishing way of business, although Danevitch gathered that at one -time he had had an extensive connection. He had lost it, however, by -inattention and shady practices. Fräulein Holzstein was, or at any rate -represented herself to be, the wife of Charcot. - -Another discovery was now made by the patient and watchful Danevitch. -A man was in the habit of visiting the Charcots. He occupied a much -higher social position than they did; but it was made evident he did -not care for his visits being known to other people, for he always went -at night, and invariably wore a cloak of such ample proportions that -his figure was practically disguised, while a broad-brimmed, soft hat -served to conceal his features. The Charcots lived in rather a poor -quarter of Paris, not far from the Gare de l’Est. In this region was a -very popular and much-frequented restaurant, largely patronized by the -inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The Charcots invariably went there -to dine. And when the strange man visited them, he generally went with -them to dine or sup, as the case might be, on those occasions. They -indulged in the privacy of a _cabinet particulière_, as it is called in -France--that is to say, a private room. - -One night the three went to the restaurant for dinner, and were shown -into a snug cabinet, where a small stove dispensed a comforting warmth, -for the night was excessively cold, and to protect the occupants from -draught a heavy screen was drawn between the table and the window. When -the coffee and cognac were placed on the table, and Madame Charcot and -the two men had lighted their cigarettes, the waiter was dismissed and -the door closed. Then the lady and her two companions, feeling under no -restraint, freely indulged in conversation. - -‘Do you people intend to remain in Paris?’ asked the stranger. - -‘Yes, I think so,’ replied Charcot. ‘I don’t see that there is much -to fear. No one suspects us, and it is not worth while giving up our -business, such as it is.’ - -‘You feel sure that your visit to Russia in connection with the bill is -not known?’ - -‘Perfectly sure. My wife and I managed the business too cleverly for -suspicion to be directed against us.’ - -‘But you mustn’t forget that Michael Danevitch has got the matter in -hand.’ - -Madame Charcot broke into a mocking laugh, as she exclaimed: - -‘Pooh! There is nothing to fear from Danevitch. He is a very much -overrated man. All the wonderful stories that one hears about him are, -I believe, invented by himself; any way, I am not afraid of him. It -seems to me that it was impossible for anyone to get a clue in Russia. -No, mon frère; the business has been managed too cleverly, and unless -we give ourselves away we are perfectly safe.’ - -‘I am not so sure of that,’ answered the stranger musingly. - -‘But you’ve not heard or seen anything to cause you alarm, have you?’ -asked Charcot. - -‘No, no, not at all,’ said the stranger, pulling his moustache and -looking grave; ‘but one never knows.’ - -‘You are surely in a despondent mood, cher frère. The dinner must have -disagreed with you,’ madame remarked banteringly. - -‘The dinner was all right; but I haven’t been easy in my mind for some -time.’ - -‘It’s the liver, the liver, my dear boy,’ Charcot remarked. - -‘What’s the use of troubling yourself about shadows?’ put in the lady. -‘Haven’t the Paris police used some of their best men, and yet failed -to get a scent?’ - -‘That’s true,’ said the stranger; ‘but the affair must come to light -sooner or later.’ - -‘And what if it does?’ asked madame. ‘How are we to be identified with -the case?’ - -‘Not easily, if he is dead,’ answered the stranger. ‘The dead tell no -tales.’ - -‘Then, why in the name of common-sense should he live?’ asked Madame -Charcot, blowing a stream of smoke from her nostrils, and speaking with -energy. - -The stranger shuddered, and said: - -‘I’ll have nothing whatever to do with his death.’ - -‘You are chicken-hearted, man,’ Charcot remarked. ‘One word and an -extra hundred francs to old Pierre, and every danger would be removed.’ - -‘It might, or might not. Any way, I would rather not speak the word. -The business has been bungled as it is, and instead of its proving -a source of wealth to us, we only made a miserable hundred thousand -francs between us, and it’s hopeless to expect that we can get any -more.’ - -‘You should have played your cards better,’ remarked Charcot. - -‘But who in the name of Satan thought that he was going to peg out as -he has done.’ - -‘Well, there is one thing we mustn’t forget,’ said madame; ‘unless -Pierre’s palms are kept well greased, he’ll let the cat out of the bag.’ - -‘No, I don’t think he will do that. He has already been well paid; and -before I gave him the last thousand francs I made the old rascal sign -a document, in which he confesses his share in the business, so that -if he turns traitor I’ve got him on the hip. But, any way, it strikes -me this is not a safe place, and I shall go abroad. No living soul -suspects me, but one never knows what may happen; it’s best to be on -the safe side.’ - -‘Well, you are a soldier of fortune,’ said Charcot, ‘and can march -at an hour’s notice; but we’ve got interests here, and unless danger -really menaces, it would be folly for us to sacrifice those interests. -What do you say?’ turning to his wife. - -‘Oh, I think it’s all right. If we have reason to believe there is -any danger, we can clear out; but my own impression is that there is -not much chance of our being suspected. Besides, we must have more -money yet. Fate has been against us in that respect. We bungled in the -beginning, and are paying the penalty of the error. By-and-by, however, -we may be rewarded.’ - -‘If you think so, you are much more of an optimist than I am,’ the -stranger remarked. - -‘You’ve always been disposed to look on the gloomy side of things,’ -said madame sharply. ‘What is the use of meeting trouble half-way? -We’ve played our cards, and must abide by the game. At any rate, you’ve -done fairly well, and fortune has favoured you throughout your life. -You’ve no just cause to grumble.’ - -‘But suppose the game goes against us?’ now asked the stranger. - -‘What is the use of supposing? It hasn’t done so up to the present, and -we’ve netted a fair stake.’ - -‘But nothing nearly as much as we ought to have done.’ - -‘That can’t be helped. We’ve not lost, any way. But, for goodness’ -sake, don’t mope like that. You make me miserable. We’ve bled our -victim pretty freely, and though he has plenty more blood in him, if we -cannot get it, we had better be satisfied.’ - -‘It’s tantalizing, nevertheless. Don’t you think we might risk another -bill here?’ - -‘No; it would be too dangerous,’ said madame. - -‘I would have nothing to do with it,’ added her husband, ‘Any attempt -of that kind would betray us as sure as fate. No, no, mon cher; it -can’t be done.’ - -The stranger sighed, and resigned himself to the situation, for he was -forced to admit that the arguments used against him were unanswerable. - -In a little while the party broke up. The stranger embraced the woman -warmly, and, shaking hands with the man, hurried away. - -Charcot and his wife lingered for a while to smoke another cigarette, -and for the man to consume an absinthe. - -‘Eugène is melancholy,’ the woman remarked; ‘but it’s folly to weep -over the milk that is lost. If matters hadn’t turned out as they have -done, we might all have raked in a snug little fortune. But, as it is, -we haven’t done so badly, and we’re safe.’ - -‘But not as safe as we should be if the Count were dead,’ the husband -remarked. - -‘That’s true,’ said the woman thoughtfully, while her pretty face -took on a very wicked expression. ‘But you know Eugène is far too -sentimental. It doesn’t do to be sentimental in a case of this -kind. We’ve got ourselves to consider, and, having gone so far, it -is downright folly to hesitate to take the final step, which would -complete the work. What do you think?’ - -‘I agree with you.’ - -‘Then, you go and see Pierre, and give him a quiet hint.’ - -‘I’ve a good mind to,’ mused the husband. - -‘Don’t spoil a good mind, dear.’ - -‘But, you know, we should have to give the old rascal two or three -hundred francs more.’ - -‘And it’s worth it; we can afford it. Better to pay that than allow a -risk to remain that we can remove.’ - -‘You are right--you are right, dear,’ said the husband. - -‘And you will go and see Pierre?’ - -‘I must consider the matter.’ - -‘Tut, man! What does it want consideration for? We are agreed on the -subject. Vacillation shows weakness. Hesitation may cost us dear. Make -up your mind at once.’ - -‘It’s made up,’ said the husband, after some reflection. - -‘And you will go?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘When?’ - -‘To-morrow morning.’ - -‘Good. That’s a point settled, and my mind is easier.’ - -The man and woman now took their departure; but little did they dream -that every word of the conversation which they and the stranger--who -was none other than Eugène Peon--had uttered had been most carefully -taken down in shorthand. Behind the screen a young man had patiently -sat the whole evening, with note-book and pencil in hand. He was -a trusted agent of Danevitch, who had made arrangements with the -landlord of the restaurant. And thus the conspirators had been neatly -trapped. Nevertheless, the story was not all learnt yet, and Danevitch -considered it would have been premature to make any move or show his -hand until he found out where the Count was concealed. Of course, a -close watch was set on Eugène Peon’s movements, so that no chance -should be afforded him of slipping through the meshes of the net which -was so cleverly being drawn around him and his companions in guilt. -Charcot was also closely shadowed, and the next day was followed to -an old house situated in the western part of Paris, outside of the -barrier. It was a curious, ramshackle, tumble-down-looking building, -mournful and melancholy in its ruin, and mournful and melancholy in its -surroundings. At one time it had probably been the country residence -of some rich person, standing in pleasant gardens, on the banks of a -stream, and commanding a fine panoramic view. But that was in the long -ago. The grounds were now a howling wilderness; the stream was a foul -and stagnant strip of slimy water, from which protruded the decaying -ribs of a half-sunk barge. - -Within twenty or thirty yards were the grim and blackened ruins of -a burnt-out mill that at one period had been a flourishing concern. -The stream communicated with a canal a quarter of a mile away, and -time was when barges came and went. The house had been the private -residence of the owner of the mill, and he lived there for many years -in contentment and comfort with his wife and son and daughter. Then -misfortune overtook him. His daughter was accidentally drowned in the -stream. Some time afterwards the son died of consumption. Then the -unfortunate father gave way to dissipation, and neglected his business, -with the usual result. At length the mill was destroyed by fire, and -when the owner went to the insurance offices to claim the amount for -which he had insured, the people refused to pay it, alleging that -the fire was due to incendiarism, and a charge was laid against the -unfortunate man; but he rendered it useless by drowning himself in the -stream. And his widow did not long survive him; grief killed her. Then -litigation ensued about the property, and as a legal heir could not be -found, it fell into ruin and neglect. For many years a man named Pierre -Mousson had been allowed to occupy the place, subject to the payment of -a nominal rental. He was a rag-picker by calling, and a reputed miser: -a low-browed, villainous-looking rascal, who had once served a term of -imprisonment for nearly beating a companion to death during a quarrel -about a franc, which he accused his companion of stealing from him. -With that exception, there had been no charge against him. He was a -big, muscular old fellow, with a suggestiveness in his appearance that -he could be very dangerous in defence of himself or his belongings. His -mother lived with him. She was an old woman, upwards of eighty years of -age, and half imbecile. - -To this place Charcot was followed by Danevitch and three French police -officers, all heavily armed; and while Charcot and old Pierre were -conferring together, the Russian and his companions entered, to the -utter amazement of the two rascals, who were made prisoners before -they could recover from their surprise. To both of them this _coup_ -must have been like a thunderbolt, but perhaps more particularly so to -Charcot, who only the night before seemed to think he was in little or -no danger. In a cellar or vault, below the level of the putrid stream, -a man was discovered in a state of idiocy. He was lying on a low -truckle bed, close to the damp, slimy wall, to which he was fastened by -a chain and staple, and a broad leather belt round his waist. The vault -was fœtid, and inconceivably horrible with filth and noisomeness, and -the wretched man’s feet and hands had been partly gnawed by rats. That -man was Count Dashkoff, the once brilliant and handsome attaché, but -now a pitiable and unrecognisable wreck. His hair was matted with slime -and dirt, his beard unkempt, his eyes sunken, his face awful in its -corpse-like appearance. His body was so emaciated that he was simply an -animated skeleton, while the few rags that clung to his vermin-covered -body scarcely sufficed to hide his nakedness. - -As soon as possible, the poor fellow was removed in an ambulance to -a hospital, the imbecile old woman was conveyed to an asylum, while -Charcot and Pierre were hurried to prison. An hour later Eugène Peon -and Madame Charcot were arrested, and before the day was out--thanks -to certain letters found in Madame Charcot’s possession--another man -was being searched for. His name was Buhler, and he had recently acted -as secretary to the Count, replacing a young man who had died. Buhler -was a Russian, but had long resided in Paris. He was recommended to -the Count by Eugène Peon. As was subsequently proved, Buhler had once -before fulfilled the position of a secretary, but been dismissed for -dishonesty. Since then he had got his living as a waiter, until he -became a creature of Peon’s. The strangest part of the tale has now to -be told. - -As most people know, the mode of procedure in France in connection -with criminal cases is very different to that adopted in England. -In a certain sense it partakes somewhat of the nature of the -Inquisition. A functionary, who is known as a Judge of Instruction -(_Juge d’Instruction_), with his assistants and clerks, subjects a -suspected person to an ordeal of examination which few can pass through -unscathed, unless they be absolutely innocent. The Judge is a legal -man of wide experience, and generally with a very intimate knowledge -of human nature. He is an adept in the art of cross-examination, and -the ‘suspect’ must be clever indeed if he can outwit this examining -Judge. Where several persons are under suspicion of complicity, they -are confronted with each other, and very rarely do they fail to condemn -themselves, and betray their guilt, if they are guilty, under the -pitiless fire of questioning to which they are subjected. In this way -the truth is brought to light, and piece by piece a story is built up. -The story that was partly wrung from the prisoners in this case, and -partly learnt from other sources, was as follows: - -Years before the events already narrated, an Austrian named Schumacher -took up his residence in Paris, with his wife and two daughters, -named respectively Rosine and Anna, and a son, Fritz. The girls were -at that time quite children. Schumacher, who was a cabinet-maker by -trade, and his family ultimately became naturalized French subjects. -As the girls grew up, they developed remarkable beauty; but this was -allied to vulgar tastes and loose habits, well calculated to bring -them to trouble sooner or later. At quite an early age they showed -talent for the stage, and began life at a café-chantant. In the -course of time Anna married a theatrical and music-hall agent named -Charcot; and Rosine, who seems to have had numerous lovers, joined a -theatrical company, and travelled for some time, but ultimately secured -a permanent engagement at a Paris theatre. Soon after that, when she -was only one-and-twenty years of age, and noted for her good looks, -she made the acquaintance of Count Dashkoff. The Count was young, -impressionable, foolish; the girl artful, cunning, clever. And there -is no doubt she resolved to play her cards with a view to gaining a -powerful influence over the Count. In this matter she was aided and -abetted by her brother Fritz, though that gentleman was no longer known -as Fritz. - -At quite an early age Fritz had come under the notice of an old -and rather eccentric lady, who sent him to school, fostered in him -expensive tastes, luxurious habits, and led him to dream of future -greatness. He received a good education, and spent four years--from -sixteen to twenty--at the Lyceum. Unfortunately for him, his patroness -died. It was then found that, though she had made a will leaving a -million and a half francs to the young man, she was not worth a million -sous. She had simply enjoyed a life interest in a property which -produced her a handsome income, though she expended it to the last sou -every year. Fritz had also taken her name of Peon, and had substituted -Eugène for that of Fritz. - -To find himself penniless was a great blow to his hopes and pride. His -natural talents and the education he had received should have enabled -him to have done well, but he hated work; he lacked energy, and so he -set himself to live by his wits. He was a fascinating young fellow, -with the power of attracting both men and women. When he made the -acquaintance of the Count, the Count at once took to him, and Peon was -far too clever to lose such an opportunity of benefiting himself; for -clever as the Count was, he was rash and weak-minded in many respects, -and no match for an unscrupulous adventurer like Peon, who arranged -with his sister Rosine that they were to keep their relationship -secret, and use every endeavour to trap the Count into a marriage. -Rosine was quite equal to playing her part in this nefarious little -scheme. Her fascinations proved too much for the Count, and when he -found that she was deaf to all his entreaties, and proof against his -costly presents, he came to the conclusion that she was a model woman, -a paragon of virtue, a credit to her sex, and in an evil hour he -married her. After that it did not take him long to discover what a -terrible error he had made. The wife’s rapacity for money, jewellery, -dress, was insatiable, and her brother Eugène took good care to share -her purse. - -For a considerable time the Count yielded to the bleeding process -tamely; and his secretary, Buhler, working in connection with Peon -and Rosine, succeeded in drawing from him large sums of money. Of -course, all this time the unhappy Count believed that his friend -Eugène Peon was true and reliable, that Buhler was the most faithful -of secretaries, and he began to yearn for some means of breaking the -matrimonial bond with which he had bound himself. He found that Rosine -had developed a taste for drink; he encouraged this in every possible -way, and induced her particularly to consume large quantities of -absinthe. The result was, she soon became a confirmed dipsomaniac; and -one night, to the horror of the band of conspirators, she either threw -herself into the Seine or fell in accidentally; at any rate, she was -drowned. That was at a little village about twenty miles from Paris, -where the Count had installed her, and where, under an arrangement with -him, she lived as a single woman. - -Peon, Buhler, and Anna Charcot and her husband managed to keep the news -of his wife’s death from the Count, and he was given to understand -that she had taken herself off somewhere. A few months passed, and the -conspirators felt the loss of their supplies severely. Then, in their -desperation, they concocted a scheme which, for daring and wickedness, -had not been surpassed for a long time. The scheme was nothing more nor -less than the abduction of the Count, who was to be kept a prisoner -until he secured his release by the payment of a large ransom. - -The night of the ball was chosen as a fitting opportunity to put the -plan into execution. Buhler wrote a letter closely imitating Rosine’s -handwriting. The letter stated that she had been away from Paris, but -had come back seriously ill, and was then unable to leave her bed. She -craved him to go and see her immediately, and promised that, if he -would give her a sum of money down, she would go away and he should -never hear of her again. If not, she would proclaim the following -morning to all Paris that she was his lawful wife, and would also send -an intimation to that effect to the Embassy. The note wound up by -saying that a carriage would be in waiting not far from his house to -convey him to her lodgings, and that he could easily get back again in -an hour or an hour and a half. - -This letter was delivered to the Count in the way that we have seen, -and, unhappily for himself, he was influenced by it. He found the -carriage at the spot indicated, and was driven out to the barrier to -Pierre’s house. Two powerful ruffians, who were to be well paid for -their part of the work, had ridden on the box beside the coachman. -When the destination was reached, the Count alighted, and then the -lonely spot seems to have caused him to suspect that he had been -brought there for some villainous purpose. He at once stepped into the -carriage again, and ordered the coachman to drive him back to Paris. -The two ruffians, however, seized him and dragged him out on to the -road, where a desperate struggle took place. To put an end to it, one -of the rascals struck the unhappy Count a violent blow over the head -with a heavy stick, rendering him unconscious. He was then carried into -Pierre’s den. - -For two days he remained insensible, and when he recovered it was -found, to the horror of all the wretches concerned, that he was -imbecile, but it was hoped that he would be all right in a few days. -These hopes, however, were doomed to disappointment, and, being pressed -for money, Buhler undertook to forge a bill, and Madame Charcot, -who was then fulfilling an engagement in Moscow, was instructed to -find out something of the Count’s business transactions there; while -Charcot went to Moscow, and, representing himself as Peter Pavlovitch, -presented the forged bill at the bank and received payment for it. The -money was, of course, shared by all concerned. Buhler, who seems to -have been shrewder than the rest of them, having got his share, and -possessed himself of such portable property of the Count’s as he could -lay his hands upon, took himself off somewhere, and managed to elude -justice, though every effort was made to capture him. - -As already stated, all this terrible story of fiendish wickedness was -gradually brought to light by the Juge d’Instruction, and there was -little doubt that, had Danevitch not succeeded in unravelling the plot, -the unfortunate Count, who was becoming an expensive burden, and a -menace to the safety of the plotters, would have been placed in a sack -with a quantity of scrap iron, and deposited at the bottom of the foul -and stagnant water opposite Pierre’s hovel. Peon showed considerable -reluctance to resort to this extreme measure, but Madame Charcot, -who was less sentimental and more callous, had no scruples. She saw -clearly enough that as long as the poor Count remained alive there -was an ever-present danger, for if Pierre should get into trouble or -die a revelation was certain. She influenced her husband to take her -view of the case, and had Danevitch not stepped in when he did, murder -would have been added to the other infamy. As it was, the careers of -the wretches were brought to a close, and exemplary punishment was -meted out to all of them. The extradition of both Charcot and his wife -was demanded by the Russian Government, to answer in Russia for the -affair of the forged bill--the man for having presented it and drawn -the money, the woman for aiding and abetting him. But, of course, -this demand was not complied with, as they had first of all to suffer -punishment in France for their deeds there. After that they would -be handed to the tender mercies of the Russian Government, and were -destined to end their days in exile in Siberia. - -For a long time Count Dashkoff remained in a pitiable state, but under -tender care and treatment his health was gradually restored, though his -mind was shattered beyond repair. Of course, he could not be altogether -exonerated from blame for the part he had played with regard to his -unhappy wife. But if he had sinned, he had also suffered, and everyone -must admit that it was a terrible ending to a brilliant and what -seemed a most promising career. Unhappily, neither his position, his -wealth, nor his associations could save him from yielding to the fatal -fascinations of vulgar beauty; and the disastrous results that followed -doomed him to social extinction and a living death. - - - - -THE FATE OF VASSILO IVANOFF. - - -Possibly very few readers of these chronicles know anything of the -peculiarity--I had almost said iniquity--of the Russian law. The -freeborn Briton, who in his own country may spout and write treason -as long as it pleases him, and do anything that is not regarded as -a legally punishable offence--and the law is very tolerant in this -respect--is apt to open his eyes in astonishment when he goes on the -Continent and finds himself haled to a prison-house simply because he -has been jotting down some memoranda in a note-book, or mayhap has -taken a snap-shot with a Kodak at a picturesque fortification which he -thinks will look well in his album when he gets home. This arbitrary -and high-handed proceeding is common to all parts of Europe outside -of Great Britain. But though the liberty of the subject and of the -foreigner is ever menaced on the Continent, and a simple indiscreet -act may serve to bring the might of the law down on the luckless -offender, this state of things is nothing as compared with that which -prevails in Russia. It is a plain statement of fact to say that, of all -the countries which boast of their civilization, Russia is the least -civilized. The Russians themselves are a most hospitable people, they -are clever, they make good friends and good neighbours; but their laws -are antiquated, the method of government is barbarous, while the system -of espionage which is in force all over the country would irritate a -Briton into madness. And there is another aspect of the law, which, -though it has been denied, still obtains in Russia, and that is the -power of the law to keep an untried man whose guilt is not proved in -prison indefinitely, and to subject him to such mental or physical -torture that, to escape from it, the victim either confesses to a -crime of which he is innocent or goes raving mad. To understand this, -one must bear in mind that, while in our country a man is considered -innocent until he is proved guilty, in Russia, as soon as ever he -falls under suspicion, he is regarded as a criminal. He can then be -thrown into a dungeon and kept there. If he persists in asserting his -innocence, the law, if it can procure no proof one way or the other, -will persist in regarding him as guilty, and will exhaust every means -to overcome him, and if compelled to let him go will do so with the -greatest reluctance. - -This is really no exaggerated statement. A thousand and one proofs -can be furnished in support of it. Danevitch, who was Russian to the -backbone, was nevertheless sufficiently broad-minded to frankly admit -that the laws of his native country left much to be desired. The case -dealt with in this story will illustrate very forcibly what I have -stated in the foregoing lines. - -Vassilo Ivanoff was by profession an architect, with, as was supposed, -a large and profitable connection. He was also an artist of some -repute, and two or three of his pictures had found a place on the -walls of the St. Petersburg Salon. His friends sometimes rated him for -devoting too much time to painting pictures that did not pay, and too -little to his profession, which did pay. Ivanoff, however, was young, -ardent, enthusiastic; a dreamer somewhat. He believed in himself, -in his future. The world was beautiful, life was good, all men were -brothers. Such in effect were his principles; but he forgot the maxim -of science, which insists that theory and practice should go together. -Ivanoff was a theorist, but he found it difficult to be practical. He -had long been engaged to Maria Alexeyevina, who had the reputation of -being one of the most beautiful young women in St. Petersburg. She was -a member of an exceedingly good family, who, though poor, boasted -of their noble descent. The marriage of the young couple had been -delayed from time to time on the grounds that, until his financial -position improved, he could not afford to keep a wife. It was a great -disappointment to him, but he set to work with a will, and so far -increased his business that he felt justified at last in appealing to -Maria and her relatives that the marriage should be no longer delayed. - -Among Ivanoff’s most intimate friends was one Riskoff by name, who was -said to be wealthy, and also exceedingly practical. He and Ivanoff -had been to school together, and had studied at college together; -but Riskoff, being considerably older than his friend, completed his -studies some years before the other. - -Ivanoff was in the habit of consulting Riskoff about many things, -and he took him into his confidence with regard to the marriage; but -Riskoff, knowing that Ivan was improvident, as well as impractical, -strongly counselled him to delay the marriage. Ivanoff, however, was -head-strong, Riskoff was persistent, with the result that the lifelong -friends virtually quarrelled, and in the circles which they frequented -it was a matter of comment that these two men, who had been like -brothers, now passed each other by as if they were strangers. - -Unable at last to control his feelings, Ivanoff pleaded so pathetically -to Maria to consent to the marriage that she yielded, and they became -man and wife. The marriage ceremony was one of those semi-grand -affairs peculiar to the middle classes in Russia, and the festivities -that followed were conspicuous by their magnificence and the lavish -expenditure incurred. It was noted with much surprise at the time that -Riskoff was not present at the wedding or the feast. It was known that -there had been strained relations between the two men; nevertheless, -everyone expected that Riskoff would have been invited. But, in spite -of his friend’s absence, Ivanoff was supremely happy; the beautiful -woman for whom he would have laid down his life willingly, had she -desired it, was his at last. What more could mortal man wish for? Life -henceforth would know no pang. The doting couple would exist on each -other’s love, and not the tiniest of clouds should ever obscure the -matrimonial sky. It was all very pretty. Others had thought the same -thing over and over again, only to find, when the first transports of -joy were past, that the married state is not quite the Elysium they -believed it to be when they hastened to exchange single blessedness -for wedded bliss. The blessedness is at least a known quantity, but -the bliss is as often as not found to be little better than a delusive -mirage. Ivanoff, however, did not concern himself about the future. -With him, sufficient for the day was the evil thereof. Why think of the -morrow when the to-day was so full of joy? That was his theory, and he -lived up to it. - -The first year of his married life, so far as was known, was a very -happy one; the young couple revelled in each other’s society. Their -social functions were attended by people from far and near, for Maria’s -beauty was the talk of the town, and her husband was very happy and -very proud. He believed that no such woman as his wife had ever walked -the fair earth before. Romance, however, cannot last for ever, and -joy must ever be evanescent in this wicked world. Vassilo Ivanoff was -soon to prove the truth of this. Necessity compelled him at last to -look into his affairs, and he found to his horror that he was on the -verge of bankruptcy. Bills were pouring in upon him, but there was -nothing in the exchequer to meet them with. It was a terrible state -of matters, and to a sensitive man with a poetical temperament little -short of maddening. From his ideal world he had suddenly to descend -to the vulgar commonplace one, where the butcher, the baker, and -candlestick-maker clamour for their little accounts; where summonses -and writs run; and where brokers’ men and sheriffs’ officers have no -bowels of compunction. It was a revelation, and a very terrible one, -to Vassilo, and he had to face the fact that he was heavily in debt, -with no means to meet his engagements. He could not apply to his wife’s -relations for assistance, for they were poor and proud, and, while -unable to help him, they would not have hesitated to rate him for the -disgrace he would bring upon them if his affairs should be made public, -and there was every probability that such would be the case. - -It was subsequently brought to light that in his distress he applied -to various friends for temporary assistance; but, because they either -could not or would not render it, his appeals met with no response. -There is no doubt that his affairs at this stage of his career were -in a very complicated state, and he realized for the first time that -he was practically ruined; and to such an extent did it affect him, -that one night he was seen at one of the fashionable and best-known -cafés in a state of intoxication. Probably a good deal was due to -his mental excitement rather than to the amount of stimulant he had -imbibed, for he was a most temperate man, and rarely went to excess. -Some acquaintances tried to persuade him to go home, but his excitement -only increased, and he was heard to exclaim: ‘It’s a burning shame that -I should be poor when there are thousands less worthy than I am rolling -in wealth. I feel as if I could do murder on those who hoard their gold -when so many are suffering for the want of common necessaries.’ - -This little outburst of passion and ill-will was no doubt due entirely -to his condition; but it was a dangerous sentiment to give expression -to in a Russian café, though, but for subsequent events, no importance -would have been attached to it. - -With some difficulty the unfortunate man was taken to his home, and it -would appear that on the following day, when no doubt he, figuratively -speaking, sat on the stool of repentance, he resolved, in his -extremity, to appeal to his whilom friend Riskoff. With that intention -he went to Riskoff’s house, but found that he was out; and, as it was -uncertain when he would return, Vassilo asked for pen and paper, and -wrote a letter, in which he confessed that he had been living in a -fools’ paradise. But he had come to his senses, and intended to be more -business-like in future. He wound up with begging Riskoff to lend him -two thousand roubles, promising faithfully to repay the loan in six -months’ time. The following day he received this reply: - - ‘DEAR IVANOFF, - - ‘I confess to feeling some surprise, after the coolness there has - been between us of late, that you should apply to me in your monetary - difficulties for assistance. It is true I have the reputation of - being a rich man, and it is highly probable that under different - circumstances I would have accommodated you with this loan. But - I flatly refuse to do so now. I do not consider you have treated - me well. I was your warm friend at one time, and would have done - anything for you; but you thought proper to trifle with that - friendship, so there’s an end of it. As you have made your bed, so - you must lie upon it. I don’t know that I am an unkindly man--indeed, - I am sure I am not; but I feel angry now, and my heart hardens - against you. I am truly sorry for your beautiful wife, and consider - that you have done her a gross wrong in bringing her to this state of - poverty. It is no use your writing to me or calling here again, as - to-morrow morning I set off on my journey to visit my estates, and - shall not be back for a month. I hope in the meantime you will pull - through your difficulties, and that the lesson which poverty teaches - will not be lost upon you. - - ‘RISKOFF.’ - -It is easy to understand the effect a letter of this kind would have -upon a sensitive and proud man. The refusal of his friend to help him -must have been a stinging and bitter blow to Ivanoff. It appeared that -for a long time he sat in moody and gloomy silence. Then he showed the -letter to his wife, and it was a shock to her. Up to that moment she -had not quite realized that things were as bad as they were. Allowing -her feelings to get the better of her, she reproached her husband, and -he made an angry retort, with the inevitable result that other harsh -things were said on both sides, until the young wife, in a fit of -petulance and wounded pride, hastily put on her cloak and bonnet and -went off to her parents. Soon afterwards the unhappy husband also went -out, and was absent for some hours. In the evening his wife returned, -accompanied by her brother. She had repented her hastiness, and her -people had told her that her place was at her husband’s side. In the -meantime he also had come back. He seemed in a much happier frame of -mind, and Maria’s brother witnessed a very pleasant reunion. He spent -the evening with her. They had supper, and were happy. Before retiring, -Vassilo told his wife that he was in funds again, and all would be -well. He said the little cloud that had over-shadowed them had passed, -and that henceforth they would live in clover. She asked him how he -had managed to so suddenly bring about the change, but he laughingly -replied that he couldn’t explain just then, but would do so later on. - -The next day Ivanoff rose betimes. He attended to some business -matters, paid several of the most pressing claims against him, and at -mid-day he and his wife lunched at a café, and in the evening they -dined at their own house in company with some friends who had been -invited. In the midst of the dinner the company were suddenly startled -by the violent ringing of the large bell which hung at the gate. It -was by no means an ordinary ringing, but suggestive of impatience and -anger. The servant whose duty it was to attend to the door had not -time to get down before the bell was rung a second time still more -violently. The servant hurried to the door, and, flinging it open, -was confronted by an important-looking official known as a Judge of -Instruction, accompanied by his two legal satellites and two armed -policemen. - -‘Is your master in?’ demanded the Judge angrily. - -‘Do you mean Mr. Vassilo Ivanoff?’ - -‘Of course I do. Why have you kept me so long at the door?’ - -‘I came immediately, sir,’ answered the frightened servant. - -‘Very well. Now, is your master in?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Take me to him, then.’ - -‘He is dining with some friends.’ - -‘Blazes and thunder!’ roared the official; ‘what do I care whether he -is dining with friends or whether he isn’t? Conduct me to him. Men, -follow me.’ - -The now speechless servant led the way to the dining-room, and close -at her heels were the Judge and his men. As the intruders thus -unceremoniously entered, Vassilo jumped to his feet, and his wife -uttered a little cry of alarm, while the visitors looked aghast, for -the presence of the Judge and the police with drawn swords was ominous. - -‘Sorry to disturb you,’ growled the Judge gruffly. - -‘What do you want here?’ asked Ivanoff sharply. - -‘I’ve come on business.’ - -‘What business?’ - -‘Very unpleasant business. I am empowered to search your house. Here is -my authority.’ He displayed a blue document bearing the Government seal. - -Vassilo’s wife had recovered her presence of mind by this time, and, -going to her husband’s side, she remarked: - -‘Oh, I suppose this is some absurd denunciation on the part of an -enemy, for I am afraid that even I and my husband have enemies. But, -happily for us, we never interfere in politics; we are content to lead -peaceful lives.’ - -‘It is not a question of politics,’ answered the Judge, his gruff -manner somewhat softening as he gazed upon the beautiful young wife and -felt sympathy for her. - -‘Not politics!’ she exclaimed, in new alarm, as she glanced at her -husband’s face, which had become very pale. - -‘No; my visit has nothing to do with politics.’ - -‘Why are you here, then?’ demanded Mrs. Ivanoff anxiously. - -‘I am here on very serious business indeed. Your husband is accused -of--well, that is, he is suspected of murder.’ - -‘Murder!’ broke like an echo from the wife’s lips, and all present -started to their feet in deadly alarm, as if a bombshell had been -exploded in the room. - -‘I am accused of murder?’ gasped Ivanoff, looking dazed, as if he had -received a blow on the head that had half stunned him. - -‘Yes, murder,’ answered the Judge solemnly. - -‘The murder of whom?’ asked the wife, a half-incredulous smile on her -face. - -‘Mr. Riskoff.’ - -‘Riskoff!’ echoed the poor lady, as the smile gave place to a look of -terror, and she fixed her eyes on her husband as if every hope she had -on earth hung on the words he would next utter. - -‘Is he dead?’ Ivanoff gasped, the dazed expression strengthening. - -‘Yes,’ said the Judge, ‘and you are charged with having murdered him.’ - -Ivanoff broke into a strange laugh as he exclaimed: - -‘This is positively absurd. Why, I was with him yesterday.’ - -‘Yes, that fact is well known. You went to his house to see him?’ - -‘I did.’ - -‘No one was with him after you left him?’ - -‘That I have no knowledge of,’ moaned Ivanoff, as he passed his hand -distressfully over his head from his forehead backward. - -‘Soon after you had taken your departure from his house he was found -dead in his library.’ - -Poor Mrs. Ivanoff was now almost in a state of collapse, and would have -fallen had not one of the ladies present caught and supported her. - -The Judge had become stern and hard again. His assistants had out their -note-books, and while one wrote the questions and replies in shorthand, -the other took them down in longhand. - -‘You possessed a revolver?’ asked the Judge. - -‘I did,’ muttered Ivanoff. - -‘Where is it?’ - -‘I--I lent it to--to my friend Riskoff.’ - -‘You lent it to him!’ exclaimed the Judge ironically. - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Why did you lend it to him?’ - -‘Because he asked for it.’ - -‘Ah! very likely,’ remarked the Judge, still more ironically. ‘Why did -he ask you for it?’ - -‘He told me he was starting at once to visit his estates, and as he was -without a revolver mine would be useful to him.’ - -‘Why did you take your revolver to his house?’ - -The Judge glanced at his assistants as he asked this question, then -fixed a searching glance on the suspected man’s ghastly white face. -Mrs. Ivanoff also gazed at her husband with staring eyes, and waited -breathlessly for his answer. She had been led to a chair, and her -friends were crowding round her; but with outstretched arms she kept -them back, so that they might not obstruct her view of her husband, who -stood motionless as a statue, save for the rapid rising and falling of -his chest; and he was white as a statue, while his hands were clenched -firmly together. - -‘Give me an answer, sir,’ exclaimed the Judge angrily, as the suspected -man remained dumb. ‘Why did you take your revolver with you to your -friend’s house?’ - -Ivanoff was still silent. The assistants were busy writing. The Judge -became more peremptory. - -‘Again I ask you: Why did you take your revolver to Riskoff’s house?’ - -Ivanoff glanced nervously round the room now, and his eyes fell upon -his wife. The pitiable sight she presented broke him down, and, -covering his face with his hands, he burst into tears, and stammered -forth, in a broken, emotional voice, the following reply: - -‘I went to my friend to ask him to lend me some money. I took the -revolver with me, determining to shoot myself if he refused.’ - -‘Or shoot him,’ said the Judge, with a sneer. - -‘No, no--on my soul and before my God, no!’ cried Ivanoff, raising his -hands to heaven. - -‘Well, your friend was killed with a bullet fired from this revolver.’ -He produced a revolver as he spoke. ‘Do you recognise it?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Your name is engraved upon it. It was picked up on the floor of his -room. Riskoff had been shot in the back of the head. The murderer, -therefore, was behind him.’ - -A shudder ran through all present as this announcement was made. There -was an exception, however. It was Mrs. Ivanoff; she sat motionless, as -if she had been petrified. Her eyes were still fixed on her husband. - -‘Have you any money?’ asked the Judge. - -‘Yes,’ answered the wretched man. - -‘In notes?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Let me see them.’ - -Ivanoff put his hands into his pocket, and produced a well-filled -pocket-book. The Judge took it, opened it, and disclosed a packet of -new notes. He examined them carefully, and consulted certain memoranda -he had made in his note-book. - -‘Ah, this is very damning evidence!’ he said at last. ‘Riskoff drew -from his bankers yesterday a large sum of money in notes. These notes -are part of those he drew from the bank.’ - -Mrs. Ivanoff started to her feet now, and uttered a low moan of -agony. Somebody wanted to support her, but she pushed them back, and, -steadying herself with a tremendous effort, she said: - -‘Vassilo, what does this mean?’ - -‘Some hideous mistake,’ he murmured. - -‘I hope so. God grant it is so,’ sobbed the unhappy lady. ‘But I -remember Riskoff’s answer to your application for a loan. And now -Riskoff is dead, your revolver is found in his house, and you are in -possession of notes which he drew from his bank. Oh, my God, it’s -awful! It’s too, too horrible! I am going mad!’ - -She uttered a suppressed scream, pressed her hands to her head, reeled -and staggered, and fell fainting into the arms of some of her friends. - -Apparently unmoved by this sad and pathetic scene, the Judge preserved -his sternness and stolidity. - -‘So Riskoff wrote to you?’ he asked. - -‘Yes,’ answered Ivanoff in a mechanical way. - -‘Where is the letter?’ - -‘I will give it to you. Come with me.’ - -The Judge motioned to the armed men, and they placed themselves one -on either side of the suspect, while the Judge himself brought up the -rear. In this order they proceeded to Ivanoff’s studio, where, opening -a bureau with a key he took from his pocket, he produced the letter he -had received from Riskoff, wherein he point-blank refused to lend the -money, and handed it to the Judge, who, having perused it, remarked: - -‘This is a fatal piece of evidence against you. You had better make a -clean breast of the whole affair.’ - -By this time Ivanoff had somewhat recovered himself, and said firmly: - -‘I have nothing to confess. I am innocent before God.’ - -‘Most criminals declare themselves innocent at first,’ answered the -Judge coldly. ‘However, I have no doubt you will tell another tale -before we have done with you. I charge you now with being the murderer -of Mr. Riskoff, and make you my prisoner. Secure him and bring him -along.’ - -The policemen seized the wretched man, and fastened his wrists together -with a pair of handcuffs. He begged to be allowed to write two or -three letters, but this request was refused, and he was taken from the -house, still protesting his innocence, and without being able to take -a final leave of his wife, who remained unconscious. In accordance -with the mode of procedure peculiar to Russia, the suspected man was -conducted to the office of the criminal prison, where he was subjected -to another cross-examination, and the Judge of Instruction handed in -his procès-verbal, as the French call it. The Judge, having finished -his part of the affair so far, received an official receipt for his -prisoner’s body and left, while the prisoner himself, having been -stripped of his clothing, and a prison suit allotted to him, was -consigned to a secret cell, which meant that he would be kept isolated -from everyone until the police had worked up sufficient evidence to -secure his conviction. But in the event of their failing to do that, -the prisoner himself would in all probability ultimately confess in -order to be relieved from the awful horror of solitary confinement in a -secret dungeon. - -The case against Ivanoff seemed perfectly clear. The public condemned -him from the first, for the evidence was so strong. There was the -letter which Riskoff had written declining to lend the money Ivanoff -had applied to him for. Yet within thirty-six hours of that letter -being received, Riskoff was discovered dead in his own house. He had -that very morning drawn from his bank a large sum of money. A portion -of the money was found in Ivanoff’s possession. Riskoff had been shot -from behind. A bullet had entered the back part of the head, traversing -the brain and producing instant death. The deed was done with a -revolver, which was left in the room, no doubt by an oversight on the -part of the slayer. The revolver was the property of Ivanoff, as proved -by a little silver plate let into the butt, on which his name was -engraved. On his own confession, Ivanoff had visited Riskoff. He knew -that he was about to set out on a journey. He knew also that he would -draw money from the bank for the purposes of his journey. Therefore, -having been refused the loan he had asked for, he went to the house -with the deliberate intention of killing his erstwhile friend and -robbing him of his money. - -Such was the construction put upon the case, and it seemed as if no -one but an idiot could doubt for a moment that Ivanoff had committed -the crime. And as a piece of strengthening evidence the words he had -uttered in the café were raked up against him. ‘It’s a burning shame,’ -he had said, ‘that I should be poor when there are thousands less -worthy than I am rolling in wealth. I feel as if I could do murder on -those who hoard their gold when so many are suffering for the want of -common necessaries.’ - -All these things taken into consideration left no room to doubt that -Ivanoff was a murderer. He had committed a clumsy crime, and left such -tracks behind him that in a very short time the outraged law had him in -its grip. - -The tragedy aroused more than the usual amount of interest, as both -Ivanoff and Riskoff were well known, while the prisoner’s story was not -without a certain romance which added to the interest. His poetical -tendencies; his essays in art; his struggles; his wooing of the -beautiful Maria in opposition to the sage counsels and earnest advice -of his school-fellow and friend, Riskoff; his marriage; his monetary -difficulties; his appeal for help to the man whose advice he had -scouted--all these things afforded the general public subject-matter -for discussion; they were so many chapters in an exciting tale, the end -of which was murder. - -As may be imagined, Mrs. Ivanoff’s friends were furious, for, though -poor, they were as proud as Lucifer, and felt strongly embittered -against the man who had brought such disgrace into the family. Poor -Maria came in for a fair amount of blame. She was told very bluntly -that she had no business ever to have married such a man. These -reproaches made her dreadful position still harder to bear; but when -the first shock of the disclosure and the arrest had passed, she rose -equal to the occasion, and startled everyone she knew by declaring her -unalterable belief in her husband’s innocence. This seemed to most -people like flying in the very face of Providence. The accused man’s -guilt was so obvious that it was an outrage on intelligence to argue -otherwise. But Maria Ivanoff was a young and newly-married woman. She -had married for love. Her husband had always treated her with the -greatest tenderness and consideration. Over and over again he had -told her he worshipped the very ground she walked upon, and had done -everything in his power to prove that he did not speak mere words. She -believed in him; she believed in his assertion that he was innocent; -and though all the world condemned him she would not. She was his wife, -his loving wife, and she would try to save him. The poor woman saw -clearly enough that she stood alone, and that she could expect neither -sympathy nor help from anyone. Nevertheless, she was not daunted, nor -was she deterred, and her first step was to seek an interview with -the Minister of the Interior, or, as we should call him, the Home -Secretary. It was not easy to obtain this interview, but thanks to the -influence of a gentleman holding a high official position, with whom -she was acquainted, she succeeded at last, and found herself face to -face with the proud and pompous personage who was invested with such -tremendous power that he could snatch a person from his doom even at -the eleventh hour. To the Minister she pleaded, literally on her knees, -for an order to visit her husband. At first the official was obdurate; -but her tears, her eloquence, her distress, and perhaps, more than all, -her beauty, softened him; and she left his bureau with a Government -order which granted her a twenty minutes’ interview with the prisoner. -She flew to the gloomy prison, presented the order, and in a little -while, in the presence of numerous officials, husband and wife met -again; but it was in a dismal corridor, and they were separated from -each other by an iron grill. - -Although only little more than a week had elapsed since that cruel -night when he was torn from her side, a wonderful change had taken -place in him. He looked ten years older. He was haggard and ghastly, -and no wonder, for he had suddenly changed the sunshine and brightness -of the world for a pestiferous dungeon, far below the ground, where -every movement of the prisoner was watched, where the walls were lined -with felt to deaden all sound; where miasma rose up from the ground, -and ooze and slime dropped from the roof; where no human voice was -heard, for the stern warders were prohibited from opening their lips to -a prisoner; where the food was horrible, and even the common decencies -of life were not observed. No wonder that in such a place men went mad; -no wonder that even in a few weeks youth and vigour were changed to -tottering age. - -Maria was startled and horrified. She would have thrown her arms about -her wretched husband’s neck, but cruel bars kept them asunder. Ivanoff -iterated and reiterated again and again that he was innocent. He -swore it by all that a Russian holds most sacred, and he begged with -streaming eyes that his wife would use every means possible to prove -his innocence and secure his release, otherwise he would in a very -short time be raving mad. - -When Maria Ivanoff left that awful place and got into the light again, -she felt like one who had come up out of a tomb, where she had looked -upon death. She knew that there was but little hope for her husband -unless his innocence was made clear as day. She thoroughly believed -his assertions; and she made a mental resolve that she would rest -neither night nor day until she had exhausted every possible means to -release him. Her friends were angry with her; everybody said it was an -impossible task to prove a guilty man innocent. Her distress of mind -may be imagined, not described; she told her friends she herself would -go mad if somebody did not come to her assistance. Then it was that her -brother, with what he intended to be the most pointed irony, said: - -‘You are seeking to do that which is impossible. Now, if there is a man -in all Russia who can perform seemingly impossible deeds, that man is -Michael Danevitch, the Government detective. Why don’t you go to him? -He might perform a miracle, who knows?’ - -Maria Ivanoff jumped at the suggestion, though it was never intended -she should take it seriously. But she sought out Danevitch. She laid -all the facts of the case before him. It was the first he had heard of -the matter. It was the first time he had ever set his eyes on Maria. -But her moving tale stirred him; her beauty won him; her tears found -their way to his heart. He consoled her in a measure by a pledge that -he would examine the case from every possible point of view, and -communicate with her later on. Nearly a fortnight passed before she saw -him again. - -‘There is one point, and a very curious point it is,’ he said, ‘that -makes the evidence against the accused weak, and yet nobody seems to -have noticed it.’ - -‘What is it?’ cried Maria, breathless with new hope. - -‘On the day that Riskoff was murdered, he drew from the bank three -thousand roubles. Your husband had one thousand of this sum, according -to his own statement, and the most critical investigation has failed -to prove this statement false; not a rouble over and above the one -thousand has been traced to his possession.’ - -‘Yes, yes; go on,’ moaned Maria, as she clasped her hands together with -the emotion the detective’s words begot. ‘What has become of the other -two thousand?’ - -‘Ah, that is what I want to know. If your husband murdered Riskoff for -the sake of the money, why did he only take one thousand roubles and -leave two thousand? And if he left two thousand behind, what has become -of them?’ - -Maria was holding her breath with that intensity of nervous emotion -which one experiences when it seems as if some revelation is about to -be made which means life or death to the listener. Danevitch remained -thoughtful and silent. His eyes were fixed on vacancy; his lips were -closely compressed; he looked absorbed and dreamy, as was his wont when -he was unusually thoughtful. At last Maria could endure her pent-up -feelings no longer, and in a husky voice she asked: - -‘What inference do you draw?’ - -‘An inference which on the face of it seems to corroborate your -husband’s assertion of his innocence. Mark you, I only say it seems to -do so. I do not say it does.’ - -Maria covered her face with her hands and wept passionately, but her -tears were rather the result of hope than of despair. Her over-strained -nerves were in that state when they were as liable to give way under -the effects of joy as they were under the effects of sorrow. She fell -on her knees at Danevitch’s feet, and, clasping her hands in passionate -appeal, implored him to save her husband. He raised her up, and said -softly: - -‘I will do what I can.’ - -It was really remarkable that it should have been left for Danevitch to -bring out that curious point about the money. All the police officials -had overlooked it. They were cock-sure, for they believed that the case -was so clear against the prisoner that it would not admit of a doubt. -For some days after the interview with Maria, Danevitch concerned -himself with endeavouring to prove if Ivanoff had had more than the -one thousand roubles, but the most exhaustive inquiries, and the most -rigorous search of his house, failed to get a trace of a single rouble -beyond the one thousand which he had declared Riskoff had lent him, -a portion of which he had paid away to his creditors. When it became -known that Danevitch was engaged on the case, and that he was trying to -find out what had become of the two thousand roubles out of the three -thousand drawn from the bank, not only was public curiosity aroused, -but to some extent opinion swung round, and sympathy was expressed for -the prisoner. The police, however, were not moved, unless it was to -become still more prejudiced against Ivanoff. They knew the power of -Danevitch, and the influence he had in high quarters, and they were -determined not to lose their prey. They therefore resorted to all the -forms and pressure allowed by the Russian law to exact from the unhappy -man a confession of his guilt. Beyond the facts they had already got -together, they could obtain no other evidence. They knew that it was -just possible those facts might fail to secure a conviction, whereas a -confession wrung from the suspected man, no matter under what torture -it was obtained, would be accepted without question. Such was the law -in Russia. - -Weeks passed, and it leaked out that the prisoner’s obstinacy had at -last been overcome. All that remained, therefore, to be done was to -bring him up for trial, which would be a mere perfunctory business, -and fix the date for his transportation. At last he appeared before -the judges. The interest the case had aroused caused the court to be -crowded to suffocation. When the prisoner appeared at the bar, those -who had known Ivanoff previous to his arrest were shocked. They saw -now an old white-haired man, with a haggard, hunted expression of -face, and a wild stare in the restless eyes, as if he had suffered -some tremendous mental shock. He seemed stunned, and as if he did not -recognise anyone, and could not realize his position. Truly it is -said of him who is sent to a Russian dungeon: ‘He shall return no -more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.’ The -prisoner had been chained, tortured, and punished until he had become -imbecile. But what of that? Was he not the slayer of a fellow-man--a -scarlet-handed murderer who for the sake of a comparatively small sum -of money had ruthlessly taken the life of his best friend? He himself -had confessed to it, so that no one could raise up a doubt. The counsel -for the prosecution seemed to have an easy task of it. He went over -all the evidence that was known. Ivanoff had applied to his friend for -a loan; the loan was refused, and the letter of refusal was read in -court with a great flourish. Nevertheless, the prisoner went to his -friend’s house, taking a revolver engraved with his own name with him. -What passed between them would never be known until the secrets of -all hearts were revealed; but a little later Riskoff was found dead. -Some distance from him was Ivanoff’s revolver. The dead man had been -shot with a bullet from that revolver. The bullet had gone through -his brain. By an inconceivable act of folly, the prisoner left his -revolver behind. It must have fallen from his hand when he was rifling -the victim’s pockets for the money, and he had forgotten to pick it -up. Subsequently the money was found in his possession. Was ever there -clearer circumstantial evidence in the world? But to make assurance -doubly sure, there was the prisoner’s confession, taken down from his -own lips in his cell, by the Judge of Instruction; there it was for the -jury to inspect, duly witnessed and attested and legalized by the great -seal of the Minister of the Interior. - -The prosecuting counsel sat down with the air of one who had performed -a noble deed and scored a great triumph. The prisoner was silent, -motionless, his eyes staring blankly into space, and his white face -without any expression. Amidst a hush that was painful, the counsel -for the defence--one of the ablest men in Russia--rose to his feet, -and, adjusting his gown with professional gravity, said: ‘I claim one -of two things: either an immediate acquittal of the prisoner on the -grounds of lack of condemnatory evidence, or an adjournment of the -trial for a few days, when I shall be able to prove his innocence. As -everyone knows, Riskoff, the murdered man, drew three thousand roubles -from his bankers on the morning of his death. One thousand roubles -only was traced to the prisoner. All the money was in small notes. I -have here one thousand five hundred of the missing two thousand. There -are witnesses present from the bank who will identify every note. We -hope to regain the other five hundred shortly. These notes were not in -possession of the prisoner, but of another man, the man who committed -the murder, and who will yet be brought to justice. The prisoner at the -bar is innocent.’ - -The effect of this announcement was startling and dramatic in the -highest degree. Everybody seemed affected except the prisoner--he -was unmoved; he continued to stare into space. There was a hasty -consultation among the jury, and a hurried whispering with the Judge, -who asked if it was true that Michael Danevitch had the case in hand. -He was answered in the affirmative, and in the end he announced that no -verdict would be given that day, but the prisoner would be put back for -a fortnight. - -Mrs. Ivanoff had not been present at her husband’s trial. She was -prostrated with illness, the result of long mental strain and intense -anxiety; but a day or two before the case came on Danevitch called -upon her and bade her be of good cheer, for her husband was innocent. -Although she knew that Danevitch was not likely to make such a definite -statement as that without warrant, she exclaimed: - -‘But it is rumoured that my husband has confessed the crime.’ - -‘I have heard the same rumour,’ Danevitch answered; ‘but a confession -that is wrung from a prisoner is not always reliable. But come, now, -take heart. I told you, in the first instance, that I was much struck -by the fact that only one thousand roubles could be traced to your -husband. If he murdered his friend for his money, why did he not -take the lot? It seemed absurd that, having committed the crime, he -contented himself with one-third only of the amount he could have had. -His story was that he visited Riskoff, who repented of his hastiness, -and said he had written the letter of refusal when he was in a bad -temper, and that had your husband not called, he was going to write -an apology to him and enclose him one thousand roubles. As it was, -he handed him the money, for which your husband gave a receipt as an -acknowledgment that he was indebted to Riskoff to the extent of a -thousand roubles. Subsequently, on Riskoff saying he was going to a -gunsmith’s to buy a gun and a revolver to take with him on his journey, -your husband pulled his own revolver out and offered the loan of it to -his friend. The offer was accepted, and soon afterwards the two men -parted. On the first blush this story had the appearance of being very -far-fetched, and calculated to tax one’s credulity; but when I came -to examine it in connection with all the circumstances, it presented -itself to me as a statement of fact. Now I have no hesitation in saying -that in the main, if not in actual detail, it is true.’ - -Mrs. Ivanoff heard this in silent thankfulness. She felt that her -prayers had been heard, for night and day the poor woman had prayed -that her husband might be proved innocent. Like most Russian women, -she had an intense faith in the rites of her Church and the efficacy -of prayer. Needless to say that after Danevitch’s statement her faith -was strengthened, for she knew he was not the man to express such a -pronounced opinion without he had a very good foundation for it. - -As he himself had said, when he came to look into the matter the -case presented itself to him in a very different aspect, and the -prisoner’s story appeared probable. If that story was true, it -necessarily followed that a third person must have been aware of the -monetary transaction between the two men, and, taking advantage of -the circumstances, had himself committed the crime for the sake of -the two thousand roubles. It was upon that theory that Danevitch set -to work. Riskoff led a bachelor life. His household consisted of two -female servants and a man servant. On the morning of the crime the -man had gone to the market. One of the females was an old woman who -had been in the service of the family for upwards of fifty years, and -had nursed Riskoff when he was a baby; the other was a young girl of -about eighteen. The old woman at the time was in bed suffering from -an ulcerated foot, the result of a cut with a piece of glass on which -she had inadvertently stepped. Consequently the girl--Olga was her -name--was in charge of the house. She admitted Ivanoff, and very soon -afterwards her master and the visitor went out, and were absent nearly -an hour. Her master told her that he was going to the bank to draw some -money for his journey on the morrow. The two men returned together. -In about half an hour afterwards she opened the door for Ivanoff -to depart. The murder was not discovered until the return of the -man-servant. Then Olga went to her master’s room to inquire whether he -intended to dine alone that evening or whether there would be guests. -On opening the door, she was horrified to find her master lying dead on -the floor. - -Such was Olga’s story, and it seemed probable enough, but Danevitch -was not satisfied. The missing two thousand roubles set him pondering -deeply, and he had a private interview with the old housekeeper, and -questioned her about Olga. - -‘Was Olga a steady girl?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Had she a lover?’ - -The old woman thought not; at any rate, no one who came to the house. -But did nobody visit her? Well, yes, a brother had been to see her the -previous day. Her brother was called Andrey. He was a soldier stationed -at Cronstadt, but was on furlough, and passed through St. Petersburg on -his way to visit his parents, who resided at a place called Ladeinoe -Pole, a little village lying to the north of St. Petersburg and the -east of Lake Ladoga. - -‘Was the brother at the house on the day of the murder?’ - -The housekeeper did not know. She thought not. But, still, he might -have been without her knowing it. - -Pursuing his inquiries, Danevitch found that this soldier brother had -left St. Petersburg on the night of the murder for his home. Danevitch -followed him there, but found on his arrival that, his furlough being -up, he had returned to Cronstadt. The parents were peasants, and, -like most Russian peasants, living a miserable sort of life; but -Danevitch learnt this fact, that quite recently they had been to a -neighbouring market-town and purchased a horse and two cows, which -made the neighbours quite envious; and, of course, such an event in -so small a village was a nine days’ wonder, and was much commented -upon. The soldier son, who was so good to his parents, had no doubt -provided them with the money. Danevitch, however, was well aware that, -however dutiful and affectionate the son was, he could not save from -his miserable pay a sum sufficiently large for the purchase of two cows -and a horse. The pay of the Russian private is about one halfpenny a -day. It is therefore impossible for him to save money. Having regard -to these facts, the detective deemed some explanation imperatively -necessary. But before he took his departure from the little village, -it came to his knowledge that Andreyvitch, the father of Andrey, the -soldier, was carrying on negotiations with a Jew--Weissmann by name--a -nationalized German, for the purchase of a little plot of land in the -village. Weissmann had had a mortgage on the land, had foreclosed, and -was anxious to sell. At last a bargain was struck, and Andreyvitch paid -one hundred roubles as earnest money. The hundred roubles was paid in -notes. They formed part of the amount Riskoff had drawn from the bank. -Thereupon Danevitch confronted old Andreyvitch with two armed officers -of the law, and demanded to know where he got those notes from. The -simple and ignorant old peasant at once answered that he had received -them from his son. - -‘Where did the son get them from?’ - -The father understood that his son had found a roll of notes, and -though he ought to have delivered them at the bureau of police, his -strong affection for his poor old parents prompted him to commit a -breach of the law by retaining the money and giving it to his father. - -‘Had the father any more notes?’ - -Yes, he had a roll of them. He produced them from a hole in the thatch -of his house. They were carefully wrapped up in a piece of sheepskin -to keep them from the damp. There were notes to the value of one -thousand five hundred roubles. The old people had already spent about -five hundred roubles in the purchase of the cows and the horse, and in -clearing off certain debts. To the astonishment and terror of the old -people, the notes were retained, and steps were taken to recover those -that had already been paid away. - -With the money in his possession, Danevitch returned to St. Petersburg, -and handed it over to the defending counsel in time for him to make -that dramatic _coup_ in court. The next step was the arrest of Olga -and Andrey. They were arrested simultaneously, though one was in St. -Petersburg, the other in Cronstadt. The woman was terrified at first, -but when she was confronted with the Judge of Instruction, she became -sullen, and refused to answer any questions. Not so Andrey; he at once -confessed that he had stolen the money, but vowed that he did not -commit the murder. - -‘Who did commit the murder, then?’ - -He believed that Ivanoff did. All that he knew about it was what his -sweetheart had told him; she said she had found her master shot. He was -lying on the floor with a bullet-wound in the head, and on the table -was a pile of bank-notes. She asked him to go to the room and take the -notes, which he did. - -Danevitch saw at once the discrepancies in this story. It was not at -all likely that Ivanoff would have gone off leaving a large number of -bank-notes on the table. So Olga and Andrey were each consigned to a -secret dungeon. In the course of a week the discipline of the dungeon -life had worked its effects on Olga, and with blanched lips she related -the following story to the Judge of Instruction. - -Her soldier lover had come to see her two days before the crime, and, -unknown to her master, she had kept him in the house during those -two days. On the morning of the crime, when her master and Ivanoff -returned from the bank, she had to go into the room to take in some -refreshments. She saw a great heap of notes on the table; she heard -the conversation about the revolver, and saw Ivanoff hand his to her -master. When the visitor had departed and she had closed the door upon -him, she thought how easy it would be to murder the master, take his -money, and let it seem as if Ivanoff had done it. Her fellow-servant -was ill in bed; the man-servant was out. Her lover was at hand, and -nobody knew that he was there. She hurried to him. She told him all. He -was entirely under her influence. She went to her master’s room again. -The notes were still on the table, so was the revolver. He was busy -making up his books, and did not seem to notice her. As she removed -a tray containing glasses and biscuits, she secretly took away the -revolver also. Then she flew to Andrey, gave him the weapon, and they -returned to the room. She opened the door gently; Riskoff was sitting -at the table, still writing. Andrey crept in on his hands and knees -and shot him. He took the notes and the receipt given by Ivanoff to -his friend for the thousand roubles, and immediately left the house. -In six months’ time he would be drafted into the reserve; then he and -Olga would be married, and go to live with his people. Nobody would -suspect them of the crime. The case was clear against Ivanoff; he would -probably die, and there would be an end of it, for dead men tell no -tales. - -All would no doubt have turned out just as the wretches desired, had -Danevitch not been brought upon the scene. The horrible story as -told by Olga was corroborated in every detail, and the receipt given -to Riskoff by Ivanoff was recovered. Andrey expiated his crime in -the mines. Olga was sent to Northern Siberia for life. Ivanoff was -released, but he was a mental wreck, and his loving and devoted wife -had to place him in a lunatic asylum. Danevitch had saved him from -Siberia, but could not save him from the living death to which a cruel -fate had doomed him. - - - - -THE MERCHANT OF RIGA. - - -Ferguson, Tauchnitz and Co. were the largest firm of exporters in Riga. -Their trade consisted of tallow, timber, corn, flax, hemp, flax-seed, -quills, furs, etc. They had agents all over the great Russian Empire, -including the far eastern and far northern parts of Siberia. The trade -was principally with Great Britain, and it was said the firm employed -a fleet of upwards of a hundred steam and sailing vessels, besides -numerous small craft for the navigation of the Russian rivers. - -Donald Ferguson, the head of the firm, was a Scotchman, naturalized in -Russia, where he had lived for nearly forty years. He had married a -Russian lady, by whom he had several children. - -Ferguson enjoyed the distinction of being reputed one of the wealthiest -merchants in Russia, and he was no less conspicuous as a prominent -citizen, who had done an immense deal for his adopted country. For many -years he had taken a very active part in all philanthropic movements. -He had spent large sums of money in the improvement of Riga and its -harbour; he had built and endowed a national hospital; had founded -schools, and done much for the improvement of the lower classes, whose -cause he espoused with great warmth and enthusiasm. He had earned for -himself, from one end of Russia to the other, a name for fair dealing, -probity, and honourable conduct. In the mercantile world he and his -firm were held in the highest repute. - -One night at the beginning of spring he was found lying dead in his -private office at his warehouse on the quay at Riga. It was thought at -first that he had died a natural death, that he had had an apoplectic -seizure; but when the body came to be examined, there was conclusive -evidence of his having been strangled. On each side of the throat were -unmistakable signs of thumb pressure, and a post-mortem examination -made it clear that strangulation had caused death. Such a prominent -and well-known man could not have died in an ordinary way without his -fellow-citizens experiencing a shock and being deeply affected, but -when the news spread that he had been murdered it caused a profound -sensation. Then there was a universal expression of regret, followed -by a cry of indignation and horror, and a demand for vengeance, swift -and pitiless, on the slayer of this good man. Naturally enough, the -first thought was that he had been killed in order that some of his -property might be carried off, but a little investigation soon put a -very different complexion on the affair, and proved that the crime was -mysterious, inexplicable, and remarkable. When many hours had passed, -and no trace of the murderer could be got, Michael Danevitch was -communicated with. - -The warehouse of Ferguson, Tauchnitz and Co. was an immense block of -buildings on the Grand Quay at Riga. The counting-house was in the very -centre of the block, and faced the quay and the harbour. Adjoining, -but at the back of the counting-house, was Mr. Ferguson’s private -room. This room was lighted by a large window overlooking a covered-in -courtyard. On three sides of this yard were platforms provided with -cranes and communicating with different floors, and it was here that -carts and waggons were loaded and unloaded. - -Frequently when business was very brisk, work was carried on all -night at the warehouse; but the murder was committed in the early -spring, when the export trade was only beginning, and the usual hour -for closing up was six o’clock, and three o’clock on Saturdays. Mr. -Ferguson met his death on Saturday, March 3, about seven o’clock. He -was the last to leave the office, as he remained behind to close -up some business he was engaged upon. It was then four o’clock, or -thereabouts. He proceeded to his home on foot, being greeted on the way -by many people who knew him. - -His private residence was in the suburbs of Riga. His family at home -consisted of his wife, two grown-up sons, and two daughters. He had two -other sons, one being established in Hull as the English agent of the -firm. The other travelled all over Russia, and was absent at the time -of his father’s death. On arriving at his home, Mr. Ferguson partook of -some refreshment. He then told his wife that he had suddenly remembered -something of importance he neglected to do at the office, and he would -go back. He did not say what this something was. - -Mrs. Ferguson asked her husband how long he was likely to be, and he -answered that he would return in an hour, or an hour and a half at -the outside. When he left his house it was a few minutes past five. -At this time his sons were out. They arrived a little after seven, -and as their father had not returned, they set off, expecting to meet -him. Failing to do that, they went on to the warehouse. On arriving -there they were surprised to find the main entrance door slightly ajar. -They pushed it open and entered. The place was in pitch darkness, and -there was unbroken silence. They naturally thought there was something -wrong, otherwise the door would not have been open, but did not feel -any alarm. They groped their way to their father’s room. Darkness and -silence there. In moving about, Donald, the elder of the two, struck -his feet against something soft and yielding; he started back with a -cry of horror. - -‘What’s the matter?’ asked James, the younger one. - -‘I don’t know,’ answered Donald; ‘but I believe there is a body lying -on the floor.’ - -The young man procured a light as speedily as possible. Then was -revealed to them sure enough the sight of their father lying on his -back, with his left leg up, and his right arm bent under his body. At -first the sons thought he had fainted, but the peculiar and ghastly -appearance of his face soon undeceived them, and when they touched him -they had painful evidence that their worst fears were well founded. -Terribly alarmed, they rushed out and sought assistance, which was soon -forthcoming. The police were informed and a doctor was procured. The -latter at once said that Mr. Ferguson was dead, that he had been dead -about an hour. The time then was a little after eight o’clock. - -‘What has my father died of?’ asked Donald. - -‘I am not prepared to say right off,’ said the doctor, ‘but I suggest -apoplexy.’ - -Ferguson was a fine man. He was above medium height, well proportioned, -muscular, and looked much younger than his years. His age was -sixty-eight. He had gray hair, and a long flowing beard turning gray. - -It was now noted by all present that the place was in great disorder. -Ledgers, cash-books, and other books were lying in a confused jumble -on the floor; papers and documents were scattered about in a very -unbusiness-like way on the desk. A large safe was open, and its -contents of papers and books had been hastily dragged out. These -signs were suggestive of robbery, and the doctor was induced thereby -to make a more thorough examination of Mr. Ferguson’s body. For this -purpose the dead man was carried into a packing-room and placed on a -counter. Then the medical man noticed the marks on the neck, and having -satisfied himself that he was correct, he said it was a case of murder; -Ferguson had been strangled, and there were indications of great force -and strength having been used. Several scratches were noticeable on -the dead man’s hands, and abrasions on his head, from which a little -blood had flowed. These things had escaped the doctor’s notice in the -uncertain light, but were revealed on closer inspection. They were -suggestive of a struggle, a fight for life, and this was corroborated -by the way things were scattered about the room. - -Other policemen were now brought in, and means were taken to ascertain -to what extent robbery had been committed; but, strangely enough, on -the desk was a cash-box. It was open, and contained a considerable -sum of money. In the safe, so conspicuous that it could not have been -overlooked by the eager eyes of a thief who had committed murder -in order to rob, was a leather bag full of money. Apparently the -bag had not been touched; the mouth was still tied up with tape. -On Mr. Ferguson’s person were many valuables, including money. It -was difficult to understand how all this money should have remained -untouched, if the deed of violence was the result of greed for gain. -Why did the criminal, having committed murder, not avail himself of the -hoard that lay to his hand? The investigators were naturally puzzled in -the face of such an inexplicable state of matters. - -In the meantime Ferguson’s partners had been communicated with, and -arrived on the scene as speedily as possible. When they had made an -examination, they expressed an opinion that nothing had been taken -away. That the deceased had been murdered was evident; that no robbery -had been committed was scarcely less evident. Here was a problem at -once. - -Did the murderer enter the premises to rob, and, finding the master -there, slay him, and having done this fearful deed, did he become so -indifferent to his first intent as to go off without the blood-money, -which was there for the taking? Having realized the extent of his -crime, was he so appalled that in his eagerness to escape from the -awful scene he forgot the gold? Such a thing might be possible, but it -didn’t seem probable. At any rate, it was hardly in accordance with the -principles of debased human nature. - -Mr. Tauchnitz, the second partner, who was intimately acquainted with -the working of the business, and had been with Ferguson most of that -day, could suggest no reason why the deceased should have gone back to -the warehouse. He had never been known to do such a thing before. - -As may be imagined, it was a dreadful night for the friends -and relatives of the deceased; and the hour being so late when -the discovery was made, the police were placed at a tremendous -disadvantage. Riga is a large place. It is a populous and busy -seaport, doing an enormous trade with other parts of Europe. An immense -number of ships of various nationalities were lying in the harbour. As -in all maritime places, there was a very rough element always prominent -in the town, and after dark many shameful and brutal scenes took place. -In addition to the sailors who came and went, there was always a large -garrison, for the town is strongly fortified. So what with sailors and -soldiers, and the nondescript hangers-on who are always to be found in -their wake, law and order were not so well observed as in some other -towns; and it will be understood that in the low quarters of such a -place a criminal might find safe refuge from pursuing justice. In the -instance we are dealing with, all the police could do was to notify -the facts to their agents and spies as speedily as possible; but, -necessarily, this was the work of hours; and through the long, dreary -winter night--for, though nominally spring, the winter still lingered, -though the ice had broken up--not much could be done. This, of course, -was all in favour of the criminal. He had a big start, and unless he -was absolutely a fool he would avail himself of his advantages. - -The murder was supposed to have been committed about seven. The -discovery was made a little after eight, but it was after nine--in -fact, close upon ten--before the police really began to bestir -themselves. During the time from half-past six to ten, several -trains had left the town, vessels had left the harbour, and vehicles -innumerable were driven forth in all directions. It will thus be seen -that the murderer had many roads of escape open to him, and it could -not be doubted that, if he was really desirous of saving his neck, he -would avail himself of the chance he had to get clear. - -That the murder was brutal could not be gainsaid; but on the face -of it the crime was not one of the ordinary type. Danevitch’s -preliminary investigations led him to the conclusion that the motive -which had prompted the deed was not robbery. That admitted--and there -was evidence of it--the case was invested with a certain mystery -suggestive of many things. Tauchnitz and the other partners were -questioned by Danevitch as to why Mr. Ferguson had remained behind -at the office on that fatal Saturday afternoon, when everybody else -had gone. No satisfactory answer could be given to this question. -Tauchnitz, who had been with Ferguson all the morning, declared that -there was no reason whatever, as far as the business was concerned, why -the ill-fated man should have stayed at the office. - -‘Was he in the habit of staying?’ - -‘No.’ - -‘Was he a methodical man?’ - -‘Most methodical.’ - -‘Was he given to making confidants?’ - -‘No. He was very reticent.’ - -‘But he bore the reputation of being straightforward, honest, upright, -and just?’ - -‘Unquestionably. He won the respect of all men. His character, so far -as one knew, was without blemish.’ - -The members of the dead man’s family spoke of him with profound sorrow -and regret. He had proved himself a model husband, a kind, indulgent -father, and though he was not communicative, either to his family or -anyone else, no importance was attached to that. It was his nature to -be somewhat silent and reserved. - -Furnished with these meagre particulars, Danevitch began his work. -From the first he formed the opinion that there was a deep and -underlying motive for the crime, which, however, he did not consider -was premeditated. And his reason for so thinking was this: A man -who deliberately sets forth to slay another in cold blood generally -provides himself with some lethal weapon. In this case the slayer would -hardly have trusted entirely to his hands, unless he was a man of -gigantic strength; for though Ferguson was well advanced in years, he -was not only unusually vigorous, but unusually powerful. He was known -also to be determined, resolute, fearless. Such a person was not likely -to yield up his life easily. Consequently, anyone who was acquainted -with him would surely have hesitated before engaging in a personal -encounter. Of course it may be suggested that the murderer was an utter -stranger, and knew nothing of his victim. But that was not the opinion -of Danevitch, whose deductions were as follows: - -Firstly, the murder was unpremeditated. - -Secondly, the murderer met his victim by appointment. There were -several reasons for thinking this. It was Saturday afternoon, and -Ferguson had never been known to go back to the office after it was -closed on Saturday afternoon before. His partners were emphatic in -saying that there was nothing in connection with the business which -required his personal attention at that time. No valuables having been -carried off, so far as could be ascertained, and the confusion in which -the papers were found, pointed to the motive being a desire on the part -of the murderer to obtain possession of some document which certain -circumstances and conditions, not definable at that stage, gave a -greater importance to than money. - -Thirdly, the victim and the murderer having failed to agree upon some -point, and the former, perhaps, proving stubborn and immovable, the -latter, in a sudden frenzy of passion, fell upon him, and got so much -advantage in the very initial stage of the struggle that he was enabled -to conquer with comparative ease, although the victim had made an -effort to free himself from the death-grip. - -Fourthly, the crime having been thus accomplished, and without -forethought, the criminal, agitated and filled with fear and alarm, -frantically turned over papers and books, and rummaged the contents of -the safe, in his eager desire to find what he wanted. Finally, without -discovering what he wanted to discover probably, he fled, and in his -hurry and confusion forgot to close the door after him. - -The foregoing was the line of reasoning that Danevitch pursued, but he -kept it to himself. It was absolutely and entirely opposed to public -opinion, and to the theories set forth by the police. - -As is invariably the case at such times, some very wild suggestions -were made; but there was a general tendency to believe that robbery -was responsible for the crime, notwithstanding that nothing appeared -to be missing. But public opinion did not influence Danevitch. He saw -with his own eyes and thought with his own brains, and he came to the -conclusion that he would probably find the key to the puzzle if he knew -more of Mr. Ferguson’s private life. There, of course, he was at once -confronted with great difficulty. Everyone spoke well of the victim. -His family believed him perfect. For Danevitch, therefore, to have -breathed a word calculated to tarnish, even by suggestion, the fair -fame of this merchant prince and good citizen would have been to incur -odium and ill-will. But he knew human nature too well to run any such -risk for the sake of a mere hypothesis. The problem, however, had to be -solved if possible, and he proceeded upon his own lines to search for a -tangible clue. - -In taking up a case of this kind, one must ever feel in the initial -stage that he is groping in the dark; but the trained mind at once -begins to reason the matter out, and the very first thing sought for -is a feasible and probable motive. Motive is the very keynote in all -detective work, and when the motive has been more or less accurately -guessed, the next stage is to try and determine who was likely to -have been actuated by that motive. These remarks necessarily apply -to complicated cases, where the mystery surrounding them seems -impenetrable. When a man is found murdered in his house, and his -valuables have been carried off, the motive is apparent enough. That -is a crime of mere vulgar sordidness, and the motive is writ large. -All crime is, of course, more or less vulgar, but sordidness is not -always the actuating influence. Whether sordidness was or was not at -the bottom of this Riga crime, it was difficult at that stage to say; -but the inquirer was confronted with the remarkable fact that nothing -seemed to have been stolen. - -In spite of the many rumours of this, that, and the other, and the -various opinions expressed, all of which were counter to his own views, -Danevitch remained uninfluenced by them, and adhered to the opinion he -had formed, which, as I have endeavoured to show, was based on sound -reasoning. The many documents scattered about the office where the -murder took place, although carefully examined by Danevitch, did not -help the inquiry, as they were all business papers, and obviously had -been discarded by the murderer as of no value to him. They had been -dragged rudely out of the large safe, and scattered broadcast on the -ground. Now, that was either the act of a madman, or of someone who was -searching hurriedly for something he knew or believed to exist, and -which he expected to find in the safe. - -Danevitch’s next step was to examine the contents of a large -waste-paper basket that stood in the office. The basket was full of -paper, torn and otherwise. He records that this proceeding of his was -regarded as an absolutely useless one; but those who condemned it -did not know what he was looking for. I have already said that, in -weighing all the particulars he had gathered up so far, he formed an -opinion that Mr. Ferguson had returned to his office to meet somebody -by appointment. The reasons for this opinion have been set forth. One -of his strong points was, having formed an opinion, which he never did -until after much reflection, and a very careful examination of all -details, so far as he could gather them up, he would not swerve from -that opinion until he had proved it wrong; and as soon as ever he was -convinced that he was in error, he was always ready to admit it. - -It is strong testimony to the wonderful perseverance and patience of -the man that every scrap of paper in the basket was carefully examined. -Amongst the great mass he found some fragments which attracted his -attention. One scrap bore the following words: ‘Door at five.’ It was -a coarse, common enough paper, of Russian make, and the formation of -the letters indicated that the writer was an uneducated person. With -infinite trouble and pains he searched for the corresponding morsels -of paper. And if anyone wants to know what a difficult task it was, -let him fill a basket with fragments and shreds of paper, shake them -well up, and then endeavour to pick out certain pieces and fit them -together. No Chinese puzzle, complicated and ingenious as most of them -are, was ever harder to do. But human ingenuity, coupled with exemplary -patience, will accomplish much, and Danevitch at last succeeded in -getting all the scraps together. Then he pasted them in their proper -order on a sheet of foolscap, and was thus enabled to read the -following: - - ‘This is the last chance I shall give you. You must see me. I will be - opposite your warehouse door at five on Saturday. We can then discuss - the matter alone and undisturbed. You need not try to shuffle me off. - If you fail to do justice to those you have wronged, I will make the - whole affair public. So stay away at your peril.’ - -The importance of this discovery could not be overrated; and it not -only gave Danevitch a clue, but proved him right in his surmises. -The letter was clearly a laboured one. It was a man’s handwriting, -and the writer showed that he was not a practised correspondent. -There were smudges and smears, and words wrongly spelt, although in -the translation given above it has been deemed advisable to give the -correct spelling, because in rendering it from the original into -English, if the inaccuracies were retained, all sense would be lost to -the reader. - -It was very evident now to Danevitch that Ferguson had had a -secret--the secret of some dark transaction, which placed him so far in -the power of an uneducated person that he had obeyed the command to go -to the office, after all was closed up for the day, in order to hold an -interview with the writer, who neither dated his missive nor signed his -name. - -Of course Danevitch kept this discovery to himself; and he set to work -with all the caution and skill for which he was famed to get some -accurate and reliable information of Ferguson’s disposition and his -peculiarities of temperament. Everyone spoke highly of him--indeed, -there seemed a general desire to belaud him, even beyond his merits, -perhaps. In common phraseology, his word was considered as good as his -bond. His acts were above suspicion; he was eminently respectable; he -was charitable, though there was a feeling that there was a tendency to -ostentation in his giving. In other words, he could hardly be ranked -amongst that class of men who will not let their right hand know what -their left hand gives. His marked peculiarities were an obstinately -strong will, and his refusal to budge from a position he had once taken -up. In this Danevitch saw a probable cause of the crime, when it was -taken in consideration with the letter. The writer had not premeditated -the crime, but had been exasperated into madness by Ferguson’s -obstinacy. This was the detective’s first deduction, and as he advanced -step by step it seemed to receive remarkable confirmation. Finally, as -an estimate of Ferguson’s character, he was regarded as a faithful and -honourable husband, an affectionate father, a loyal friend. Amongst -his workpeople he was looked up to with respect, if not with actual -affection. He was, however, thought an exacting master, requiring the -full measure of labour he bargained for; but that rendered, he could be -considerate enough, and, in fact, did much for the physical and moral -welfare of those who served him. - -Danevitch had now reached a stage in his investigation when he could -congratulate himself on having obtained a clue. It is true it was a -slender one, but to such a man it was of great value. He found himself -handicapped, however, by the very obvious disadvantage he would be -placed in if he had ventured to suggest that there was a flaw in -Ferguson’s character--that he had done something or other which had -placed him in the power of a person who was far below him in the -social scale. Whatever the error was he had committed, it was clearly -serious enough to draw him back to his warehouse after business hours, -in order to have a clandestine interview with that person. As showing -Danevitch’s difficulty, it is worth while recording a conversation -he had with Mr. Tauchnitz, who, as his name implies, was a German--a -very shrewd, long-headed fellow, who held his partner in the highest -estimation. Tauchnitz had been associated with Ferguson in business for -a great many years, and he claimed to know and understand him better -than anyone else outside his own family. - -‘Do you think, Mr. Tauchnitz,’ Danevitch asked--‘do you think that your -late lamented partner had by some rash act compromised himself to such -an extent with an inferior as to be completely in the power of that -inferior?’ - -Tauchnitz looked as though a thunderbolt had suddenly fallen at his -feet, and Danevitch had to repeat his question. The answer was an -emphatic, ‘No. Certainly not. I believe that Ferguson was absolutely -incapable of anything of the kind.’ - -‘You had the most perfect faith in him as a business man?’ - -‘Indeed I had.’ - -‘His business integrity was above suspicion?’ - -‘Undoubtedly.’ - -‘He concealed nothing from you you were entitled to know?’ - -‘I have no hesitation in saying he did not.’ - -‘Nevertheless, he was regarded as a reticent man.’ - -‘About his own affairs he certainly was reticent.’ - -‘Now, if I were to suggest he had been guilty of some dishonourable -action, what would you say?’ - -‘I should say you were doing the man a gross injustice,’ replied -Tauchnitz warmly. - -‘Had you free access to all the books and papers relating to the -business?’ - -‘Undoubtedly.’ - -‘But is it possible that Mr. Ferguson had transactions in his office of -which you knew nothing?’ - -‘I won’t admit the possibility at all,’ answered Tauchnitz, waxing -wroth. - -‘You must remember, sir,’ said Danevitch severely, ‘I have been -instructed to try and unravel the mystery surrounding your late -partner’s death----’ - -‘But I don’t think you are going the right way to work,’ interrupted -Tauchnitz. - -‘That is a matter of opinion,’ was the quiet rejoinder. ‘But be good -enough to tell me if Mr. Ferguson kept any private papers in his -office?’ - -‘Oh yes; I believe he did.’ - -‘Ah! That is a point gained.’ - -‘He had a large tin box,’ proceeded Tauchnitz, in explanation, ‘in -his own room, in which he kept documents which did not relate to the -business.’ - -‘You don’t know what was in that box, I suppose?’ - -‘I haven’t the remotest idea.’ - -‘Could I have access to the box, do you think?’ - -‘No; I am sure you could not. I have sent it away to his family.’ - -The opinion expressed by Mr. Tauchnitz of his partner’s probity -and honour was but a reflex of that which was held throughout the -town--indeed, it is not too much to say throughout the greater part -of Russia; for Ferguson belonged to that class of men who understand -the art of getting themselves talked about. He had been wonderfully -successful as a merchant, and his name was associated with so -many public acts, and he had shown so much public spirit, so much -enterprise, and had advocated so many measures calculated to benefit -the working classes, that he had come to be regarded as a benefactor, a -philanthropist. - -It is interesting to dwell upon these points, because the sequel will -be in the nature of a surprise. Danevitch’s next step was to seek -an interview with Donald, Mr. Ferguson’s eldest son, who was also a -partner in the business--as, in fact, all the sons were. Danevitch -displayed great caution in dealing with Donald. His experience with -Tauchnitz impressed him with the necessity of exercising all the -diplomacy he was capable of exercising. Donald was much distressed -by his father’s sad end, and expressed a desire that no stone should -be left unturned to bring his murderer to justice; but he evidently -inherited his father’s reticence, and displayed in a very marked manner -the Scotch characteristic of so-called caution. - -‘Can you make any suggestion as to the motive for the murder?’ asked -Danevitch. - -‘It isn’t for me to do that,’ was the answer. - -‘We know that it wasn’t robbery,’ Danevitch said. - -‘I’m not so sure about that.’ - -‘But nothing is missing.’ - -‘As far as we know at present, nothing is.’ - -‘Then, do you think something may have been stolen?’ - -‘I won’t express an opinion one way or the other.’ - -‘Still, as far as one can judge, nothing was carried off.’ - -‘So far as we can judge, that is so,’ answered Donald; ‘but the ways of -thieves are incomprehensible.’ - -‘Then, you think that the man who strangled your father was also a -common thief?’ - -‘I cannot say he was, and I cannot say he wasn’t. We have the broad -fact before us that my father was murdered. It is for you to try and -find out why he was murdered.’ - -‘I understand, Mr. Donald, that your father kept a box of private -papers in his office.’ - -‘He did.’ - -‘Where is that box now?’ - -‘We have it here.’ - -‘Would you allow me to examine the papers?’ - -‘Why?’ asked Donald, evincing some surprise. - -‘Because it is possible--I only say it is possible--that I might find -something amongst them that will help me in my inquiry.’ - -Something like an ironical smile flitted across Donald’s face as he -said: - -‘I don’t think that is at all likely.’ - -‘And yet, in the interest of all concerned, I should like to put it to -the test. May I do so?’ - -‘You may,’ answered Donald, after a pause, ‘if my mother and brother -have no objections to your taking that course.’ - -The mother and brother being consulted, they gave their consent, -subject to the two sons being present at the time of the examination. -That being agreed to, the box was brought forth and opened. It was not -unlike the tin boxes seen in lawyers’ offices, but it was furnished -with a peculiar and unusually strong lock, and as the key to fit it -could not be found, the services of a blacksmith were secured, and -after a great deal of trouble he got the lid open. The very first thing -that Danevitch’s eye fell upon was a packet, tied round with red tape, -and marked in the corner very legibly, ‘In the event of my death burn -this packet unopened.’ - -By an adroit movement he seized that packet unseen by the others and -slipped it into his pocket. He had a feeling that it contained the -solution of the mystery, and he considered that, in the interests of -justice, he was perfectly entitled to appropriate it and examine it. - -It was the law of Russia, at any rate, that any papers or documents, -however private, could be seized if justice was to be aided thereby. -If he was mistaken in his surmise, then he would certainly carry out -the dead man’s request and burn the packet, and any secrets it might -reveal to him would never be breathed to a living soul, and the packet -once burnt, no one would be any wiser. The other papers in the box -were looked through, but there was nothing found that could be of any -use--nothing of a compromising character, and the sons seemed gratified -and pleased. - -An hour or two later, locked in his room at the hotel where he was -staying, Danevitch opened the packet, and its contents revealed to him -in a very short time an astounding story, and put him on the track of -the murderer. - -He found, as he had all along suspected, that Donald Ferguson, the -upright merchant, the man of unimpeachable honour, the philanthropist, -the public-spirited citizen, the defender of the weak, the faithful -husband, the good father, had been very human, very weak. From the -particulars furnished by the secret packet of papers, Danevitch -gradually learnt the following story. - -A woman named Blok had come some years before Ferguson’s murder to -reside in Riga. She had spent the greater part of her life in a small -town in the far interior of Russia. Her husband had followed the -occupation of a boatman on the Volga, being assisted by his two sons, -Alex and Peter. He had two daughters, Catherine and Anna. The Blok -family were held in high estimation by all who knew them. Although -occupying but a comparatively humble position in the social scale, -they were eminently respectable, and were regarded as hard-working, -honest people. Of course, they were very poor, and were not able to -make much, if any, provision for old age or accident. One day Blok and -his son Alex were drowned. A steamer laden with convicts on their way -to Siberia ran their boat down during a dense fog. At certain seasons -of the year fogs are very prevalent on the Volga River. The breadwinner -of the family being thus suddenly taken away, the Bloks found -themselves without means of support. The youngest son, Peter, was then -but eighteen, and unable to earn more than would suffice for his own -wants. Under these circumstances, and acting on the advice of a married -sister, who resided in Riga with her husband, who was a shipwright, -Mrs. Blok removed to Riga with her two daughters, hoping that in the -busy seaport they would all be able to find some employment. - -Catherine, the younger of the two girls, was noted for her good looks. -They were both pretty girls, in fact, but Catherine was exceptionally -attractive. Moreover, she was bright, intelligent, and in a certain way -clever. They had not been in Riga very long before they both obtained -work in the firm of Ferguson, Tauchnitz, and Co. It appears that they -very soon attracted the notice of Mr. Ferguson, who displayed great -interest in them and improved their position very much. Six months -later Anna fell seriously ill through blood-poisoning, caused by -pricking her finger at the warehouse, and, in spite of the best medical -advice provided for her by Mr. Ferguson, she died. - -It was well known that Mr. Ferguson showed the greatest kindness to -the family during their trouble, and all the expenses of the funeral -were defrayed by him. Peter Blok, the only surviving son, came to Riga -at this time to attend his sister’s funeral, and it seemed that Mr. -Ferguson took a fancy to him, and gave him employment in the warehouse, -where he remained for about three months. At the end of that time he -was sent on board a vessel belonging to the firm, and made several -voyages, and finally he was placed in command of a river-boat employed -in the Astrakhan trade. - -About two years after Anna’s death the Blok family, to the surprise -of everyone, suddenly left Riga. The reason of their going, and the -place where they were going to, were alike kept secret. For a few weeks -before they went, Catherine remained at home on the plea of ill-health. -She did not seem ill, and nobody thought she was ill, consequently -the astonishment of her companions was great, as may be imagined. It -would appear that Catherine Blok was a somewhat remarkable girl in -this way. She was exceptionally good-looking. She was far above the -average peasant in intelligence. Had the opportunity been afforded, -her intellectual powers would probably have enabled her to take a -superior position in life--that is to say, superior to vast numbers -of people occupying the same plane as herself. What is meant by this -will be better understood if it is borne in mind that, as a rule, the -Russian peasantry are more ignorant and more stupid, probably, than -any other peasantry in the world. There are two main causes for this. -The primary one is climatic; the secondary the powerful influence -of the Church. The climatic conditions are a very long and terribly -severe winter, which for a period ranging from seven to eight months -prevents the peasant from labouring out of doors; in consequence of -this he is reduced to much the same condition as hibernating animals. -His winter life, in fact, is one of enforced indolence and inactivity. -His house is insanitary, comfortless, and more or less filthy. His -whole surroundings are calculated to debase and brutalize him. He has -no intellectual enjoyments because he has no intellectual yearnings. -He is content to live as his father and grandfather before him lived. -What was good enough for them is good enough for him, he says. As -regards the influence of his Church, that makes itself felt from his -earliest years. He is taught to believe that he has no right to reason -or question. Everything must be accepted in blind, implicit faith. -Such education as he receives is of the most elementary character; -and having inherited from his forefathers dulness of perception and -a lethargic temperament, he does not concern himself about anything -beyond gratifying his animal wants. - -Of course, there are exceptions to all this. Among the teeming millions -of Russia this must obviously be the case. The Blok family were a very -notable example indeed, and Catherine was the head of them. - -It presents a most interesting study in psychology--though it cannot -be touched upon here except in a passing way--that Ferguson, the -rich merchant, the broad-minded citizen, the respected husband and -affectionate father, should have been irresistibly attracted to -Catherine Blok, the very humble-born and ignorant peasant. Yet so -it was, and when Catherine left Riga, she was influenced thereto by -Ferguson, and her object in going was to conceal, as far as could be -concealed, the fact that the merchant prince and the peasant girl -had met on a common ground; and as is invariably the result under -such circumstances, and in such a case, the meeting was fraught with -terrible consequences to both of them. - -When Mrs. Blok and Catherine left Riga, they retired to Valdai, in -the Valdai Hills, in the province of Novgorod, to the south of St. -Petersburg. Valdai was a very quiet, out-of-the-way place. Here the -mother and daughter took up their quarters in a stone-built house, and -enjoyed comfort, convenience, and luxury, which must have been very -novel to them. They knew no one, and were utterly unknown; nor did they -seek to be known or to know. At regular intervals, about once a month, -a man visited them. He was in the habit of going to St. Petersburg. -There he posted to Valdai, a distance of nearly a hundred miles. He -could have gone quite close to the place by train, but he preferred the -round-about way for reasons of his own. He invariably arrived at Valdai -at night, and when he left he always went away early in the morning. - -This sort of thing went on for something like three years. Then the -visits of the man ceased, but correspondence passed between him and -Catherine, who was the mother of a son about two and a half years old. -The man had looked after her and her offspring, but not as liberally -as he might and ought to have done. At last differences arose between -them. These differences were traceable to Mrs. Blok. She thought, -probably not without some justification, that her daughter had not been -treated well. In the end the man exacted from Catherine a document, -which was signed by herself and counter-signed by her mother. In this -document, which was very artfully drawn up, and was not, it is needless -to say, Catherine’s composition, the man was represented as having been -the victim of extortion and blackmailing, and the girl stated that it -was impossible for her to fix the parentage of her son. It need hardly -be said that the man who was in the habit of visiting Catherine at -Valdai, and who took such extraordinary precautions to prevent his -visits being known to anyone else, was Donald Ferguson, the merchant of -Riga. - -By means of the papers found in the packet which he took from -Ferguson’s private box, aided and supplemented by many and patient -inquiries, Danevitch was enabled to work out the foregoing pitiable -little story. During the time he was so engaged--it extended over -several weeks--there was an outcry against him. He was expected to -do so much; and those who ought to have known better thought he was -doing so little. Of course the general public did not know that he -was engaged in the business at all, and, with the pig-headedness and -stupidity peculiar to a mob, they railed against the authorities, -saying it was shameful that so popular, upright, and true a man as Mr. -Ferguson should be strangled to death in a place considered to be so -well policed and watched as Riga; and yet all the vigilance and all the -cleverness of the police were powerless alike to stay the crime and to -bring the criminal to justice when the crime had been committed. - -‘Our lives and property are not safe,’ exclaimed the rabble. ‘The -police are supine; they are useless; they are in league with the knaves -who prey upon honest citizens. If this is not so, how is it they have -not brought Mr. Ferguson’s murderer to book?’ - -This was the tone adopted by a low Radical anti-Government paper, which -styled itself the organ and the mouthpiece of the people. Although as -a rule it was opposed to the moneyed and privileged classes, it was -pleased in this instance--because it gave it a _raison d’être_ for -hurling abuse at the heads of the authorities--to place Mr. Ferguson -upon a pinnacle of greatness, and to speak of him almost as if he were -a martyred saint. The rulers in Russia are peculiarly sensitive to, and -intolerant of, criticism, and the authorities in Riga, stung by the -lashings of the local organ, lunged out, so to speak, and grabbed the -first person they could lay their hands on. The Russian police have a -habit of doing this when driven to desperation. - -In the Riga case the arrests were made so indiscriminately and -fatuously that the unfortunate suspects, after enduring much misery -and indignity, were set at liberty with a growl that was not unlike a -curse, and the local paper hurled more thunderbolts at the heads of the -police, and showed a disposition to canonize the murdered man at the -expense of the authorities. During all the time that this agitation -was going on, Danevitch was working slowly but surely at his task of -drawing aside the curtain and revealing the mystery. But those in -authority above him, in spite of his record, considered that he was -fumbling in the dark, and looking for clues in impossible places. But -having learnt something about Mr. Ferguson’s skeleton from that packet -of private papers, which was to be destroyed unopened in the event of -Mr. Ferguson’s death, he proceeded on his own lines. It would not be -easy to give a reason that would satisfy all minds why Mr. Ferguson -kept those incriminating documents; but no doubt he thought that as -long as he lived the confession--if it could be so called--which he -had exacted from Catherine Blok would effectually protect him against -any further claims she might be inclined to make against him; because -he could confront her with that document, and say, ‘Look here, you -acknowledge certain things. Here is your confession in black and white -signed with your name. Therefore, if you don’t leave me alone I will -charge you with blackmailing me.’ - -This, of course, was the weapon of a cunning and artful man which he -used to menace and subdue the ignorant, the weak and wronged woman. He -knew well enough in his own mind that he dare not make that document -public; for though part of the girl’s statement might be believed, he -would not come off scot-free, for would not people say, ‘If you had -nothing to fear, why did you get that confession from her?’ - -The first step which Danevitch took after reading the contents of the -sealed packet was to learn something of the Blok family; and to that -end, in the character of an old vagrant man, he visited the mother -and the daughter in their retreat at Valdai. It took him some time to -gather the materials for the little family history already narrated. -Necessarily, before he could do that, he had to worm himself into their -confidence, and he would not have succeeded in doing that had he not -laid a pretended claim to occult powers, which enabled him to read the -past and divine the future. With such people as the Bloks this went -a long way. They, in common with their class, had a fixed belief in -charms, fortune-telling and spells. - -When Danevitch saw the infant son of Catherine, he exclaimed: - -‘Ah, that is a fine child! but alas for his future!’ - -‘How so? What mean you?’ asked the young mother in alarm. - -‘The child that knows not his father is ill-starred.’ - -‘Knows not his father!’ echoed Catherine, with flashing eyes, and a -voice tremulous with indignation. ‘How dare you say that?’ she added -menacingly, as she stamped her foot. - -‘Think you,’ asked the pseudo-seer, ‘that I can be deceived? I see with -eyes different to yours. That child knows not his father, and never -will know him, for he is dead.’ - -Here Catherine burst into tears, and between her sobs she exclaimed: - -‘It’s true, it’s true, it’s true!’ - -‘Of course it is,’ said Danevitch, with an air of triumph. - -Catherine recovered herself, and in an irascible tone said: - -‘No doubt you are very clever; but I doubt if you can tell me how his -father died.’ - -Danevitch closed his eyes for some moments, and drew his hand down his -face like one deeply immersed in thought. Then, suddenly starting up, -he answered solemnly: - -‘He was done to death foully. He was strangled.’ - -Catherine was terribly distressed, and, sinking into a chair, she -covered her face with her hands and wept bitterly. - -Mrs. Blok, who was present, was indignant, and said angrily to -Danevitch: - -‘Get you out of the house. You distress my daughter. She is an honest -woman, and we do not want to hear anything more from you.’ - -‘Be not angry, good mother,’ said Danevitch. ‘Your daughter questioned, -and I answered.’ Then, with sudden and startling abruptness, he asked, -‘Where is your son?’ - -The mother’s face grew pale, and, with evident distress and emotion, -she said: - -‘He is dead.’ - -‘Yes, one is; he moulders at the bottom of the Volga; but the living -one, the living one, where is he?’ - -Mrs. Blok looked appalled, and drew back from this strange old man from -whom nothing seemed hidden, and before she could answer, Catherine -started up, passionate and flushed, and cried excitedly: - -‘Leave us, leave us! in the name of the Great Father, go! My brother is -far away; hundreds of versts of sea divide him from his native land, -and mayhap he will come back no more.’ - -‘It were well for him if he stayed away,’ remarked Danevitch with -solemnity. ‘But why grow angry with me, my child? I have sorrow for -you; I have tears for you. You have been ensnared, deluded, cheated; -and he who ensnared you and cheated you stood high in the estimation of -men. The penalty of his folly was his life. He has paid it. For your -weakness blood lies at your door, and nothing can ever wash it away.’ - -At these words Catherine uttered a smothered cry, and fell into her -mother’s arms, and Mrs. Blok, excited and enraged, screamed at him: - -‘Out of the house, I tell you, out of the house! You lay murder to our -charge, and you lie. Go away! I command you in God’s name to go.’ She -crossed herself as she spoke, and with her finger drew an imaginary -cross between herself and the prophet of evil, murmuring as she did so: -‘We are defenceless women; God shield us!’ - -The painful and dramatic scene affected Danevitch, and he silently -withdrew; but he felt that he had got confirmation of his surmises, for -as soon as he learnt the story of the family, he came to the conclusion -in his own mind that the man who had deprived Ferguson of his life -was Catherine’s unhappy brother. The young fellow, proud-spirited and -honest, flamed up at his sister’s wrong, and, taking the matter in his -own hands, had penned that letter to Ferguson demanding an interview. -It was obvious there had been other letters written, because the writer -said, ‘This is the last chance I shall give you.’ Who could have -written that letter--which Danevitch so patiently pieced together from -the shreds picked out of the waste-paper basket--if it had not been -the broken-hearted brother? He knew Ferguson, he had been employed in -the warehouse; and the great wrong his sister had suffered made him -desperate--made him forget the social division which separated him from -his sister’s wronger. He went to him, not with robbery in his heart--he -was too proud for that--not with murder in his heart, but to demand -that the false statement which had been wrung from poor Catherine -should be given up to him, and that Ferguson should recognise the -claims the girl and the child had upon him. - -It was easy to work out the sequel. Peter went to the office; he wanted -the paper his sister had signed. He probably grew angry, and threatened -his employer. The employer was obstinate, stubborn, perhaps insulting, -until, stung into frenzy, the unhappy youth flew at him, and, blinded -by his passion, Peter had crushed the life out of the man before -he knew it. Youthful strength and fury made Peter Blok a murderer, -although he may have had no wish to slay his victim. Finding, to his -dismay, that death had silenced for ever the lips of his sister’s -betrayer, he made a frantic effort to discover the paper which he knew -was in Ferguson’s possession. But his search proving fruitless, he fled -with remorse, no doubt, gnawing at his heart. - -Danevitch says that never throughout his career did he start to hunt -down a man with greater reluctance than he did in the case of Peter -Blok. With the exception of Danevitch himself, no one suspected Peter, -and as it had taken him some weeks to learn what he had learnt, the -young fellow had got a start which would probably save him from the -law’s vengeance. - -Danevitch, proceeding with great caution and tact, found out that Peter -had been second in command of a river-boat engaged in bringing furs -down from Astrakhan. The boat was one of the river fleet belonging to -Ferguson, Tauchnitz, and Co. Three weeks before the crime in Riga, -Peter obtained leave of absence in order to visit his mother, who was -sick. As it was a long journey to where his mother was living, his -lengthened absence did not arouse any suspicion. After the commission -of the crime, there was every reason to believe he quitted Riga at -once, and Danevitch satisfied himself that Peter had not gone to Valdai -again. As he had already spent several days there with his mother and -sister, had he returned he must have been noticed, for it was a small -place, and a stranger was spotted immediately. - -From what Danevitch had gathered during his interview, in the character -of a gipsy, with Catherine and her mother, he inferred that Catherine, -at any rate, if not Mrs. Blok, knew that Peter was going to see -Ferguson. And from what Catherine said during the interview--‘My -brother is far away; hundreds of versts of sea divide him from his -native land, and maybe he will come back no more’--the deduction was -Peter had gone to sea. Being a sailor, he would probably experience no -difficulty in obtaining a ship. And it was equally feasible to suppose -that before going he wrote to his sister, telling her he was going far -beyond the seas. - -The most diligent and careful inquiries in Riga failed to elicit any -sign that Peter had sailed from that port, and it was likely enough -that he had made his way to some other port on the Baltic Sea, or else -to Cronstadt. Anyway, he could not be found; and as Danevitch could not -entertain a doubt that Peter had killed Ferguson, he felt bound, as a -matter of duty, to circulate a description of him. This description, -however, was not made public, but placed in the hands of the police -and their thousand and one spies. A whole year passed, however, and -no trace of Peter was obtained. The crime had died out of the public -memory, though not out of that of the police. They have long memories, -and thus it came to pass that one day it was announced that the -supposed murderer of Donald Ferguson, the merchant of Riga, had been -arrested in St. Petersburg. Although he had grown a beard and whiskers, -he was soon identified as Peter Blok, and a ship’s discharge upon him -showed that he had come from New York to Cronstadt in an American ship. - -Up to this point Danevitch had kept his knowledge of Ferguson’s -wrong-doing to himself, but now that Peter Blok was under lock and key -he was bound to make the matter public. To the people of Riga it was -like a bombshell suddenly dropped in their midst. Everywhere where -Ferguson’s name was known, it was a shock. At first doubts were thrown -upon it; then there were open and loud expressions of disbelief; but -the damning documents were produced, and could not be gainsaid. Then -many sympathizers with Peter came forward when the reaction set in, -and he was provided with funds for his defence; and, of course, at the -trial the whole miserable story was pitilessly unfolded, until everyone -knew it. It was a bitter, terrible blow to the Ferguson family. It -redounds to their credit, however, that they unostentatiously made the -most ample provision for Catherine and her mother, and the boy was -provided for in such a way that it was not likely he would ever want, -and it was stated that he was to be well educated and well brought up. - -The trial of young Blok clearly proved that nearly all Danevitch’s -surmises and deductions were correct. The lad had heard through his -mother of his sister’s wrong, and from his sister herself he learnt how -Ferguson, in order to save himself, had wrung from the unhappy girl -that false confession, which, when she signed, she knew very little -about. It was not until later that she realized how she had belied -herself. Naturally that incensed her, and her brother--smarting with -shame and broken pride--placed himself in communication with Ferguson, -who at first tried to ignore him, until at last, threatened with -exposure, he granted that interview which proved fatal to him. - -When the story was all told, a revulsion of feeling in the prisoner’s -favour took place, and he received the mild sentence of seven years’ -banishment in Siberia. - - - - -THE GREAT CONSPIRACY. - - -Count Obolensk had resided in London for a good many years. He occupied -a magnificent house in the neighbourhood of Hyde Park, where he lived -in almost regal style. He kept a retinue of servants. The furnishings -and appointments of his princely abode were said to be unique; and he -dispensed hospitality with a lavish hand. He was known to be wealthy, -to be a member of a very old and influential Russian family, and at one -time to have held a high political position in his own country. Here -the general knowledge of his affairs ended; but there were vague and -ill-defined impressions in the public mind that he had been expelled -or had fled from Russia owing to some of those political causes which -in Russia count for so much, but which in most other countries, or -at any rate in England, would be treated with contempt. But whatever -the reasons were which had induced the Count to take up his residence -in London, those who enjoyed his acquaintance and hospitality did -not allow themselves to be troubled by them. In his own country he -might have been regarded as little short of Satanic in his iniquity -for aught that the throngs of people who attended his receptions, -his at-homes and parties, knew or cared. The majority of mankind, in -its concrete selfishness and gluttony, thinks little and cares less -about the personal qualities of those who minister to its sensuous -gratifications; what most concerns it is the quality and nature of -the giver’s gifts. Let these be liberal and lavish, and nothing more -is asked. In Count Obolensk’s case it was universally admitted that -he excelled as a host, that his benevolence knew no bounds, and he -dispensed charity with a cosmopolitan open-handedness which was worthy -of all praise. Personally he was a handsome man, with the tact and -refinement of a courtier, and the delicacy and deference of a true-bred -gentleman. He was a widower, with two grown-up daughters--Catherine -and Nathalia--both handsome young women; while at the head of his -household, as general manageress, was an English lady, known as Mrs. -Sherard Wilson, who, it was generally understood, had lived in Russia -for a good many years. She was a fine-looking woman, of commanding -presence and strong personality. She invariably presided at the -Count’s social functions, and acted as chaperon to his daughters. Of -her history no one knew anything, and nobody seemed concerned about -it. She was a power in the Count’s household; and while she proved -herself to be a woman of exceeding great tact, and one who had made the -art of finesse a study, there was a tacit understanding that anyone -who offended her ever so slightly could never hope to enjoy again -the hospitality of the house over which she presided. Her general -characteristics could be summed up thus: she was clever beyond the -ordinary, well educated, a good linguist, a tasteful and excellent -hostess; she was well informed, had more than a passing taste for -politics, and appeared to have been acquainted with many of the leading -statesmen of her time. Of them she would talk freely; about herself -she was silent, and he would have been a bold man indeed who would -have made the attempt to ‘draw her out’; he would most certainly have -come to grief. She was frequently absent from London; sometimes for a -few days, at others for weeks. But where she went to, why she went, -and what she did, were mysteries, and the eye of vulgar curiosity was -unable to penetrate them. One thing was noted as peculiar: the Count’s -daughters never accompanied her. - -One night at the end of January, a night that, according to Russian -reckoning, was New Year’s Eve, and usually celebrated with great -ceremony in Russia, there was a reception at the Count’s house. It -was one of the few occasions when every nationality save Russian was -excluded. It had been one of those trying and maddening days, peculiar -to the English climate in January. A leaden sky, a choking, foggy -atmosphere, a general gloominess, and a sense of that awful depression -which seems to justify all the hard things said about our climate by -foreigners. - -However, the weather notwithstanding, there was a large gathering at -the Count’s house. Russians had come from France, from Germany, from -Switzerland, in order to be present, and they made up a brilliant -assembly. According to Russian custom, there was a religious ceremony -first of all. Then followed a sumptuous repast, which included almost -every known Russian dish. After that the Count and his guests retired -to a large, heavily-curtained room, which, compared with other -apartments in the house, was plainly furnished. It was lighted by -three long windows on the east side, but each of these windows was -screened by massive velvet curtains, which completely shut out the -fog and the gloom, while a very handsome twelve-light gaselier, with -tinted, rose-coloured shades, diffused a soft and agreeable light -throughout the apartment. The floor was covered with an unusually thick -carpet laid on very stout felt. Not only was this most comfortable to -the feet, but it deadened sound, and the footfalls of the heaviest -person walking across the room could not be heard. At one end of the -room was a deep angle or recess, and placed diagonally in this recess -was a large carved oak bureau or writing-desk. The entrance to the -chamber was by a panelled doorway, closed by an ordinary door, masked -by a second door lined with thick red felt or baize. This excluded -draught as well as sound. And assuming that anyone had been prompted -by curiosity or other cause to play eavesdropper, he would have -needed an abnormally acute sense of hearing to have gathered any of -the conversation carried on in the room. At the opposite end of the -apartment--which was oblong--was another door, giving access to a small -anteroom, the walls of which were lined with shelves filled with books. - -On the evening in question, when the Count and his guests retired to -the large chamber described, they made it evident that they wished to -be free from any possibility of interruption, for the baize-covered -door was locked inside, and so was its companion door. The curtains -at the windows were so closely drawn that human eye could not by any -possible means have discerned from the outside what was going on in the -inside. - -In this room the Count and his visitors remained for over two hours. -They talked much, but not loudly nor excitedly. Nearly everyone smoked, -until the atmosphere became heavy and thick, in spite of a large -ventilator in the ceiling. But nobody seemed to mind the heat or the -fœtidness. Every man appeared to be very earnest and absorbed with what -was going on, and when he rolled a new cigarette, he generally did it -in a preoccupied and automatic sort of way. Occasionally the host, who -sat at the large desk in the recess, made notes, and read them out to -the company. Sometimes what had been written was approved of; at others -dissent was expressed, and discussion ensued. Then the writing would -either be altered or allowed to remain as first written, according to -the wishes of the majority. - -It was two o’clock in the morning when the meeting broke up. Then the -Count carefully locked his desk, and placed the keys in his pocket. He -unlocked the doors, and led his guests to the spacious dining-room, -where light refreshments were provided. A quarter of an hour or twenty -minutes later a man very cautiously rose up in the recess in the room -where the meeting had been held, and where he had been concealed behind -the bureau or writing-desk, and, stretching his cramped limbs, he got -out, crept towards the door, listened intently, and, having assured -himself that the coast was clear, hurried out. At three o’clock such -of the guests as were not staying in the house began to take their -departure, a few in broughams, the majority in cabs, which had been -waiting through the bitter night. - -As most people know, the Russian New Year time is kept up with great -festivity; and, hospitable though he was at all times, the Count, -if possible, excelled himself on this occasion, and those who were -privileged to be present went away with a feeling that they might -have travelled the wide world over without meeting with such princely -entertainment so delicately and gracefully dispensed. Host, hostess, -and the host’s daughters were always voted perfect, and very lavish -praise was uttered when Mrs. Sherard Wilson was referred to, the -English people particularly, who had the _entrée_ to the Count’s rooms -during the festive gatherings, expressing their admiration in no -measured terms. - -At last the series of New Year receptions and entertainments came to an -end, and there was a lull, which was taken advantage of by the Misses -Obolensk to make their arrangements for a forthcoming ball, which they -intended to give on a grand scale. The organizing of this ball was left -entirely to the young ladies, as Mrs. Sherard Wilson was on the eve -of departure on a journey to the Continent. The Count never concerned -himself about his domestic or social arrangements; he left everything -to the ladies. He was a great reader, and he wrote a good deal. Such -exercise as he took he got either in his carriage or on horseback. He -did not visit much, but was passionately fond of music, and went to all -the principal concerts, and occasionally attended the theatres. His was -a routine life; he was very regular in his habits, and one day was much -like another with him. His position in every way seemed an enviable -one, and apparently he lived in amity with all men. All those who knew -him respected and honoured him. - -About a fortnight after the gathering of Russians at his house to -celebrate the New Year’s Eve, Miss Nathalia Obolensk was descending -the main stairway in a white satin evening dress, with a magnificent -red camellia in her hair, for she was going to a grand concert with -her father, and the carriage was waiting at the door. Coming after her -was a liveried man-servant bearing a large tray full of tea-things, -including a kettle of hot water, a silver teapot with the remains of -the tea in it, a large jug of cream, and other things, that he had just -brought from the drawing-room. He was a stolid, stupid-looking man, -and suddenly he justified his looks by stumbling and scattering the -contents of the tray over the young lady, tea, hot water, jelly, being -poured over her splendid dress, to its ruin. She uttered a shrill cry -of alarm, which quickly brought her father, Mrs. Wilson, and some of -the other servants into the hall, and a very dramatic scene ensued. The -shock to her nerves, and the realization that the mishap had not only -spoilt her pretty frock, but would prevent her going to the concert, -had such an effect upon Nathalia that she flew down the few remaining -stairs, flung her arms about her father’s neck, and fainted. - -In the meantime the author of the mischief presented a very sorry -spectacle. He seemed thoroughly ashamed of himself, and undecided -whether to bolt at once or gather up the wreckage. Nor was his -confusion and distress lessened by the torrent of abuse and passionate -scolding which fell from Mrs. Sherard Wilson’s lips. In the choicest of -Russian she told him he was a ‘dolt,’ an ‘idiot,’ a ‘fool,’ a ‘brute -beast.’ - -‘Leave the things, you stupid!’ she exclaimed fierily. ‘Ever since you -entered the house, you have done nothing but make mistakes and smash -things up. But it’s the last chance you’ll have of doing mischief here. -In ten minutes you’ll be out. Do you mark what I say? Ten minutes only, -and if you are not out of the house, then the other servants shall kick -you out.’ - -‘If you please, my lady,’ whined the man, ‘I am entitled to a month’s -notice or a month’s wages.’ - -‘You will get neither, you blockhead!’ replied the lady. ‘Why, your -month’s wages won’t pay for the things you’ve broken. And what business -had you coming down the main staircase. It was your place to use the -servants’ staircase.’ - -‘I’m very sorry,’ moaned Andrey, ‘and beg your pardon----’ - -‘Sorry, you wretch! well you may be!’ exclaimed the irate lady, -unappeased by the culprit’s penitence; ‘but get out of my sight, and -in ten minutes you must have left the house. Paul’--this to the -head-butler--‘Paul, I charge you to see the fellow is off the premises -in ten minutes.’ - -With this peremptory command, she hastened to the reception-room, -whither the Count had had his daughter conveyed. He was much annoyed, -but did not allow his annoyance to find expression, as Mrs. Wilson did. - -Nathalia had by this time recovered from her faint, and was bewailing -her woe-begone condition, and the blighted prospects of an evening’s -enjoyment. Her father was urging her to go upstairs and change her -dress, saying that they could still be in time for the concert, but she -said it was impossible; she was too much upset, and had neither energy -nor inclination to perform her toilet over again, notwithstanding that -she had two maids to wait upon her. Finding that she was inflexible on -this point, her father expressed a hope that she would soon regain her -composure, and that he would see her at supper-time, and leaving her to -the care of Mrs. Wilson, he retired to his study. In a little more than -ten minutes the butler came to Mrs. Wilson and announced that Andrey -had gone. - -‘Thank goodness!’ exclaimed the lady. ‘I am sure I never had such a -stupid person in my service before. Whatever were you doing to engage -such a dolt?’ - -‘He came to me very well recommended, madame.’ - -‘Then, those who recommended him ought to be ashamed of themselves; -that’s all that I’ve got to say. It’s really shameful that people who -call themselves honest should recommend incompetent servants in order -to get them off their hands.’ - -‘I am afraid it’s frequently done, madame,’ the butler remarked. - -‘That is no excuse.’ - -‘I do not offer it as an excuse, madame. I agree with you that it is -shameful.’ - -‘But surely when you engaged Andrey you might have seen that he was a -fool.’ - -‘No, madame, I did not,’ answered the butler with some show of wounded -dignity. ‘He seemed sharp enough at first. His stupidity set in -afterwards. I fancy he is a little given to drink, though I’ve never -missed anything, and have never seen him really the worse for liquor.’ - -‘How long is it since he came here?’ demanded the lady warmly. - -‘Just six weeks, I think.’ - -‘That’s six weeks too long. Take good care that the next man you engage -knows his business.’ The butler bowed and was retiring, when Mrs. -Wilson called him back. ‘Stay a minute. You are aware that I am leaving -London to-morrow, and may be absent three or four weeks. You had better -not engage anyone else until I return.’ - -‘But, madame, we shall be short-handed, and----’ - -‘I don’t care whether you are short-handed or not. You will do as I -tell you.’ - -Paul knew that it would be fatal to his interests to attempt to argue -with his mistress when she was in a bad temper, so he made his bow and -discreetly withdrew. - -‘Now, Nathalia,’ said Mrs. Wilson, when the man had left them, ‘away -you go upstairs, change your dress and take your father to the concert. -You know how disappointed he will be if he doesn’t go, and as I am -leaving to-morrow, I don’t wish to see him miserable and unhappy. You -know what a sensitive man he is, and though he doesn’t say much, he -feels the more.’ - -This appeal had its effect. Nathalia’s ruffled feelings had smoothed -down. - -‘Very well, I will go,’ she said; ‘but it’s an awful nuisance having to -change my things in a hurry.’ - -She rang for her maids, and while Mrs. Wilson gave orders that the -carriage was to be kept at the door, Nathalia hurried to her room, -reappearing in about twenty minutes, looking, as far as personal -appearance was concerned, as if nothing had happened, though there -was still an expression of worry and concern on her handsome face. -Mrs. Wilson had already warned the Count not to settle himself to -his reading, as he would still be able to go to the concert. He was -delighted at this, for he did not like to have his plans changed, and -he was waiting in the hall when his daughter came downstairs. - -‘Well, my dear,’ he said to her in complimentary strains, ‘you look -charming in spite of the little contretemps. It’s an ill wind that -blows nobody any good, and I suppose the spoilt dress means a fresh -order to your dressmaker, and a further lightening of my purse.’ - -He laughed pleasantly, and, following his daughter into the carriage, -they drove off, and after all were in time to hear the best part of the -concert. - -When Mrs. Wilson and Nathalia appeared at the breakfast-table the next -morning, they had both recovered from the previous evening’s little -annoyance. Mrs. Wilson was somewhat hasty-tempered, but she very soon -got over her small outbursts, and her usual condition was a very -pleasant geniality. During the breakfast, Andrey’s gross stupidity -was discussed and laughed at; and when the Count, with his usual -generosity, said he thought that the fellow’s wages should be sent to -him, for, in spite of his stupidity, it was after all an accident, -the lady acquiesced, and a little later she put up the amount in a -packet, and instructed Paul to see that Andrey got it. Then she busied -herself during the rest of the day in seeing that everything was in -‘apple-pie order’ previous to her departure, for whenever she was away -the management of the household devolved almost entirely upon the -servants. It was true there was an excellent housekeeper, and Catherine -was exceedingly domesticated; besides this, she took an interest in the -house. Nevertheless Mrs. Wilson was always under the impression that -her absence meant disruption, and that it was impossible for things -to flow smoothly while she was away. It was a pleasant little bit of -conceit and did no harm, for while it gratified her it amused the -others. - -Dinner was unusually early that evening, for Mrs. Wilson had to catch -the night mail to Dover. Her luggage--she never travelled without a -considerable quantity--had previously been conveyed to the station, -and, dinner over, she arrayed herself in a costly and handsome Russian -fur cloak, and, in company with her maid, was driven in her brougham -to Holborn Viaduct, and a first-class compartment was specially -reserved for herself and her companion. - -The weather was still atrocious. It was bitterly cold. There had been a -drizzling rain all day long. The mud in the streets was of inky colour, -and of glutinous consistency. People flitted by in the foggy atmosphere -like ghosts, and not all the lights of London could relieve the gloom -and depressing atmospheric effects. There were very few passengers that -night; but amongst them was a man of medium height, attired in a long -ulster and a seal-skin cap, the flaps of which were turned down until -his face was all but hidden. He had taken a second-class ticket, and -he and a young German, a commercial traveller, were the only occupants -of the compartment. When Dover was reached, the rain was pouring down, -the sea roared, and Channelward all was dark as Erebus. The man in the -ulster, whose only luggage consisted of a hand-bag, hurried on board -the small steamer, which was grinding away at the pier as the water -tossed her up and down. Ensconcing himself in the shadow of the funnel, -he watched the passengers as they descended the unsteady gangway; and -having seen Mrs. Wilson and her maid come on board and retire to the -cabin reserved for them, he dived down into the saloon and ordered -supper, for he was hungry. - -The crossing was an exceedingly rough one. The wretched cockleshell of -a steamer which the railway company considered good enough to carry -their passengers from one shore to the other was tossed about in a -manner well calculated to alarm any but hardened travellers. The man in -the ulster, however, was not affected. Having enjoyed a good supper, -and washed it down with a pint of champagne, he produced from his case -a very big and very strong-looking cigar, and lighting it, he battened -his seal-skin cap down on his head and went on deck, where he remained -until the steamer glided into Calais Harbour from the storm-tossed -waters of the Channel. He remained until Mrs. Wilson and her maid had -gone on shore. Then he followed, carrying his hand-bag. He went into -the douane, had his bag examined, saw a porter deposit the lady’s -wraps and rugs in the first-class compartment of the carriage labelled -‘Through carriage to Geneva,’ and, that done, placed his own bag in an -adjoining compartment, and as his second-class ticket had only been -from London to Calais, he secured a first-class for Geneva, and was one -of the very few passengers who travelled that dark and stormy night to -the French capital of Switzerland on the shores of Lake Leman. - -At the period of this story Alexander II. sat upon the throne of All -the Russias. It is a matter of history now that he was one of the -best-threatened monarchs who ever ruled over a so-called civilized -people. His life had been attempted so many times that he lived in -constant fear and dread, and the most extraordinary measures were taken -for his preservation. He changed his bedroom every night; his palace -was filled with soldiers; his food was cooked by special cooks, who -were solemnly sworn in in accordance with the rites of their Church -to protect him; nevertheless, their _chef_ had to appear in the royal -presence at every meal and taste all the dishes before they were served -to his august master. But even then dozens of eyes watched the man’s -every movement, lest he might adroitly slip poison into the food. It -was a terrible penalty for an Emperor to have to pay for his greatness, -but, unhappily, it was a condition of things that had been familiar, -more or less, to Russian rulers for a long time. Michael Danevitch -was held high in the esteem of the Czar, who regarded him as one of -his strongest safeguards. The famous detective’s restoration to the -Treasury of the stolen million roubles was a thing of the past, and was -almost forgotten; but that exploit had made his reputation, and gave -him an absolutely independent position as well as power. Since then he -had displayed remarkable zeal and acumen. He had unearthed numerous -dastardly plots, and had sent to the fortress of Peter and Paul, the -prison of Schlusselburgh, and to Siberia, many desperate men, who -believed that the way to freedom and reform was by the destruction of -human life and the shedding of innocent blood. - -It was well known throughout Russia at this time that a secret Nihilist -organization existed of vast proportions, and that one of the main -objects of the association was to bring about the death of the Czar. -It is difficult to understand how men and women, claiming to be -intelligent and reasoning beings, could come to believe that by slaying -their monarch they would redress their own wrongs, real or imaginary. -Everyone was aware that the moment the breath was out of the body of -one Czar, another would step into his place. The cry of ‘Le Roi est -mort!’ would be echoed back by ‘Vive le Roi!’ - -There could be no interregnum for a single hour, unless a tremendous -social upheaval took place and a republic was proclaimed. But while -that is the easiest thing imaginable in France, it never has been -possible in Russia; firstly, on account of the enormous extent of the -country; secondly, by reason of the varied nationalities represented; -and thirdly, owing to the want of anything like homogeneousness among -the vast masses of people swayed by the Imperial rule. Nevertheless, to -kill the Czar was the constant aim of thousands and tens of thousands -of his subjects. It thus became necessary for his Imperial Majesty -to take the most extreme measures for the preservation of his life. -It was like a game of check and counter-check. The Nihilists watched -with a thousand eyes; they plotted and planned with busy brains. But -they in turn were watched; and the forces of the law were constantly -at work against them. The Nihilists, however, had the best of it. They -played the cleverer game. For in the army, the navy, in the law, the -civil service, in all classes and ranks of society, even in the Church -itself, they had their spies and agents, and those who were on the -side of the Czar found all their energies, all their vigilance, taxed -to avoid the mines which the others were ever ready to spring. Amongst -the Czar’s most devoted adherents and trusted followers was Colonel -Vlassovski, who was in command of the military guard which night and -day did duty at the Winter Palace, where the Emperor was then residing. - -The Winter Palace of St. Petersburg is the largest residential palace -in the world, with the exception of Versailles and the Vatican. Its -length is four hundred and fifty-five feet, and its breadth three -hundred and fifty. So spacious is its interior that as many as six -thousand persons can be easily accommodated there at one time. It -will be readily understood that to effectually guard a place of these -stupendous dimensions from a crafty, cunning, and silent enemy, who -gave no sign of his presence until he had struck his blow, was not an -easy task; and the tremendous responsibility and ceaseless strain on -the nerves which were inseparable from Colonel Vlassovski’s position, -transformed him in a few months from a comparatively young man to an -old and haggard one. One day in the month of December the Colonel sent -an urgent message by special courier to Danevitch, in whom he had the -utmost confidence. The message was to the effect that he wished to see -Danevitch immediately. The detective hurried at once to the palace, -and was immediately ushered into the Colonel’s private cabinet, where -there were numerous telegraphic machines that placed the chief in -communication with all parts of the city, and nearly every part of -Russia. The Colonel temporarily dismissed his clerks and attendants -when Danevitch arrived, and bolted the door so that they might be alone -and free from interruption. - -‘I have sent for you,’ he began, ‘to make an investigation. Last night -one of the guard in the interior of the palace, a young soldier named -Vladimir, who was on duty near the Czar’s apartments, was surprised by -the corporal in the act of making drawings and plans of that part of -the palace. He was immediately arrested, but made the most desperate -efforts to destroy his papers. He was prevented, however, from doing -this, and an examination proved them to be drawings to scale of certain -portions of the interior of the palace. Vladimir, before he joined the -army, was in an architect’s office. On being questioned he grew sullen, -and resolutely declined to say anything.’ - -‘And what inference do you draw from the man’s act, Colonel?’ - -‘What inference! Why, can there be any doubt that he is a Nihilist spy?’ - -‘Where is he now?’ - -‘In the fortress of Peter and Paul.’ - -‘What will be his punishment?’ - -‘As a soldier on duty he has been guilty of treason--for it has -been declared treason for any unauthorized person to make drawings -or tracings of any part of a royal residence--he will therefore be -summarily tried, and, if proved guilty, will be instantly shot.’ - -‘And you think he will be proved guilty?’ - -‘There is not a doubt about it. He was discovered making drawings of -the palace without orders. When questioned, he declined to give any -explanation, and his endeavours to destroy the plans showed that his -motives were not innocent ones. Of course we shall try, before he is -executed, to get information from him.’ - -‘Which you will fail to do.’ - -‘Why?’ - -‘Because these Nihilists’ agents will not betray their comrades.’ - -‘But he will be tortured into a confession.’ - -‘You may torture him, but he will not confess. The Nihilists are -pitiless. A traitor to their cause not only destroys himself, but all -those belonging to him, for the vengeance falls also on his family and -connections, however innocent they may be. Vladimir knows that, and you -may depend upon it that, punish him as you will, you will never wring -from him a word of confession.’ - -‘What’s to be done, then?’ asked the Colonel, in distress. - -‘Let the fellow go free. Reinstate him.’ - -The Colonel stared in blank amazement; then he broke into a mocking -laugh, as he asked caustically: - -‘Have you taken leave of your senses, Danevitch, or become a fool?’ - -‘Neither.’ - -‘Explain, then. What do you mean?’ - -‘A dead man cannot speak; a live one can. Put Vladimir back into his -place again, and leave the rest to me. He is a key, as it were. With -him you may open many doors. Kill him, and the doors will remain closed -against you.’ - -A new light broke on the Colonel. He looked thoughtful, and for some -moments remained silent; then he remarked: - -‘But there are a thousand difficulties now in the way of setting him -free.’ - -‘Under ordinary circumstances, yes. But in this case a stroke of the -Czar’s pen can do it. You are in the Emperor’s confidence. Explain to -him what is required, and in two hours’ time Vladimir can be back in -the palace again. Then he will betray himself by some act, some sign; -on the other hand, all the resources of Peter and Paul will fail to -wring from him a word that will be of use to us.’ - -The Colonel saw the force of the argument, and said that he would -lose no time in procuring an interview with the Czar. That was done; -result, in the course of the day Vladimir was reinstated. He had been -told that on investigation the authorities were not disposed to take a -serious view of his offence. He was a young soldier, and of value to -the State, and another chance would be given to him. So he was severely -reprimanded, and brought back to the palace, much to his own amazement. -He had considered himself doomed, and his restoration to liberty -puzzled him; but he was too obtuse to divine the real cause, and he did -not dream how every movement of his was being watched. Some days later -he justified Danevitch’s prediction. Being off duty, he went into the -city, and, making his way to one of the quays on the Neva, now frozen -over, he met a young woman, and was seen to hand her a paper. They did -not confer together long, and when they separated, the young woman -was followed to her home by Danevitch. Had he been a mere subordinate -of the chief of police, he would have been compelled to have reported -this incident, with the result that a domiciliary visit would have -been paid to the house, and as a natural corollary of that action, -assuming that, as was suspected, she was in conspiracy with others, -her co-conspirators would be warned, and justice might be defeated. -Danevitch was aware of all this, and, like a well-trained sleuth-hound, -he did not attempt to strike his quarry until he was absolutely sure of -it. He knew that at the most Vladimir could be but a humble instrument; -behind him and influencing him were more powerful foes to the State. -These were the people he wanted to lay his hands upon. It was no use -casting his net for the little fish only; it was the big ones he fished -for. After witnessing the meeting between Vladimir and the young woman, -Danevitch had another interview with Colonel Vlassovski, during which -he informed him that Vladimir was dangerous, and should be closely -watched, though care was to be taken not to allow him to suspect that -he was being watched. A few days later Danevitch again went to the -Colonel, and said: - -‘I believe I am in the way of bringing to light a great conspiracy, and -I am going to leave Russia for a time.’ - -‘But how in the world can you bring the conspiracy to light if you are -out of Russia?’ asked the Colonel in alarm. ‘Your presence is required -here if there is danger.’ - -‘No. I can do better elsewhere. There is danger, but it does not -threaten immediately. The head of the movement is not in Russia. If the -head is destroyed, the tail is sure to perish. I am going to seek the -head. The tail, which is here, can be trampled on afterwards.’ - -‘Where is the head, do you think?’ - -‘I don’t exactly know. In Berlin, perhaps; in Geneva, Paris, London.’ - -‘Ah, Geneva and London!’ exclaimed the Colonel angrily. ‘Those two -places are responsible for much. They offer refuge to the vilest of -wretches so long as they claim to be merely political offenders. Like -charity, that term covers a multitude of sins, and under its protecting -influence some of the most desperate and bloodthirsty scoundrels who -ever walked the earth have found sanctuary.’ - -‘True,’ answered Danevitch; ‘but we cannot help that. There are ways -and means, however, of dragging rascals of that kind from their -sanctuary. I am going to see what can be done.’ - -‘You will keep in touch with me,’ the Colonel remarked. - -‘Certainly I will. In the meantime, draw a closer cordon round the -palace, and let no one sleep. You must not forget, Colonel, that the -plots we are called upon to checkmate are hatched not in Russia, but -in some of the European capitals. The poor fools who execute the work -here are mere tools. We want to lay hands on the principals, the people -who from a safe retreat supply the money. Stop the money, and the tools -will cease to work.’ - -All that Danevitch urged was undeniable. The Colonel knew it. Those -in power knew it. The Czar himself knew it. But hitherto the great -difficulty had been to secure the principals. The prisons were full -of the hirelings; hundreds and hundreds of them dragged out their -miserable lives in Siberia; but still the danger was not lessened, for -as long as ever money was forthcoming men and women could always be -found ready and willing to pit their liberties and lives against the -forces of the Government. It cannot be denied that amongst them were -some, many perhaps, who were not mere hirelings, but were prompted by -mistaken notions of patriotism; they were generally young people led -away by false sentiments and misplaced enthusiasm. It had been found, -too, that young women, for the sake of men they loved, were willing to -risk all they held sacred on earth at the bidding of their lovers. They -were the most pliant, the most willing tools; but they were also the -weak links in the chain. They acted with less caution than men. They -went to work blindly, and with a stupid recklessness which was bound -sooner or later to betray them. Danevitch had a favourite theory, or -saying, to the effect that, given a plot with a woman in it, all you -had to do was to find out the woman, and you would discover the plot. -In this case he had found out the woman. The one who met Vladimir on -the quay by the Neva was a book-keeper in a general store. She shared -apartments with another young woman in a poor part of the town. At -night, when her duties for the day were over, she was in the habit of -attending secret meetings, mostly of women, with a sprinkling of men -amongst them. One of these women was a Madame Petrarna. She was an -organizer and a leader. Vladimir’s sweetheart was in high favour with -her. Petrarna was the wife of a man who was in exile as ‘a danger to -the State.’ He had been arrested as a suspicious personage, and though -nothing was actually proved against him, he was sent to Siberia. - -Having learnt so much about Vladimir’s sweetheart, Danevitch devoted -his attention to Petrarna. He had made the ways of Nihilists a study, -and though they had their spies everywhere, he was often able to outwit -them, and he succeeded in getting around him a little band of devoted -agents who were ready to go anywhere and do anything at his bidding. -Amongst these agents was a clever little woman, and she succeeded -one night in gaining admission to a meeting over which Petrarna was -presiding. The president spoke of the arrest and release of Vladimir, -and how he had been able, after all, to hand to his sweetheart and -their colleague certain drawings of the palace, which would be -invaluable to them in their work. - -This and many other things the agent learnt, and conveyed the -intelligence to her employer Danevitch, whereby he was induced to go -abroad to search for the head, as he had told Colonel Vlassovsky. - -Weeks passed, and Danevitch was in Geneva. The weather was bitter. The -winter had set in very early, and so far had been unusually severe. At -this period there were something like five thousand Russians living in -Geneva and its environs. The majority of these Russians were Nihilists. -One night, although a black _bise_ was blowing, filling the air with -spiculæ of ice, and freezing to the marrow all those who ventured into -the streets, various individuals--singly, in twos and threes--wended -their way to an old building in a lonely side-street not far from the -Gare. It was a short street, and devoted principally to warehouses, -which were closed at night; consequently it was badly lighted, and -after business hours practically deserted. The entrance to one of -these buildings was by an arched gateway, closed with massive wooden -gates, in one side of which was a small door to allow the workpeople to -pass in and out when the gates were closed. On the night in question, -this little door opened and shut many times; each time it opened, -somebody entered after having been asked for a sign, a counter-sign, -and a password. Without these none could enter. At length there were -nearly fifty persons present. Then the gate was barred and guarded. -In a long back upper room, the windows of which were so screened that -not a ray of light could escape, a meeting was held. It was a Nihilist -meeting, and the chief thing discussed was the destruction of the Czar -of Russia. Reports were also read from many ‘Centres,’ detailing the -progress that was made in what was called ‘The Revolutionary Movement.’ -One man brought with him a great quantity of seditious literature in -Russian. It had been printed by a secret press in the town. The meeting -was presided over by a lady; that lady was Mrs. Sherard Wilson. She -distributed a considerable amount of money among those present, and -talked the most violent of language. She was a fluent and eloquent -speaker, and swayed the meeting as reeds are swayed by the wind. - -A long discussion followed, and many things were settled. Amongst -others, the date of the ‘Czar’s execution’ was fixed; and Mrs. Sherard -announced that she would leave for St. Petersburg in a very few days to -hasten the ‘good cause.’ - -The meeting was orderly, business-like, and quiet. Every person -present--man and woman--seemed terribly in earnest, and there was -a grim severity in their tone and speech which argued unrelenting -bitterness and hatred against the ruler of Russia and many prominent -members of his council, all of whom were marked for swift and sudden -death. It was midnight when the meeting broke up. Silently the people -came, silently they departed; and when the last one had gone, and the -door in the gate had been locked, a death-like stillness reigned in -the deserted warehouse. Outside, the black _bise_ roared, bringing from -the lake and the surrounding hills fierce storms of hail. - -A little later the door of the gate opened noiselessly, and a man, -having glanced carefully up and down to see that no one was in sight, -passed out, locked the door after him, and disappeared in the darkness -of the night. - -That man was Michael Danevitch. He had heard all that had passed at -the meeting, for he had been concealed behind a pile of packing-cases, -and his note-book was filled with the names, so far as he could gather -them, of all those who had taken part in the proceedings. - -Three days after the meeting had been held, Mrs. Sherard Wilson took -her departure for Berlin, where she rested for a day and a night, and -had interviews with several influential people, and at a certain bank -and money-changer’s in Berlin she converted an English cheque for a -large amount into Russian money. She was known to the money-changer; -he had cashed similar cheques before. Having completed her business, -she pursued her way to Russia. At the frontier her luggage and passport -were examined. There was nothing liable to duty in the former; the -latter was all in order and duly viséd. The examiners at the frontier, -however, failed to discover in one of her trunks a very artfully -and cleverly contrived false bottom, where lay concealed not only a -mass of inflammatory literature, but documents of the most damaging -description. So she passed on her journey, distributing largess freely, -and regarded by the officials as a lady of distinction, travelling no -doubt on important business, for no one travelled for pleasure in the -winter weather. Mrs. Wilson spoke French, German, Russian, and many -dialects, so that she had no difficulty with regard to tongues. In the -same train with her travelled a man, who was ostensibly a fur merchant, -in reality her shadower--Danevitch the detective. - -In due course they reached St. Petersburg, and the lady was driven to -one of the principal hotels, where she engaged a suite of rooms; and -when three or four days had elapsed, during which she was very active -and went about much, she attended a secret meeting, held in the house -of one Alexeyeff, who was a bookseller in a small way of business. In -that house over sixty persons assembled, including the indefatigable -Mrs. Sherard Wilson. When the last person had entered, there gradually -closed around the place a cordon of heavily-armed policemen. They, -again, were reinforced by a body of soldiers with loaded guns and fixed -bayonets. At a given signal, when all was ready, the door of the house -was burst in and the meeting, which had just got to business, was -broken up in wild confusion. The people saw that they had been betrayed -and were trapped. For a moment a panic seized them. Some made a bid -for liberty, and rushed off, but could not get far; the cordon was too -strong to be broken through. Others, with a wild despair, prepared -to sell their lives and liberties dearly. But, as is well known, -Continental police, and particularly the Russian police, stand on no -ceremony when resistance to their authority is offered. The maudlin -sentiment which we in England so often display, even when the most -desperate ruffians are concerned, is quite unknown abroad. Resistance -to the law generally means injury, and often death, to the resister. -On the occasion in question, the police and the soldiers were all -heavily armed, for they were aware that the work they were called upon -to perform could not be undertaken with kid gloves on; the glittering -swords and bayonets which menaced the trapped people had an effect, -and what threatened to be a scene of bloodshed and death ended in a -despairing surrender to the forces that were irresistible. From the -moment that the police broke in upon the meeting Mrs. Sherard Wilson -felt that hope had gone, and she made no attempt either to save her own -liberty or arouse her followers to action. - -Under a very strong escort the misguided people were conveyed to -prison, and very soon it was made evident that Danevitch had brought -to light one of the most desperate and gigantic conspiracies of modern -times. Not only had plans been drawn up and arrangements made for -killing the Czar, but many noblemen and high officials were to be -killed. The conspirators were chosen from all ranks of society, and -they had followers in the army and the navy, as well as in the police. -That they would have succeeded in their nefarious designs there is -little doubt, had it not been for the vigilance and cleverness of -Danevitch. He found out that Count Obolensk, who resided in London, -was supplying large sums of money to aid the work of the conspiracy. -The detective therefore decided upon the bold step of taking service -in the Count’s household for a time. This he succeeded in doing, -and on the night of the meeting recorded in the early part of this -story, which was held at the Count’s house, he hid himself behind the -writing-desk and heard all that took place. In order to get away from -the house without raising suspicion, he let the tray of china fall on -the stairs as Miss Obolensk was descending. He followed Mrs. Sherard -Wilson to Geneva, and was present at that other meeting, when he gained -most important information, and subsequently, all unknown to her, -accompanied the lady to Russia. - -Investigation brought to light the fact that Mrs. Wilson was the wife -of a Russian of high social position, but he had been sent to Siberia -for life as a political offender. From that moment his wife became the -sworn enemy of the Government and the Czar. She had previously been -acquainted with Count Obolensk, and was able to exert great influence -over him, and, as he was very wealthy, he proved a valuable ally. The -plot failed, however, at the eleventh hour, thanks to Danevitch. How -narrow had been the escape of the Emperor from a violent death was -revealed at the trial of the prisoners, when it was proved that a -considerable number of the officials of the palace, as well as soldiers -and servants, had been corrupted, and on a given date a man was to be -admitted to the palace at night, and he was to throw a bomb into the -Czar’s bedroom. - -Simultaneously an attempt was to be made on the lives of several -influential people residing outside of the palace. Desperate and -terrible as all this seems, there is no doubt it would have been -attempted, for the men and women who were mixed up in the plot were -reckless of their lives, and terribly in earnest. - -No mercy was shown to the prisoners, and the majority of them were -sent to some of the most inhospitable regions of Northern Siberia, -including Mrs. Sherard Wilson. To her it must have been infinitely -worse than death, and it may be doubted if she ever survived to reach -her destination. - - - - -THE CROWN JEWELS. - - -Moscow--or, as the natives call it, Maskva--might almost be described -as a city within a city; that is to say, there is the Kremlin, and -a town outside of that again. The word Kremlin is derived from the -Slavonic word Krim, which signifies a fort. It is built on a hill, -and is surrounded by a high turreted wall from twelve to sixteen -feet thick. This wall varies from thirty to sixty feet high, and -is furnished with battlements, embrasures, and gates. Within the -Kremlin are most of the Government offices: the Treasury; the renowned -Cathedral of St. Michael, where the monarchs of Russia were formerly -interred; and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, long -used as a place of coronation of the Emperors. - -In the Treasury are preserved the State jewels, which, in the -aggregate, are probably of greater value than any other State jewels -in the civilized world. There are something like twenty crowns of -such a size, splendour, and intrinsic value that each in itself is -a fortune. Tradition says that one of these crowns was given by the -Greek Emperor Comnenus to the great Vladimir. Some are covered with -the most magnificent diamonds; others with turquoises of immense size; -others, again, with rubies and pearls; the groundwork of all is solid -gold, and the workmanship exquisite. Then there are sceptres of massive -gold, powdered with priceless gems. There are diamond tiaras, diamond -cinctures, services of gold and jewelled plate, jewelled swords. These -costly treasures are preserved in a large well-lighted room of noble -proportions, and to this room the public are freely admitted. It need -scarcely be said that the State jewel-room of the Treasury is a source -of great attraction to foreigners, and no one visiting Moscow for -the first time would think of leaving the city without having paid a -visit to the Treasury jewel-room. One morning, on opening the Museum -for the day, there was tremendous consternation amongst the officials -and attendants, when one of the guardians of the treasure-house made -the discovery that no less than three crowns, two sceptres, a diamond -belt and a diamond tiara were missing. The circumstance was at once -reported to the keeper of the jewels--General Kuntzler. The office -was generally held by a retired military officer, and was much sought -after, as it was a life appointment and the salary was good. The keeper -had many subordinates under him, and while they were responsible to -him, he himself was held entirely responsible by the Government for the -safe-guarding of the jewels. General Kuntzler had occupied the position -for about two years, after long and important military service. When he -heard of the robbery, he was so affected that his mind gave way, and -before the day was out he shot himself. - -Investigation soon made it evident that a crime of unparalleled -audacity had been committed under the very noses of the Government -officials, and property intrinsically valued at many thousands of -pounds had disappeared. As the affair was a very serious one for -all concerned, no time was lost in summoning Michael Danevitch and -enlisting his services. As can readily be understood, quite apart from -the monetary value of the lost baubles, the associations surrounding -them made it highly desirable that every effort should be put forth -to recover them; and it was impressed upon Danevitch how imperatively -necessary it was to take the most active measures to get on the track -of the thieves immediately, because, as everyone knew, the gold would -be melted down as soon as possible, and the precious relics be thus -destroyed. Amongst the crowns carried off was the one worn by the -last King of Poland. It was a magnificent bauble, and was so thickly -encrusted with gems that in round figures it was worth in English -money something like fifty thousand pounds. It will be seen, therefore, -that the loss in mere value to the State was enormous. It was, of -course, as Danevitch saw clearly enough, no ordinary robbery. It must -have been planned deliberately, and carried out with great ingenuity. -Nor was it less obvious that more than one person had been concerned in -the daring crime. - -There was a prevailing impression at first that General Kuntzler must -have had a share in the robbery, but Danevitch did not take that -view. The unfortunate General had an untarnished record, and though -his suicide was calculated to arouse suspicion, it was established by -Danevitch that the poor man--fully realizing the great responsibility -that rested on his shoulders--was unable to face the blame that would -attach to him. It would be said that he had not exercised sufficient -care, and had been careless of the safety of the priceless treasures -committed to his charge. This was more than he could bear, and he ended -the whole business as far as he was concerned by laying violent hands -upon himself. - -‘I saw from the first,’ Danevitch writes, ‘that the guilty parties -must be sought for among the ranks of those who make robbery a fine -art, if one may be allowed to so express himself. Mere commonplace, -vulgar minds would have been incapable of conceiving, let alone of -carrying out, so daring a deed as that of robbing the State of its -priceless historical baubles. It was no less self-evident to me that -the affair must have been very carefully planned, and arrangements -made for conveying the articles out of the country immediately, or of -effectually destroying their identity. In their original condition they -would practically be worth nothing to the illegal possessors, inasmuch -as no man dare offer them for sale; but by taking out the gems and -melting the gold the materials could thus be converted into cash. I -ascertained that when the Museum was closed in the evening previous to -the robbery being discovered, everything was safe.’ - -It appeared that it was the duty of the chief subordinate, one -Maximoff, to go round the hall the last thing, after it had been closed -to the public for the day, and see that everything was safe. He then -reported to General Kuntzler. This had been done with great regularity. -It so happened, however, that the day preceding the discovery that -the jewels had been stolen was an official holiday. At stated periods -in Russia there is an official holiday, when all public Government -departments are closed. This holiday had favoured the work of the -thieves, and some time during the forty hours that elapsed between -the closing of the hall in the evening before the holiday, and the -discovery of the robbery on the morning after the holiday, the jewels -had been carried off. - -The holiday was on a Wednesday; on Tuesday evening Maximoff made his -round of inspection as usual, and duly presented his official report -to his chief, General Kuntzler. According to that report, everything -was safe; the place was carefully locked up, and all the keys deposited -in the custody of the General, who kept them in an iron safe in his -office. It was pretty conclusively proved that those keys never left -the safe from the time they were deposited there on Tuesday night -until Maximoff went for them on Thursday morning. During the whole of -Wednesday Maximoff and the attendants were away. Maximoff was a married -man, with three children, and he had taken his family into the country. -Kuntzler remained, and there was the usual military guard at the -Treasury. The guard consisted of six sentinels, who did duty night and -day, being relieved every four hours. - -‘The whole affair was very complicated,’ proceeds Danevitch, ‘and I -found myself confronted with a problem of no ordinary difficulty. I -was satisfied, however, that General Kuntzler was entirely innocent of -any complicity in the affair; and, so far as I could determine then, -there was not the slightest ground for suspecting Maximoff. There were -twelve other subordinates. They were charged with the duty of dusting -the various glass cases in which the jewels were deposited, and of -keeping the people in order on public days, and I set to work in my -own way to endeavour to find out what likelihood there was of any of -these men being confederates. It seemed to me that one or more of them -had been corrupted, and proved false to his charge. Without an enemy in -the camp it was difficult to understand how the thieves had effected an -entrance.’ - -The Treasury was a large white stone building, with an inner courtyard, -around which were grouped numerous Government offices. The entrance to -this yard was by a noble archway, closed by a massive and ornamental -iron gate. In this gateway a sentry was constantly posted. The Museum -was situated in about the centre of the left wing of the main block of -buildings. The entrance was from the courtyard, and the hall, being -in an upper story, was reached by a flight of marble steps. To gain -admission to the hall, the public were necessarily compelled to pass -under the archway, and so into the courtyard. Of course there were -other ways of reaching the hall of jewels, but they were only used by -the employés and officials. General Kuntzler, his lieutenant, Maximoff, -and four of the subordinates, resided on the premises. They had rooms -in various parts of the building. - -A careful study of the building, its approaches and its exits, led -Danevitch to the conclusion that the thief or thieves must have -reached the hall from one of the numerous Government offices on -the ground-floor of the block, or from the direction of Kuntzler’s -apartments, and he set to work to try and determine that point. He -found that one of the offices referred to was used as a depository -for documents relating to Treasury business, and beneath it, in the -basement, was an arched cellar, also used for storing documents. -This cellar was one of many others, all connected with a concreted -subway, which in turn was connected with the upper stories by a narrow -staircase, considered strictly private, and used, or supposed to be -used, by the employés only. The office was officially known as Bureau -7. Exit from it could be had by a door, which opened into a cul-de-sac, -and was not a public thoroughfare. It was, in fact, a narrow alley, -formed by the Treasury buildings and a church. - -Danevitch was not slow to perceive that Bureau 7 and the cul-de-sac -offered the best, if not the only, means of egress to anyone who, -being on the premises illegally, wished to escape without being seen. -It was true that one of the sentries always on duty patrolled the -cul-de-sac at intervals; but that, to the mind of Danevitch, was not -an insuperable obstacle to the escape of anyone from the building. Of -course, up to this point it was all conjecture, all theory; but the -astute detective brought all his faculties to bear to prove that his -theory was a reasonable one. - -He ascertained that the door into the cul-de-sac was very rarely used -indeed, and had not been opened for a long time, as the office itself -was only a store-room for documents, and days often passed without -anyone going into it. Critical examination, however, revealed to -Danevitch that the outer door had been very recently opened. This was -determined by many minute signs, which revealed themselves to the quick -and practised eyes of the detective. But something more was forthcoming -to confirm him in his theory. On the floor of Bureau 7 he found two or -three diamonds, and in the passage of the cul-de-sac he picked up some -more. Here, then, at once was fairly positive proof that the thief or -thieves had made their exit that way. Owing to rough handling, or to -the jarring together of the stolen things, some of the precious stones -had become detached, and by some carelessness or other a number of them -had fallen unperceived to the ground; these as surely pointed the way -taken by the robbers as the lion in the desert betrays his track by the -spoor. This important discovery Danevitch kept to himself. He was fond -of likening his profession to a game at whist, and he used to say that -the cautious and skilful player should never allow his opponent to know -what cards he holds. - -Having determined so much, his next step was to discover, if possible, -the guilty persons. It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, -they must have been well acquainted with the premises. Of course it -went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried -out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a -very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of -reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured. The fact -of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a -Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was -equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted -with the premises and all their ramifications. The importance of -the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their -escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater -importance that the way by which they entered should be determined. -To do that, however, was not an easy matter. The probability--a -strong probability--was that those concerned had lain perdu in the -building from the closing-time on Tuesday night until the business -was completed, which must have been during the hours of darkness from -Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, or Wednesday night and Thursday -morning. In the latter case, however, the enterprising ‘exploiters’ -must have remained on the premises the whole of Wednesday, and that -was hardly likely. They certainly could not have entered on Wednesday, -because as it was a non-business day a stranger or strangers seeking -admission would have been challenged by the sentries, and not allowed -to pass without a special permit. At night a password was always sent -round to the people residing in the building, and if they went out -they could not gain entrance again without giving the password. These -precautions were, in an ordinary way, no doubt, effective enough; but -the fact that on this occasion they had proved of no avail pointed to -one thing certain, which was that the intruders had gained admission -on the Tuesday with the general public, but did not leave when the -Museum was closed for the night, and to another thing, not so certain, -but probable, that they had been assisted by somebody living on the -premises. - -Altogether something like sixty persons had lodgings in the Treasury -buildings, but only fourteen of these persons, including Kuntzler -himself, were attached to the Museum portion. The General’s apartments -were just above the hall in which the Crown jewels were kept. He had a -suite of six rooms, including a kitchen and a servant’s sleeping-place. -He was a widower, but his sister lived with him as his housekeeper. -She was a widow; her name was Anna Ivanorna. The General also had an -adopted daughter, a pretty girl, about twenty years of age: she was -called Lydia. It appeared she was the natural child of one of the -General’s comrades, who had been killed during an _émeute_ in Siberia, -where he was stationed on duty. On the death of his friend, and being -childless himself, Kuntzler took the girl, then between six and seven -years of age, and brought her up. For obvious reasons, of course, -Danevitch made a study of the General’s household, and so learned the -foregoing particulars. - -As may be imagined, the General’s death was a terrible blow to his -family, and Lydia suffered such anguish that she fell very ill. -Necessarily it became the duty of Danevitch to endeavour to ascertain -by every means in his power if Kuntzler’s suicide had resulted from -any guilty knowledge of the robbery. But not a scrap of evidence was -forthcoming to justify suspicion, though the outside public suspected -him. That, perhaps, was only natural. As a matter of fact, however, -he bore a very high reputation. He had held many important positions -of trust, and had been elected to the post of Crown Jewel Keeper, on -the death of his predecessor, on account of the confidence reposed in -him by the Government, and during the time he had held the office he -had given the utmost satisfaction. An examination of his books--he -had to keep an account of all the expenses in connection with his -department--his papers and private letters, did not bring to light a -single item that was calculated to arouse suspicion, and not a soul in -the Government service breathed a word against him, while he was highly -respected and esteemed by a very large circle of friends. - -It was admitted on all sides that General Kuntzler was a very -conscientious and sensitive man. The knowledge of the robbery came -upon him with a suddenness that overwhelmed him, and, half stunned by -the shock, his mind gave way, and he adopted the weak man’s method to -relieve himself of a terrible responsibility. That was the worst that -anyone who knew him ventured to say; he was accorded a public and a -military funeral, and was carried to his last resting-place amidst the -genuine sorrow of great numbers of people. - -‘I confess that at this stage of the proceedings,’ writes Danevitch in -his notes of the case, ‘I did not feel very sanguine of success in the -task imposed upon me; and when Colonel Andreyeff, Chief of the Moscow -Police, sent for me, and asked my views, I frankly told him what I -thought, keeping back, however, for the time being, the discovery I -had made, that the culprits had departed from the building by Bureau -7, and had scattered some diamonds on the way. The Colonel became very -grave when he learnt my opinion, and paid me the compliment of saying -that great hopes had been placed on me, that the reputation of his -department was at stake, and if the jewels were not recovered, and the -culprits brought to justice, it might cost him his position. I pointed -out that I was quite incapable of performing miracles; that while I -could modestly claim to have been more successful in my career than any -other man following the same calling, it was not within my power to see -through stone walls, or divine the innermost secrets of men’s hearts. - -‘“But you are capable of reading signs which other men have no eyes -for,” exclaimed the Colonel. - -‘“Possibly,” I answered, as I bowed my thanks for the good opinion he -held of me; “but in this instance I see no sign.” - -‘“But you are searching for one?” said the Colonel anxiously. - -‘“Oh, certainly I am,” I responded. - -‘The anxious expression faded from the Colonel’s face, and he smiled -as, fixing his keen gray eyes on me, he remarked: - -‘“As long as you are still searching for a sign, Danevitch, there is -hope. There must be a sign somewhere, and unless you have grown blind -and mentally dull, it will not escape you for long.” - -‘This was very flattering to my _amour propre_, and I admit that it had -a tendency to stimulate me to renewed exertion, if stimulus was really -needed. But, as a matter of fact, I was not just then very hopeful. -Nevertheless, as I took my leave, I said that, if the problem was -solvable by mortal man, I would solve it. This was pledging myself to a -good deal; but I was vain enough to think that, if I failed by methods -which I had made a lifelong study, to say nothing of a natural gift for -my work, no one else was likely to succeed, except by some accident -which would give him the advantage.’ - -Like most men of exceptional ability, Danevitch was conscious of his -strength, but he rarely allowed this self-consciousness to assert -itself, and when he did he was justified. His methods were certainly -his own, and he never liked to own defeat. That meant that where he -failed it was hardly likely anyone else would have succeeded. Not only -had he a tongue cunning to question, an eye quick to observe, but, as -I have said elsewhere, a sort of eighth sense, which enabled him to -discern what other men could not discern. - -After that interview with Colonel Andreyeff, he fell to pondering on -the case, and bringing all the logic he was capable of to bear. He saw -no reason whatever to change his first opinion, that there had been an -enemy in the camp. By that is meant that the robbery could never have -been effected unless with the aid of someone connected with the place, -and knowing it well. Following his course of reasoning, he came to the -decision that the stolen property was still within the Kremlin. His -reason for this was, as he states: - -‘The thieves could not have passed out during the night, as they would -have been questioned by the guards at the gates. Nor could they have -conveyed out such a bulky packet on Wednesday, as they would have been -called upon for a permit. On the other hand, if the property had been -divided up into small parcels, the risk would have been great, and -suspicion aroused. But assuming that the thieves had been stupid enough -to carry off the things in bulk, they must have known that they were -not likely to get far before attracting attention, while any attempt -to dispose of the articles as they were would have been fatal. To have -been blind to these tremendous risks was to argue a denseness on the -part of the culprits hardly conceivable of men who had been clever -enough to abstract from a sentry-guarded Government building property -of such enormous value. They would know well enough that melted gold -and loose gems could always find a market; but, having regard to the -hue and cry, that market was hardly likely to be sought for in any part -of Russia. Therefore, when reduced to an unrecognisable state, and when -vigilance had been relaxed, the gold and the jewels would be carried -abroad to some of the centres of Europe, where the infamous receiver -flourishes and waxes fat on the sins of his fellow-men. - -‘In accordance with my custom in such cases,’ continues Danevitch in -his notes, ‘I lost not a moment when I took up the case in telegraphing -to every outlet from Russia, including the frontier posts. I knew, -therefore, that at every frontier station and every outlet luggage -would be subjected to very critical examination, and the thieves would -experience great difficulty indeed in getting clear. But there was -another aspect of the case that could not be overlooked, and it caused -me considerable anxiety; it was this--the gems could be carried away a -few at a time. A woman, for instance, could conceal about her person -small packets of them, and excite no suspicion. To examine everyone -personally at the frontiers was next to impossible. There was another -side, however, to this view, and it afforded me some consolation. To -get the gems out of the country in the way suggested would necessitate -a good many journeys on the part of the culprits, and one person making -the same journey several times would excite suspicion. If several -people were employed in the work, they would be certain to get at -loggerheads sooner or later, and the whole business would be exposed. -I always made it a sort of axiom that “when thieves fall out honest -men come by their due,” and experience had taught me that thieves -invariably fall out when it comes to a division of plunder. Of course, -I was perfectly alive to the fact that it would not do to rely upon -that; something more was wanted: it was of the highest importance to -prevent the stolen property being carried far away, and all my energies -were concentrated to that end. - -‘I have already given my reasons for thinking that at this stage the -stolen jewels had not been removed from the Kremlin. Although there are -no regular streets, as understood, in the Kremlin, there are numerous -shops and private residences, the latter being inhabited for the most -part by the officials and other employés of the numerous Government -establishments. The result is that within the Kremlin itself there is a -very large population.’ - -It will be seen from these particulars that the whole affair bristled -with difficulties, and, given that the thieves were sharp, shrewd, -and cautious, they might succeed in defeating Danevitch’s efforts. -One of the first things he did was to request that every sentry at -the Kremlin gates should be extra vigilant, and subject passers to -and fro to more than ordinary observation, while if they had reason -to suspect any particular person, that person should be instantly -arrested. The precautions which were thus taken reduced the matter to a -game of chance. If the thieves betrayed themselves by an incautious or -careless act they would lose. On the other hand, if they were skilful -and vigilant the detective would be defeated; and as the stakes were -very large, and to lose meant death to them (that being the penalty in -Russia for such a crime), it was presumable that they would not easily -sacrifice themselves. At this stage Danevitch himself confessed that he -would not have ventured to give an opinion as to which of the two sides -would win. - -The more Danevitch studied the subject, the more he became convinced -that the thieves must have been in league with someone connected with -the Treasury Department. In face of the fact that false keys had been -used, the theory of collusion could not be ignored; the difficulty was -to determine who was the most likely person to have proved traitor -to his trust. Maximoff bore a high character; General Kuntzler had -reposed full confidence in him. The subordinates were also men of good -repute. That, however, was not a guarantee that they were proof against -temptation. Nevertheless, Danevitch could not get hold of anything -that was calculated to arouse his suspicion against any particular -individual. If there was a guilty man amongst them, he would, of -course, be particularly careful not to commit any act, or utter any -word, calculated to betray him, knowing as he did that Danevitch was on -the alert. - -When several days had passed, and General Kuntzler had been consigned -to his tomb, Danevitch had an interview with his sister, Anna -Ivanorna. She was in a state of great mental excitement and nervous -prostration; and Lydia, the General’s adopted daughter, was also very -ill. Anna was a somewhat remarkable woman. She was a tall, big-boned, -determined-looking individual, with a soured expression of face and -restless gray eyes. Her manner of speaking, her expression of face, and -a certain cynicism, which made itself apparent in her talk, gave one -the notion that she was a disappointed woman. - -‘This is a sad business,’ began Danevitch, after some preliminary -remarks. - -‘Very sad,’ she answered. ‘It has cost my brother his life.’ - -‘He evidently felt it very keenly,’ said Danevitch. - -‘A man must feel a thing keenly to commit suicide, unless he is a -weak-brained fool, incapable of any endurance,’ she replied with a -warmth that amounted almost to fierceness. After a pause, she added: -‘My brother was far from being a fool. He was a strong man--a clever -man.’ - -‘So I understand. Did he make any observation to you before he -committed the rash act?’ - -‘No.’ - -‘Yes, he did, Anna,’ cried out Lydia from the couch on which she was -lying, wrapped in rugs. - -Anna turned upon her angrily, and exclaimed: - -‘How do you know? Hold your tongue. He made no observation, I say.’ - -Lydia was evidently annoyed at being spoken to in such a manner, and -she replied with spirit, as she raised herself on her elbow: - -‘Don’t snap at me like that, Anna. I know perfectly well. My poor -father said over and over again that he had been betrayed, that there -had been a traitor in the house. It was that that distracted him. He -couldn’t bear the thought of it.’ - -‘And who do you suppose the traitor was?’ Anna asked angrily. ‘You are -always thinking wrong of people.’ - -Lydia did not take any notice of this. She lay still, and seemed to be -suffering; keen mental anguish. - -‘Have you any opinion how the robbery was committed?’ asked Danevitch -of Anna. - -‘No.’ - -‘But surely you must have some idea.’ - -‘No, I haven’t.’ - -‘Do you think it possible, now, that such a crime could have been -committed without a confederate in the camp?’ - -‘What do you mean?’ demanded the woman sternly, as though she resented -the bare suspicion which the question implied. - -‘My meaning is plain, surely. An utter stranger to the place could not -have done this deed.’ - -‘I suppose he couldn’t. But whoever did it couldn’t have been an utter -stranger.’ - -‘Do I understand from that that you suggest the culprit or culprits are -people who were employed here?’ - -‘No, I don’t suggest that. But it stands to reason that anyone -undertaking a deed of this kind would be careful to make himself -acquainted with the building.’ - -‘And how do you think he did that?’ - -‘You know as well as I do that the place is open to the public. What is -there to prevent anyone studying the place?’ - -‘Nothing whatever, so far as the public part of it goes. But, unless -with the aid of a confederate, I do not quite see how anyone could -become acquainted with those parts where the public are not admitted.’ - -‘Well, Mr. Danevitch,’ said Anna, with a decisiveness which was meant -to clinch the argument, ‘I am not an expert like you, nor do I know -anything at all about the matter, therefore don’t bother me with any -more questions. I am troubled enough, and have enough on my mind -without this affair. I want to forget it.’ - -‘I make every allowance for you,’ replied Danevitch. ‘I quite -understand that your feelings are lacerated, but I thought it was -within the bounds of possibility that you might be able to throw some -light on the matter. However, I will not disturb you further, but take -my leave.’ - -Anna showed him out with a sigh of relief, and she shut the door with -a bang that indicated too plainly how glad she was to get rid of him. -At this stage, Danevitch writes, he felt in a quandary. There were -certain signs that suggested probabilities, but it was not easy to -determine just then whether or not the signs were anything more than -shadows, by which he might be misled. Speculation and theory were all -he had to guide him, and he was only too well aware that the most -astute of reasoners is apt to be misled. What necessarily concerned -him was the danger of being led out of the true track by a false sign. -He was not indifferent, of course, to the fact that he had made some -progress--that is to say, he had determined pretty conclusively how -the thieves had left the Treasury buildings when once they had secured -their booty. But what was of still greater importance was to discover -how they got in. Could he solve that part of the problem, he felt sure -it would give him many points. - -It was remarkable about Danevitch that, while he was often mistrustful -about his own instincts, he seldom erred. He had made human nature -so close a study that the person who, as the saying is, could have -thrown dust in his eyes would have had to have been preternaturally -clever. He maintained, and proved it over and over again, that the face -was so certain an index to what was passing in the mind that every -thought of the brain was communicated instantly to the features, which -indicated it as unmistakably as a delicately-balanced needle notes -the slightest current of electricity. Of course, it was necessary to -understand these face-signs. That in itself is a science. Indeed, the -power to understand it is a gift, and he who fully possesses it is what -is termed to-day ‘a thought-reader.’ Danevitch did not call himself -that, but he possessed the power in a marked degree, nevertheless; -and no one could be indifferent to the extraordinary strength and -power of his eyes. When he looked at you, you felt somehow as if he -was looking right into your brain. Mr. Gladstone is said to have that -peculiar eye, and it can readily be understood that anyone with guilty -knowledge having to meet the piercing gaze of such an eye is almost -sure to betray himself by face-signs, which to the expert are full of -meaning. Danevitch had brought this study to such perfection that it -proved invaluable to him, and often afforded him a clue which otherwise -he would never have got. Another strong trait in his character was the -persistency with which he stuck to an idea when once he had thought it -out. That, again, was largely responsible for the success that attended -his efforts in the art of solving criminal problems. Of course, -his ideas were generally very sound ones, and the result of much -cogitation. He never jumped to hasty conclusions. - -The foregoing little disquisition is not out of place in view of what -follows, and will certainly add to the reader’s interest. - -About three weeks after that interview between Danevitch and Anna -Ivanorna, three men were seated in a restaurant situated in what is -known as the Zemlidnoi-gorod, which, being interpreted, means ‘earthen -town,’ and it is so called because at one time it was surrounded -by an earthen rampart. This part of Moscow contains a number of -drinking-places, spirit-stores, shops, cafés and restaurants. The -one in which the three men were seated was a very typical Russian -fifth-rate house. The ceiling was black with smoke. Flimsy and frouzy -curtains hung at the windows; the floor was sanded; long, rough, -wooden tables, forms, and common chairs constituted the furniture. At -one end of the room was a small counter, covered with lead, on which -stood sundry bottles, glasses, and plates of caviare and sandwiches; at -the other end was the indispensable stove--a huge affair with a massive -convoluted iron flue, that was suggestive of a boa constrictor. - -The night being very cold, the three men were crowded round the stove, -engaged in deep and earnest conversation. Two of the men were young; -one about two or three and twenty, the other a year or two older. -They were well dressed, and apparently belonged to a class not given -to frequenting drinking-places of that kind. The third man was of a -somewhat striking appearance. He was swarthy as a gipsy--a black beard -and moustache, black eyes, black hair, cropped close to the skull. In -his ears he wore small gold rings, and his style, manner, and dress -proclaimed him unmistakably a seafaring man. - -Presently the glazed door of the shop swung open, and a Jew tumbled in. -He was heavily bearded; on his head was a small black, tightly-fitting -skull-cap. He wore long boots, with his trousers, which were very -baggy, tucked into the tops, and a fur-lined coat, which must have been -in existence for a generation at least. He divested himself of this -coat and hung it on a peg, and then ordered vodka and caviare. - -The three men ceased their conversation when the stranger entered; and -he, when he had finished his repast, rose, and with somewhat unsteady -gait, as if he had been drinking, walked to the stove and asked if he -might be allowed a seat there. The other three, with by no means good -grace, made room for him. The seafaring man was smoking a very black, -very strong cigar. The Jew produced from his pocket a huge pipe, and, -filling it with coarse tobacco, asked the seafarer for a light, which -was given. When his pipe was fairly in swing, he said to the man with -the cigar: - -‘Unless I’m mistaken, you reek of the salt sea.’ - -‘I suppose I do,’ answered the other brusquely. ‘Any way, I’ve been -soaked with it often enough. Where are you from?’ - -‘Constantinople.’ - -‘So. A trader, I suppose?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘What do you trade in?’ - -‘Anything on earth, so long as it will turn me in money.’ - -‘Bah!’ sneered one of the young men--‘just like you Jew dogs. It’s -always money with you--money, money. It’s your only prayer.’ - -‘In that respect I’m not sure that there is much difference between the -Jew dog and the grasping Christian. But I don’t want to quarrel with -you. I’m a stranger in the town. Will you drink at my expense?’ - -‘Yes,’ answered the three as one man. - -So drink was ordered, and for a time the conversation was friendly and -general, and when it flagged a little the Jew said: - -‘That’s a curious robbery that has taken place lately.’ - -‘What robbery?’ asked one of the young men, eyeing the Jew keenly. - -‘The robbery of the Crown jewels.’ - -‘Oh yes; very curious.’ - -‘By Father Abraham!’ exclaimed the Jew, with a great puffing out of his -breath, ‘but I should like to call some of the precious stones mine. -The God of Jacob! I wonder what has become of them. They haven’t caught -the thieves yet, I suppose?’ - -‘No,’ was the curt answer. - -‘Ah! they are clever fellows; must be wonderfully clever to do such a -deed. But I expect they’ll be laid by the heels yet.’ - -‘No fear,’ answered one of the youngsters. ‘You can depend upon it they -know what they are about.’ - -‘Ah! just so, just so,’ mused the Jew--‘just so. It’s a clever bit of -business--clever, clever; by God it is! I wonder, now, what has become -of those jewels. They are worth risking body and soul for.’ - -‘I say, stranger,’ remarked the seafarer, ‘you had better be careful -what you say, or you may land yourself in trouble.’ - -‘True, true, true!’ moaned the Jew. ‘But, God in heaven, only to think -of all those precious gems! It almost turns one’s brain.’ - -He sank into a moody silence, and stared fixedly at the stove, as -though he was dreaming dreams about the gems. The other three men -conversed in low tones for a little time, until the two younger ones -rose up, said ‘Good-night,’ and left, for the hour was getting late. -Then the Jew seemed suddenly to wake up from his reverie, and he asked -the seafarer if he was going. - -‘No; I am lodging here,’ was the answer. - -‘So. That reminds me. Landlord, can I have a bed?’ - -He was told he could. There was some haggling about the price to be -paid, but the matter was amicably settled in the end, and the Jew -invited the seafarer to have some more vodka. True to the traditions of -his kind the world over, the sailor man accepted the invitation, and -the two sat drinking until the landlord came to remind them it was time -they retired. - -The sailor was pretty far gone in his cups, and the Jew offered to -assist him up the stairs to bed. With some difficulty the pair managed -to mount the greasy, rickety stairs to where the sleeping chambers -were, and the Jew accompanied the sailor man to his room, and then from -his capacious pocket he produced a bottle of vodka, and they set to -work to discuss it. Presently the Jew murmured in a maudlin way, as his -thoughts still ran upon the gems: - -‘By Father Abraham, but it was a big haul! Why, there must have been a -million roubles’ worth of them.’ - -‘Of what?’ asked the skipper, who, though pretty well soaked, seemed to -have his wits about him. - -‘The stolen jewels,’ mumbled the Jew. ‘I would buy every one of them at -a price; I would, so help me God!’ - -‘Now, what price would you give?’ - -‘How could I tell--how could I tell, unless I saw them?’ - -The sailor man became thoughtful and silent, and the Jew sank down in a -corner like a sack, mumbling incoherently guttural sentences, in which -the words ‘gems, jewels, gold,’ predominated. Presently the sailor was -overcome by his potations, and stretching himself on the bed, boots and -all, was soon snoring in drunken sleep. A couple of hours later the Jew -crept from the room, sought his own chamber, and was speedily sound -asleep in the bed. - -The next morning the two men drank their tea together, and having -lighted one of his long black cigars, the sailor invited the Jew forth -into the city. - -‘You say you are from Constantinople?’ asked the sailor, as they walked -together. - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Do you reside there?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘In what part?’ - -‘The Jews’ quarter.’ - -‘And, I suppose, like all your tribe, you don’t know your own wealth?’ - -The Jew sighed dolefully. - -‘Alas, alas!’ he exclaimed; ‘by Abraham in heaven, I swear I am very -poor.’ - -‘Ah! you all say that.’ - -‘It’s true, it’s true. But why do you ask?’ - -‘Oh, nothing; only, if you had been rich, I might have put something in -your way by which you could have doubled your riches.’ - -‘What is it? What is it?’ cried the Jew eagerly. ‘Tell me; I can get -money. Thousands, tens of thousands, millions of roubles, if needs be. -But tell me what it is. I want to grow rich; I want money--want it by -sackfuls. It is my dream; I worship it.’ - -‘Ah,’ grunted the sailor, with a smack of his lips, ‘you are all alike. -Have you any friends in Moscow?’ - -‘No; I am a stranger. I have come to trade. I will lend money at -interest on good security, or I will buy anything that I can sell -again.’ - -The sailor became very thoughtful. He puffed away at his rank cigar -like a man who was deeply absorbed, and the Jew ambled on by his side, -mumbling to himself. Presently the sailor addressed him: - -‘Do you stay in the same lodgings to-night?’ - -‘I do.’ - -‘Good. I’ll meet you at nine o’clock, and may be able to put something -in your way. I must leave you now.’ - -‘Count on me,’ said the Jew. ‘If we can do a deal together, I’ll put -money in your purse.’ - -‘You bet you will! You don’t suppose I’m going to serve you without -serving myself. I don’t love your race enough for that. It’s a matter -of convenience. But till to-night, adieu.’ - -‘By the way, how are you called?’ - -‘I am known as Captain Blok. I command a small trader doing business in -the Black Sea.’ - -‘Where is she now?’ - -‘She is being overhauled at Azov.’ - -‘Will you be alone to-night?’ - -‘No. The two friends you saw last night may be with me.’ - -‘Good. This looks like business. I will meet you without fail.’ - -The sailor went off, and the Jew continued his jaunt through the -town. When nine o’clock came, it found him by the big stove in the -restaurant. There were several other customers there, but he held aloof -from them, for one had a little before called him ‘a dog of a Jew,’ -saying he had no business to be there amongst Christians, and tried to -pick a quarrel with him. As a quarter-past nine struck, Captain Blok -entered. He was alone. He addressed a few preliminary remarks to the -Jew, then requested that he would follow him to his bedroom. - -‘What is your name, Jew?’ asked Blok, as he shut the door. - -‘Nikolai--Israel Nikolai.’ - -‘Are you a Russian?’ - -‘I was born in Poland, but have been trading in Constantinople and the -Levant for many years.’ - -‘You are good for a deal in a big way?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘And can be secret?’ - -‘As the grave.’ - -At this point the door opened, and Blok’s companions of the previous -night entered. They looked at Blok inquiringly, then at the Jew -suspiciously. - -‘He’s right,’ said Blok. Then turning to the Jew, he continued: ‘Now -look here, Israel Nikolai, you say you can command money?’ - -‘Yes, to any extent.’ - -‘Very well; now, we’ve got some stuff to sell, and we are going to take -you to see it. The stuff is contraband, therefore you must be careful. -And if you play us false, just as sure as God Almighty is up in heaven, -your throat will be cut, and your dirty carcase will be flung into the -river Maskva.’ - -The Jew smote his breast, and wailed out with passionate eagerness: - -‘Trust me--trust me! To those whom I serve, I am as stanch as steel.’ - -‘That’s right. Now, then, come with us.’ - -The four men descended the greasy staircase, and went forth into the -street. It was an intensely dark night. A few hazy stars were alone -visible in the black sky. The street-lamps in that part were very poor -affairs, and gave but little light. The four proceeded for a short -distance; then Blok said: - -‘Nikolai, before we go any further, you must let us blindfold you.’ - -The Jew protested, but at last yielded, and a thick scarf was bound -about his eyes. Then one of the men took his hand and led him. They -walked along in silence for quite half an hour, until, by the sound of -flowing water, the Jew knew he was near the river. A halt was made. -There was the grating of keys in a lock, a door was opened, and Israel -was led forward into a passage, while the door was locked and barred. -He was then taken down a flight of stairs, where the bandage was -removed from his eyes, and a light was procured. He found himself in -a cellar, with an arched brick roof, from which water dripped, while -the floor of red brick was slimy and foul. The place was furnished with -a single trestle table and a stool or two. In one corner was a large -trunk, bound with cowhide. This was opened, and some bundles lifted -out, placed on the table, and untied, and there were revealed to the -wondering Jew heaps of precious stones, including diamonds, rubies, -amethysts, pearls, sapphires, turquoises. At the sight of the gems -the Jew rubbed his hands together, and his eyes glistened with almost -unnatural brilliancy. - -‘Father Abraham!’ he exclaimed. ‘What wealth! what a fortune! Are they -all real? Let me feel them; let me examine them.’ - -Blok so held the lamp that its rays were thrown full on to the heaps of -gems, and the three men watched the Jew’s every movement. He examined -the stones carefully, picked out some of the finest, weighing them in -his hands, holding them close to the light so as to see them better, -then placing them in little heaps. - -A full hour was spent in this way. But few remarks were made, though -every now and again the Jew broke into an exclamation of delight. At -length Blok asked Nikolai what he thought of them. - -‘Splendid! wonderful! magnificent!’ was the gasped answer. - -‘Now, then, are you open to trade?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘Will you buy the lot?’ - -‘At what figure?’ - -‘A million roubles.’ - -The Jew started back with a look of disgust on his face. - -‘It is too much--too much!’ he almost screamed. ‘They are not worth it.’ - -‘You lie, you dog!’ put in one of the young men. ‘You know they are -worth a good deal more. But we want to sell them quickly, and you shall -have them as a bargain for a million roubles.’ - -Nikolai groaned, swore, protested, declared by all the fathers that the -price was outrageous, and at last, when he had exhausted himself, he -wound up by offering seventy-five thousand roubles for the lot. After -much haggling, the three men agreed to take the price, and Nikolai said -he would go next day to the Bank of Moscow, to which he had letters, -and draw the money, and it was arranged that the four men were to meet -the following night outside of the restaurant, and proceed again to the -cellar, where the money would be exchanged for the jewels. And Blok -added: - -‘As soon as the bargain’s completed, you had better clear out. You can -travel with me to Azov, if you like, and I’ll give you a cheap passage -to Constantinople.’ - -The Jew turned to Blok, with a glance full of meaning, and replied: - -‘I may sail with you, but I’ll send my jewels a safer way.’ - -The business, so far, being concluded, Nikolai was once more -blindfolded. The lamp was extinguished, and they all left the house -together. After going some distance, the bandage was removed from the -Jew’s eyes. The two young men went away, and Blok and Israel continued -their walk to their lodgings. - -The following morning Nikolai told Blok that he was going to the bank -to arrange about the money, but that the deal would have to take place -that evening in their bedroom at the café, as he would not trust -himself with them in the cellar with so much money about him. To this -Blok answered that the transaction would have to be arranged in the -cellar, that everything would be perfectly square and fair. - -Reluctantly the Jew yielded, and went away. He met the captain again in -the evening at the restaurant, and Blok anxiously inquired if he had -got the money, whereupon the Jew pulled from a deep pocket inside his -vest a bundle of notes, the sight of which caused the captain’s eyes to -sparkle. - -A little later they set off, being met on the route by the two young -men. Nikolai resolutely declined to be blindfolded again. He said there -was no necessity for it. He also warned his companions that he was well -armed, and was prepared to resent any treachery. They laughed, and -said he was a fool not to see that they were anxious to trade, and not -likely to offer violence, which would imperil their own safety. - -The house by the river was at last reached. It had formerly been a -store of some sort, but had apparently long been untenanted, and was -falling into decay. One of the young men had inserted the key into the -lock of the door, and was about to turn it, when a whistle was blown, -and almost as if it was by magic the four found themselves surrounded -by armed men, who seemed to come through the earth. Before they could -offer the slightest resistance, Blok and the two young men were seized -and ironed, and a guard set over them. Then a police officer, the Jew, -and three or four other men, entered the premises, descended to the -cellar, and, having ascertained that the gems were in the trunk, they -bore the trunk out, and placed it on a cart that was in readiness, and -under a strong escort the stolen jewels were conveyed to the Treasury, -where several high officials were waiting to receive them; and Blok -and his companions realized that they had been tricked, trapped, and -betrayed by the ‘dog of a Jew,’ who was none other than Danevitch. - -He says it was one of the proudest moments of his life, for his part -had been played with consummate art, and his triumph was complete. It -remains now to explain how he managed to get on the track of his men, -and net them so cleverly. - -After his interview with Anna Ivanorna, he began to think that she -could throw some light on the mystery if she liked, and he had her -shadowed. He ascertained from Lydia that Ivanorna had a son about -five-and-twenty. He had paid court to Lydia, but she did not like him. -A few months before the robbery this young man had spent a fortnight -with his mother during the temporary absence of General Kuntzler. -His mother was blindly devoted to him, although he was known to be -an idle, dissolute vagabond. He had been well educated, and had once -held a position in the Post Office, but had been discharged for some -irregularity. His name was Peter, and one night, some days after the -robbery, he and his mother were seen to meet in a lonely part of the -suburbs. - -From that moment a close watch was kept on Peter’s movements, and it -was ascertained that he was associated with another young man, called -Maiefski. They were always together, and in a little while were joined -by Blok, who was Peter’s half-cousin. The old disused store on the -banks of the river was taken in Maiefski’s name, ostensibly to store -grain there; but little by little the gems from the stolen articles, -which were ruthlessly broken up, were conveyed from a house in the -Kremlin which Peter rented to the place on the river bank. - -Blok had secured lodgings in the miserable restaurant in the poor -quarter of the earthen city, as he hoped thereby to escape attracting -any notice. At this restaurant the three rascals were in the habit of -meeting. Then it was that Danevitch, being sure of his ground, assumed -so successfully the rôle of the Jew. - -On the night when he and Captain Blok staggered up to the latter’s -room, Danevitch was perfectly sober, although he assumed the gait and -manner of an intoxicated person. When Blok had gone to sleep, Danevitch -searched his person, and in a pocket-book found letters of a most -compromising character. They seemed to show that the first idea was -that the three men were to travel singly to Azov, each man carrying -as many of the gems as he could without causing suspicions. They were -to be deposited on Blok’s vessel, and when all was ready Blok and his -companions were to sail away to Constantinople, where they hoped to -dispose of the gems, but if not, they were to take a journey to Persia, -where precious stones could always be sold. - -The appearance of the Jew on the scene altered their plans, and they -thought if they could only get him to buy them their risk would be -greatly lessened, and the moment they touched the money they were -prepared to clear out, and seek safety in some other country. Their -little scheme, however, was entirely frustrated, thanks to the -cleverness of Danevitch. - -At Peter’s lodgings the battered gold of the stolen property was found, -but ultimately the Polish crown was restored almost to its original -state, and may still be seen in the museum at Moscow. - -As the plot of the robbery was gradually unfolded, it was proved that -Anna Ivanorna was the victim of her perfidious son. She was a weak, -rather stupid woman--at any rate, where he was concerned--and she fell -a victim to his wiles and wickedness. If she did not actually assist -him, she shut her eyes while he made wax impressions of various keys, -and on the night of the robbery she unquestionably helped him and his -companion, Maiefski, who was secretly admitted. It is possible that, -when Kuntzler heard of the crime, he had some suspicion that his -sister knew something about it, and, unable to face the awful shame of -exposure, he took his life. - -Neither Maximoff nor his subordinates had anything to do with -the robbery. They were all exonerated after a most exhaustive -investigation, which led to the conviction of the guilty parties, who, -with the exception of Anna, were sent to the Siberian mines for life. -She was condemned to ten years’ incarceration in the prison fortress of -Schlusselburgh. That was practically a living death. - - - - -THE STRANGE STORY OF A SECRET TREATY. - - -‘I received orders,’ says Danevitch, ‘to proceed without delay to the -official residence in St. Petersburg of Prince Ignatof,[A] who was then -Minister of Foreign Affairs. He had the reputation of being one of the -most powerful Ministers who had ever held the position in Russia. It -was said of him, as it used to be said of Bismarck, that he was a man -of blood and iron. He was dead to emotion; he had no nerves; he was -pitiless; he was anti-everything that wasn’t Russian; but he was also a -born diplomatist--clever, brilliant, unscrupulous, far-seeing, polished -as a rapier, and as deadly as a rapier when occasion called for it. - -‘Such was the common report about him, and no doubt it was, in the -main, true. He was a widower, with one grown-up daughter. There was a -deadly feud, however, between them, and he had disowned her, as she -had chosen to marry against his will, and very much beneath her, as -her father averred. Her husband was in the consular service. His name -was Kasin; he was a member of a middle-class family who had made money -in trade; but Kasin himself was said to be poor, and almost entirely -dependent upon his salary. - -‘These facts were common property, and naturally it must have caused -the Prince great annoyance to know that his daughter’s name was in -everyone’s mouth, and that she was vulgarly referred to as the wife of -a poor devil of a consul, who found it difficult to rub two roubles -together. Caste is very strong in Russia, and the line of demarcation -separating class from class is exceedingly well defined. - -‘The Prince was an utter stranger to me; I had heard much about him, -but had never seen him. On being ushered into his bureau, I beheld a -small-made, delicate-looking man, with a remarkable and striking face. -The mouth was small and firm; the nose prominent; the eyes deep-set, -and of exceptional brilliancy; the eyebrows were thin, but well -defined; and the forehead, in proportion to the small, sharply-cut -features, seemed enormous. He was slightly bald in front, and such hair -as he had was turning gray. His face was clean-shaven. When his lips -parted, he revealed a splendid set of teeth, absolutely without a flaw. - -‘As I looked upon this remarkable man, everything I had heard about -his personal character seemed to me to be more than confirmed. It was -impossible to study the mouth without feeling that it was capable of -uttering cruel, cutting, bitter things. It was no less impossible not -to understand that the small, brilliant eyes could peer into men’s -brains, and almost read their secret thoughts. Every line of his face, -every feature, every glance, indicated an iron, a relentless, will; and -when he spoke, the smooth, incisive tones confirmed this. His hands -were small, well shaped, but sinewy, as were his wrists. This was no -doubt due to many years’ practice with the sword and the foil. He was -a noted swordsman, had fought many duels, and had always succeeded in -either severely wounding or killing his man. Physically and mentally -he could be a deadly antagonist; one glance at him was sufficient to -determine that fact, for fact it was. - -‘He was perusing a document as I entered. He glanced over the edge of -the paper, motioned me to be seated, and went on reading. - -‘For ten minutes the silence was unbroken, save for the rustle of the -paper as he turned over the leaves. Only a man of very pronounced -characteristics could have remained silent so long under such -circumstances. - -‘He finished his manuscript, folded it up, and placed it in a safe. -Then he condescended to address me. - -‘“You have the reputation of being able to unravel mysteries when other -men fail?” he commenced. - -‘I could only bow to this. - -‘He drew an elegant little penknife from his pocket, and began to trim -his nails, but I noted that all the time his piercing eyes were fixed -on me. - -‘“You are reliable?” was his next remark. - -‘It was put in the form of a question. In other men the remark might -have seemed commonplace. Coming from the Prince’s lips, it was full of -meaning; it even covered a menace. That is to say, it carried with it -the implication, “Woe betide you if you are not!” - -‘“If I were otherwise,” I answered, “I should not occupy the position I -do.” - -‘“True,” he replied. “Now, the matter in which I am going to enlist -your services is a delicate one.” - -‘He paused, and fixed his eyes upon me again, and toyed daintily with -the penknife. - -‘“I have had to do with many delicate cases,” I said. - -‘“Ah! And have been successful?” - -‘“More frequently than not.” - -‘“You’ve been employed in Government business before?” - -‘“Yes,” I answered shortly, as I felt somewhat annoyed at the manner in -which he put his questions. - -‘“I am impressed with you,” he was good enough to say. - -‘I returned no answer to that, merely making a very formal motion of -the head. - -‘“Our little introduction places us _en rapport_ with each other,” he -continued, closing the blade of his penknife with a snap. Even this -remark was pregnant with meaning. It really meant that he understood -me, or believed that he did. “And now I will tell you the business.” - -‘He had been standing up to this moment, but here he seated himself, -crossed his legs, and thrust his hands into his pockets. To the -ordinary observer he would have appeared as the most unconcerned person -in the world, but I could not fail to see that he was a master in the -art of restraint. It was not difficult to determine that, beneath -the cold, passionless, immobile face was tremendous anxiety, and a -suppressed nervous energy, that could only be kept in subjection by -extraordinary will-power. - -‘“A special, confidential, and trusted courier,” he continued, “arrived -here yesterday afternoon, and placed in my hands the draft of a secret -treaty of the very greatest importance.” - -‘Here he paused again, and looked at me in his peculiar manner, as -if he was trying to thoroughly understand how I was affected by the -information he was giving me. Or, on the other hand, it might have been -that he had not quite made up his mind whether or not I was a fit and -proper person to be entrusted with State business of such a momentous -nature. - -‘“Pray proceed, Prince,” I said, with the greatest unconcern. - -‘“Bah!” he muttered, almost inaudibly, allowing irritation to display -itself for a brief instant. His irritation arose, I inferred, because -he failed to read me as easily as he imagined he could do. Perhaps -that was not quite the case, but it was something of the kind. The -exclamation had scarcely left his lips when he broke into a smile--a -cold, cynical smile, but full of meaning. “That draft has been stolen,” -he added abruptly, and watched to see what effect that announcement -would have upon me. - -‘But I merely said: - -‘“I anticipated that.” - -‘“Why?” he asked sharply. - -‘“By your manner, Prince.” - -‘He smiled again, and said caustically: - -‘“I didn’t know I was so shallow, and could be so easily fathomed. But -pardon me; I had forgotten for the moment that you are a master in your -craft. We shall get on together. Yes, you are clever; the draft has -been stolen. What that means you will better understand when I tell you -that it may possibly plunge this country into war.” - -‘“I recognise the seriousness of the matter, Prince,” I said, “and, -seeing how very serious it is, I would suggest that there should be no -restraint, no reserve. If I am to be of use, I must not only have a -free hand, but be trusted absolutely.” - -‘“You are right, you are right,” he replied quickly. “But the whole -business is fraught with such terrible potentialities that extreme -caution is needed.” - -‘He rose, and paced up and down for some moments, still keeping his -hands in his pockets. His face betrayed no agitation, but his manner -did. Nevertheless, his self-restraint was very remarkable. I waited for -him to continue the conversation, and presently he stopped and faced me. - -‘“Ah, yes!” he said, speaking in an absorbed way. “Well, these are -the particulars: The courier, who had been travelling night and day, -arrived, as I have already said, yesterday afternoon, and delivered -to me a draft of a treaty. Having perused it, I placed it in a -despatch-box and locked the box in that safe; but, notwithstanding the -precaution, it has been stolen.” - -‘“The box?” I asked. - -‘“No; the treaty only.” - -‘“When did you make that discovery?” - -‘“This morning.” - -‘“At what time?” - -‘“Soon after eight o’clock.” - -‘He did not proceed to give me all the particulars in narrative form, -as another person might have done, but I had to drag them from him, so -to speak, by question and answer. - -‘“Where did the courier come from, Prince?” I asked. - -‘“Bulgaria.” - -‘“Was he aware of the importance of the despatches he carried?” - -‘“Certainly.” - -‘“You don’t doubt his honesty, I suppose?” - -‘“I don’t see the slightest reason for doing so. He is one of the best -men in the service.” - -‘“Has he been here since?” - -‘“No. He was excessively fatigued with his long and trying journey, and -being relieved of his responsibility, he said he should sleep for the -next twenty-four hours.” - -‘“I suppose you have caused a search to be made?” - -‘“No,” answered the Prince, with great decisiveness; “what was the use -of doing that? The thief who steals a State document of that kind is -not likely to leave much trace behind.” - -‘“Of course a good many persons have access to your establishment?” - -‘“Yes--that is, to the business part of the establishment; but my -official residence is private; and this bureau is sacred to myself; no -one but very privileged people can enter here.” - -‘“Do you suspect anyone?” - -‘“No. It’s a mystery.” - -‘“But is it clear that, whoever the person is, he must have been well -acquainted with this place?” - -‘“Yes,” answered the Prince thoughtfully, as he stroked his chin. - -‘“He must also have known that the draft had been delivered to you?” - -‘“True, true,” the Minister responded, with increased thoughtfulness. - -‘“That argues that he was behind the scenes; he knew a good deal of -what was going on, and was particularly well acquainted with the -importance of the treaty.” - -‘“Obviously.” - -‘“And the document has been stolen for political purposes?” - -‘“Obviously, again.” - -‘“Or the thief, being a traitor to his country, if he belongs to this -country, was actuated by mercenary motives only, and stole the draft to -sell it to our enemies?” - -‘The Prince fixed his eye upon me again, and answered very slowly, and -with emphasis on every word: - -‘“It might be so--perhaps it is so.” - -‘“Very well,” I said. “Now, Prince, I must ask you to let your mind -dwell upon everyone in touch with you, and tell me if there is a -single one of them against whom you might justifiably entertain some -suspicion.” - -‘“There is no one,” he answered, after a thoughtful pause. - -‘“And yet an utter stranger to the place could hardly have committed -such a theft?” I suggested. - -‘“That seems a feasible theory.” - -‘“You’ve no reason to suppose, Prince,” I asked, “that the despatch-box -was opened on the bare chance of its containing something of value?” - -‘“No. My deliberate opinion is the thief wanted that draft, and that -alone. He is an enemy--a traitor; and if he can be identified the -penalty of his crime will be death.” - -‘“If your opinion is right, the thief, of course, must have known the -draft of the treaty was there?” - -‘“Quite so.” - -‘“Who was likely to have known it, do you think?” - -‘Another long pause ensued before the Prince answered. Then he said: - -‘“Legitimately, very few indeed. It is one of the State secrets. There -are many people who come and go here, and an alert traitor might learn -much. I see no sign to guide me. Clearly enough, the thief must have -been in possession of certain information supposed to be known to this -bureau alone, and he has availed himself of the knowledge to purloin a -document of extraordinary political importance. Heaven and earth will -have to be moved to stop the thief leaving the country; but, what is of -more consequence, he must be prevented sending the document away, or -any abstract of it.” - -‘“That is easily said,” I remarked, with a smile, for he seemed to me -to be underrating the difficulties of the case. - -‘“And it must be done,” came from him in a tone so commanding, so -authoritative, so decisive, that it revealed the man in his true -character. Moreover, his face wore a look of iron determination, and -his eyes appeared to glow with a strange, almost unnatural, light. -After a pause, he added: “You have the resources of an empire behind -you--a well-organized police force, an army of spies, the telegraph -system. These things, added to your own skill, should enable you to -bring the miscreant to justice, and save the State secret from passing -to our enemies.” - -‘He spoke with a great deal of subdued force, and I could see that his -mental anxiety was painful; and yet there was an outward semblance -of calm. The extraordinary power of self-subjection which the man -possessed enabled him to almost entirely hide the nervous excitement -which would have entirely overcome any ordinary man. - -‘The situation was certainly a singularly trying one; for here was a -responsible minister of the Crown, who, being entrusted with a State -document of stupendous importance, had to confess to its having been -stolen within twenty-four hours of its coming into his possession. -There appeared to have been great carelessness somewhere, and I -could see that the Prince was terribly anxious, in spite of his -self-possession. - -‘“You say that the document was delivered to you yesterday afternoon, -Prince?” I remarked, for I found it necessary to still question, in -order to make clear certain points which were very necessary for my -own guidance, and his natural reticence kept him from giving me every -detail right off. - -‘“Yes,” he answered shortly, as though he considered the question -superfluous, for he had already told me what I now wanted repeating, -but I intended that the question should lead up to others. - -‘“How long did the courier remain with you after he had delivered the -papers into your hands?” - -‘“Not more than five minutes.” - -‘“When he left did anyone else come into your bureau?” - -‘“No.” - -‘“You perused the document, of course?” - -‘“I did. And to-day it was to have been laid before his Majesty the -Emperor.” - -‘“How long did you remain here after the departure of your courier?” - -‘“An hour.” - -‘“And you are sure nobody came in during that time?” - -‘“Absolutely certain.” - -‘“And are you as certain, Prince, that nobody was concealed in the room -without your knowing it?” - -‘The question seemed to startle him, but in an instant he controlled -himself again, and, with a cold smile, remarked, as he glanced round -the room: - -‘“I am quite as certain. You can see for yourself that there is no -place where a person could conceal himself.” - -‘I had to admit that that was so. - -‘“If I have not misunderstood you,” I went on, “when you had perused -the document, you placed it in the despatch-box?” - -‘“I did. Both safe and box were afterwards locked. I locked them -myself, and took the keys with me.” - -‘“When did you discover the loss?” - -‘“About an hour and a half ago.” - -‘“Had the lock of the safe been tampered with?” - -‘“Not at all.” - -‘“It was intact?” - -‘“Certainly.” - -‘“And the despatch-box?” - -‘“That was intact also.” - -‘“Then, both safe and box must have been opened with keys that fitted -them?” - -‘“That is obvious.” - -‘“Are there any duplicate keys in existence?” - -‘“Yes; there are duplicate keys of all the despatch-boxes and all the -safes in this department, but they are in possession of the Emperor -himself. They are kept to guard against any possible contingency.” - -‘“But presumably it would be very difficult for any unauthorized person -to obtain possession of them?” - -‘“I should say that the difficulties in the way are so great that we -may dismiss it as being practically impossible.” - -‘“That throws us back, then, on the theory that somebody must have got -possession of your keys.” - -‘“There, again, the difficulties are so great that I cannot think it -possible. Come with me, and I will show you the safeguards that are -adopted.” - -‘I followed him out of the room. At the door of his bureau was an armed -sentry. We traversed a long corridor. On each side were doors. At the -end of the corridor another sentry was posted. We gained a large square -hall, where several liveried servants stood. Two came forward, and -partly drew aside the massive velvet curtains hung before the marble -stairs; these stairs were covered with massive carpet, into which the -feet sank. - -‘On the landings more liveried servants were posted. We passed along -a carpeted passage to the Prince’s official residence, and entered a -magnificent room, and thence into a luxuriously furnished boudoir, -where a lady sat alone, perusing a book. For a moment she did not -notice me, as I was some little distance behind the Prince, and partly -screened by the velvet portière at the door. She jumped up, and was -about to throw her arms around his neck, but catching sight of me, she -blushed, drew back, and said to him: - -‘“I did not expect you so soon.” - -‘“I am engaged on some important business, Catarina,” he replied, a -little brusquely. “You had better retire for a time.” - -‘Without another word she withdrew. She was a young woman, about four -or five-and-twenty, and one of the few I have seen whose beauty might -be said to be without blemish. Complexion, features, eyes, teeth, lips, -hair--the whole figure was perfect. She was ravishing--a woman for whom -a man would have perilled his soul. - -‘From the boudoir we entered a spacious and magnificently arranged and -furnished sleeping apartment. In one corner was a large cupboard. The -Prince drew a peculiarly constructed key from his pocket, opened the -door, and flung it back, remarking as he did so: - -‘“That door is of steel. In that niche in the cupboard all my keys are -deposited every night. The door is then secured, and the key of the -door, together with many other keys, are given into the charge of the -confidential clerk, Vladimir Nicolayeff. He is an institution here, and -has been in the Government service upwards of forty years.” - -‘“Does he reside on the premises?” I asked the Prince. - -‘“He does,” was the answer; “and you will now see how difficult it is, -with all these precautions, for anyone to abstract the keys.” - -‘In answer to this, I could not refrain from remarking: - -‘“And yet, Prince, there is the hard fact that your safe and -despatch-box have been opened, and a State document stolen.” - -‘He looked very thoughtful and grave as he replied somewhat sternly: - -‘“That is so. And what you have got to do is to endeavour to find out -how they have been opened, who opened them, and where the papers have -gone to. Please commence your work at once, as every hour’s delay is in -favour of the thief.” - -‘“You must pardon me, Prince,” I remarked; “but I have a few more -questions to ask, and you must allow me to work in my own way.” - -‘“Oh, certainly!” he exclaimed, a little peevishly, which somewhat -astonished me, having regard to the way he had controlled himself so -far; but it was another indication of the anxiety that was consuming -him. - -‘Nor was it to be wondered at, for he himself had hinted that if this -State secret was made known to the enemies of Russia it was quite -within the bounds of possibility that war might ensue.[B] - -‘No man, much less the Prince, could have been indifferent to that, for -it was an open political secret that Russia at that moment was far from -being in a fit condition to take the field against a powerful foe. The -signs of the times pointed to a coming conflict at no distant date, and -fully aware of that, it was known, or believed, that the Prince, who -was intensely patriotic, intensely ambitious, and no less intensely -desirous of enormously expanding the Czar’s dominions, had been making -herculean efforts to consolidate the Empire, and gain the allegiance, -or at least the neutrality, of certain States, without which Russia’s -aims might, and in all probability would, be frustrated. Bearing all -this in mind, the reader will be at no loss to understand how a man -like the Prince would be distressed by the danger which confronted him; -for if anyone did know, he certainly did, that the internal weakness -of Russia was too great just then for a responsible Minister to risk a -great war. - -‘By further questioning the Prince, I ascertained that he had a private -and confidential secretary, in addition to twelve ordinary secretaries. -But not one of them was admitted to the private bureau, where for -the time being the State papers were deposited, without the Prince’s -permission. His official business was transacted in another department, -and the inner sanctum sanctorum was in a measure sacred to the Prince -himself. A sentry was always posted at the door, and he had strict -orders to allow no one to enter who had not special business, and who -was not furnished with a pass. - -‘Being hedged round with these precautions, it seemed very difficult to -comprehend how anyone could have gained access to the room in order to -obtain possession of the precious documents. In constructing a theory, -there were many points that could not possibly be overlooked. The -chief of them was the all but absolute certainty that there had been a -conspiracy, and a traitor and a spy was in the camp. He had known of -the negotiations that were going on with respect to the treaty; he knew -that the special courier was travelling post-haste to Russia; that the -draft was delivered into the Prince’s hands, and deposited temporarily -in the Prince’s safe, where all documents relating to the Prince’s -department--that is, political documents--requiring the Foreign -Minister’s close personal attention were placed for his convenience. - -‘In the case of a document of such paramount importance as this secret -treaty, no copy of it could be made at first. This was another point -the thief was obviously aware of, and it was also certain that he -must have been pressed for time, or he would have made a copy of the -draft himself, or extracts from it, which it was presumable might have -answered all the purposes for which the document had been stolen. Such -a course would not only have prevented the hue and cry being raised, -but all the resources of a great Empire being put in motion against him. - -‘Examining the matter in this light, the question necessarily arose, -Who was there who, having access to the Foreign Office, was enabled, in -spite of all the stringent regulations and safeguards, to penetrate to -the very centre of the temple--if one may use such an expression--and -carry off a secret which was known to comparatively few people? - -‘This question was, of course, the crux of the whole affair, but I felt -satisfied in my own mind about one thing. The guilty person was someone -who knew the working of the Foreign Office, was well acquainted with -the internal arrangements, and in close contact with the Prince. It -need scarcely be said, perhaps, that the Prince was exceedingly anxious -to prevent the matter leaking out and becoming public property. It -would necessarily have caused great excitement and grave anxiety, and -I agreed with him that on many grounds it was highly desirable to keep -it from the public. - -‘There was one other point I ought to refer to, and it is a very -important one; the theft was clearly committed during the night, or, at -any rate, after business hours. On the first view that might seem to -narrow the inquiry somewhat, though, as a matter of fact, it presented -the affair in a more complex aspect; but, on the other hand, it seemed -to me to point conclusively to several persons being concerned. - -‘In setting to work to read the riddle, I proceeded on the analytical -principle, and searched, to begin with, for the motive. That seemed -very apparent. Firstly, it was a secret treaty; secondly, it was framed -against Turkey; thirdly, it was conceivable that it was of vital -importance to Turkey to know what the treaty was likely to do, what it -aimed at; therefore, somebody in the pay of Turkey, or somebody as a -speculation, had stolen the document with a view to pecuniary gain. - -‘The latter supposition seemed to me hardly tenable--at any rate, not -so likely as the idea that Turkey had her spies even in the Russian -Foreign Office. I don’t mean to say these spies were Turks themselves. -As can be understood, it would have been next to impossible for a Turk -to have gained entrance to the Foreign Office; but Turkey, of course, -had her emissaries, and Russians were to be found so debased, so dead -to all patriotism, so lost to every sense of honour, so mercenary, that -they were ready to sell their country for the gain of gold. Of course, -black sheep of this kind are numbered in every nation, therefore Russia -was no exception. - -‘Everything pointed to the thief being a Russian, and, being a Russian, -he also had some connection with the Foreign Office, a connection which -gave him the right of being under the roof all night. - -‘It is necessary to explain that the Foreign Minister in Russia is -provided with an official residence in the Foreign Office itself; that -is to say, a portion of the actual building is set apart for the -accommodation of himself and family and suite. An official of this kind -keeps up a great deal more state than an English Minister does, and his -suite and servants are generally very numerous. - -‘In the Prince’s case, there were fewer people about him than usual, -for the reason that he had no family. Nevertheless, I found that, -including footmen, pages, and lower servants, there were forty persons -in his _ménage_, and his domestic affairs were attended to and presided -over by the lady whom he had addressed as Catarina, and whose ravishing -beauty had so struck me. It is not necessary to refer to her by any -other name. This lady had two private maids, and she exercised very -considerable influence over the Prince’s personal and domestic affairs. - -‘At this stage of my theorizing it seemed to me very clear that the -miscreant would be found amongst the personnel of the Prince. The -consideration of all the facts forced me to this, the most feasible -conclusion. But I did not lose sight of the almost absolute certainty -of a conspiracy, because it was hardly conceivable that one person, and -one person only, would have committed such a daring act of treason; for -an act of that kind was very foul treason indeed, and in Russia was -punishable with death. - -‘Assuming that I was right with regard to my surmises, it would seem -that a member of the household had been tampered with; pressure -and temptation had been brought to bear upon him from outside. The -temptation must have been great; heavy payment would be made; the -traitor had been willing to sell his country for blood-money, and I was -at pains to try and ascertain if any member of the Prince’s _personnel_ -had given indications of being in possession of an unusual amount of -money. - -‘I have endeavoured so far to make clear to those who may read this -narrative the mental process by which I tried to lay hold of a clue. -I need scarcely say that at the outset in a case of this kind one -gropes in the dark. There is not a ray of light at first to guide him, -and he must proceed cautiously and warily lest he go astray, and, -while he is straining his eyes in one direction, his quarry is safely -flying in another. Seeming impossibilities have to be reconciled with -probabilities, and probabilities reduced to certainties. And when a -clue, no matter how faint, has once been struck, it must be followed up -patiently, intelligibly, and doggedly. There are three golden rules to -be strictly observed by him who would succeed in connecting crime with -its author. They are patience, silence, watchfulness. - -‘Human craft and human cunning are very difficult things to deal -with, nor can one deal with them at all unless he is deeply read in -human nature. In this instance craft of no ordinary kind had to be -encountered. The criminal, to begin with, was not of the ordinary type. -It was probable that up to this time he had lived a seeming virtuous -life, and knowing how terrible was the penalty attaching to his -wrong-doing, he would strain every nerve to prevent suspicion falling -upon him. I had necessarily to consider all these little details, for -they were essential to success. - -‘Although the Prince bore the reputation of being a cool, calculating -diplomatist, who had outwitted every other diplomatist in Europe with -whom he had had dealings, I found that in this matter of the stolen -treaty he somewhat discredited his reputation; for he was by no means -cool, and seemed unable to enter into the calculations which were -necessary to a clear understanding of the course to be pursued if the -mystery was to be unravelled. He had at the outset reminded me that -I had the resources of an empire at my command, and he insisted on -the telegraph being set instantly to work, and the police throughout -the country being placed in possession of the facts. I was opposed to -that course myself; I thought it was as likely as not to frustrate -our efforts. But, of course, he had his own way, and he soon began to -display not only irritation, but decided anger, when he found that I -narrowed my search to the Foreign Office, and showed no inclination -to go further afield. “It seems to me,” he cried warmly, “that you -are simply wasting time, and giving the enemy a chance. While you are -hanging about here the traitor is making good his escape. Is it not -certain that, whoever it is who stole the document, he is now hurrying -to Turkey with it as fast as he can?” - -‘“No, Prince,” I replied; “it is by no means certain that such is the -case. On the contrary, I incline very strongly indeed to the belief -that the traitor will be found here under this roof; that he has not -stirred away, and is not likely to stir away.” - -‘“You are wrong,” he said sharply. - -‘“We shall see,” I answered. “I admit that it is highly probable the -document is being conveyed to the Turkish Government. If that is so, we -cannot hope to overtake it, and another move will have to be made on -the diplomatic board in order to checkmate those who have circumvented -you. Your splendid skill in the game will enable you to determine the -move. You may depend upon it that those who have entered into this -conspiracy to convey valuable information to our country’s enemy have -well calculated the chances of success, and have taken means to ensure -the information reaching its destination. But the key of the puzzle -must be searched for here. If we find that key quickly, we may be able -to prevent the information reaching the Turkish Government; but it is -useless trying to do so without the key.” - -‘“Then, you suspect someone in the department?” the Prince asked. - -‘“I don’t suspect anyone at present,” I answered. - -‘“What I mean to say is, you think the thief is one of the employés of -the Foreign Office?” - -‘“I think the thief is a member of your own household, Prince.” - -‘He looked at me in astonishment; then something like a smile of -incredulity flitted across his stern face as he exclaimed, “Oh, -nonsense!” - -‘“Why do you think it nonsense?” I asked. - -‘“It seems to me simply impossible that it could be so. No member of my -household could have gained access to the bureau.” - -‘At this I reminded him that, whereas in the daytime the corridors of -the Foreign Office were patrolled by sentries, they were withdrawn when -business hours closed, though sentries were on duty all night outside. - -‘“But all communication between my residence and the office is shut off -at night by locked doors,” he answered. - -‘“That only serves to show how very cunning and very clever the thief -was to succeed in reaching your room and opening the safe in spite of -bolts and bars,” I said. - -‘The Prince grew very thoughtful. He seemed greatly struck by my -theory, and ultimately confessed that he had not seen the matter from -that point of view before. The result was he said I was to work in my -own way, to follow my own lead, and to have an absolutely free hand. - -‘“It is a dastardly business,” he exclaimed with warmth, “and even if -the traitor were to turn out to be my own brother, I would not hesitate -to shoot him, for nothing short of instant death would be a fitting -punishment.”’ - -Of course, all the resources peculiar to the Russian police system -were utilized so far as they could be in a case of this kind. But the -difficulties in the way will at once be apparent when it is borne in -mind that the fact of a treaty having been stolen from the Foreign -Office had to be kept as secret as possible. If the matter had leaked -out, and become generally known to the public, the excitement would -necessarily have been tremendous, and the objects in view--that is, the -capture of the thief and the recovery of the missing document--would, -in all probability, have been frustrated. - -It will not be out of place here to explain that in Russia there -is an armed police answering to the French gendarme; then there is -a municipal police, very similar to the police of Great Britain; -and lastly there is a vast army of spies, or _mouchards_, as the -French call them. In this army both sexes are represented, and they -overrun Russia. The three branches of the police service are not -worked and controlled from one centre, owing to the vastness of the -country; and this want of centralization has always been a flaw in -the administration, as it is sometimes difficult to bring the various -centres into complete harmony. - -From these particulars, it will be gathered that a great deal must -depend on individual effort, for while in the concrete the system -may present weak parts and differences that are irreconcilable, in -the abstract there is a unity of motion which gives the individual -tremendous power, in this way: An accredited Government agent moving -from point to point could demand, and would receive, every possible -assistance, and the lumbering methods of the bureaucracy would be -dispensed with. - -In our own country we often complain very bitterly about the -red-tapeism which so seriously clogs and hampers freedom of movement. -But this red-tapeism of ours is nothing as compared with Russia. -Russian red-tapeism is responsible for tremendous evils, and it often -retards in a painful manner the administration of justice. - -It will now be clear, probably, to the mind of the reader that an -individual in Russia, endowed with faculties beyond the ordinary, has a -chance of very signally distinguishing himself. This was certainly the -case with Danevitch; and while nominally he was under the control and -subject to the authorities in St. Petersburg, he was allowed a latitude -and a freedom of action accorded to but few. His peculiar talents and -his individuality begot him this distinction, and while it placed great -responsibility on him, it left him so far untrammelled that he was -enabled to exercise his independent judgment, and pursue the course -which seemed to him, according to the circumstances of the hour, the -right one. - -After all, this was but another illustration of the fact that nothing -succeeds like success. Danevitch had been singularly successful, though -his success was due to talents only one remove from genius. - -He has already, in his own words, made it plain that, in the case of -the missing treaty, he believed, and in fact felt certain, that the -culprit would be found amongst the Prince’s household, though this did -not prevent him availing himself of all the resources of the police -department, which of course he had a right to do. But necessarily -he was hampered by the secrecy it was so important to observe. What -he did was to request by telegraph that the authorities in all the -principal towns, seaports, and frontier stations should issue orders -for a more than ordinarily strict examination of the passports and -papers of people passing out of the country; that every person from -St. Petersburg should be closely questioned, and should suspicion be -aroused by his answers, he should be detained, and his luggage searched. - -This is a measure permissible in Russia, but would not be tolerated -in England. But in the vast dominion over which the Czar rules it is -a necessity, and through its means many a crime has been detected and -many a plot frustrated. It is right to say that the seizure of luggage -is only resorted to when there is strong reason for believing that the -owner is a dangerous person. - -Although Danevitch took the steps indicated, he did not believe for -a moment that anything would result beyond a great number of people -being seriously inconvenienced, some innocent persons being arrested, -and a great deal of blundering on the part of jacks in office, and -of boorishness on the part of local police, who, dressed in a little -brief authority, like to exercise it with all the brutal brusqueness -peculiar to ignorant minds. He relied upon his own methods, and felt -convinced that, if the mystery was ever to be unravelled, it could only -be done by his own individual efforts. The more he dwelt upon all the -details of the case as he had gathered them, the more he was convinced -the guilty person would be found to be somebody who was in close -communication with the Prince. Working on this basis, he classified -the household under three heads for the purpose of giving his theory a -somewhat practical form: - -Firstly, there were the lower servants of the _ménage_. - -Secondly, the upper servants. - -Thirdly, the body servants of the Prince and his close personal -attendants, including his secretaries, clerks, shorthand-writers, and -amanuenses. - -Those in the first category he dismissed from his calculations -altogether, since it was so highly improbable that any one of them -could have had the opportunities for committing such a crime. -Obviously, in an establishment so constituted as the official residence -of the Prince was, an inferior servant could not have gained access -to the Prince’s private rooms without running the gauntlet of many -vigilant eyes, and incurring so much risk as to make it all but -impossible that he could succeed. - -Those who fell into the second category were not passed over without -a little more consideration and a critical examination of the -possibilities which were presented, when they were weighed individually -and collectively. But when all this had been done, Danevitch scored -them off the slate, too, and the sphere of his inquiry was so far -narrowed. - -In the third category there were necessarily included persons of -intelligence which ranked higher than that to be found in the other -two. But, as Danevitch progressed with the working out of his theory, -he deemed it important to subdivide this third category, because his -investigations made it clear that only a few of these individuals were -so situated as to have the chance of abstracting the document. - -Let it be distinctly borne in mind that the paper was in a -despatch-box, locked. The despatch-box was in a safe, locked. The safe -was in the Prince’s private bureau, where none but the privileged were -allowed to enter, and the door of which was also locked. Now, then, let -it be still further remembered that the keys necessary to open the door -of the safe and the despatch-box were kept in a safe in the Prince’s -bedroom, and the key of that safe was one of a number which every night -were given into the custody of Vladimir Nicolayeff, the Clerk of the -Keys. - -There was another point which had to be very closely considered. It was -this: the person who stole the document must have known it was there. -He could not have known it was there if he had not occupied a position -which enabled him to learn a good deal of what was going on; but as -it could not be supposed for a moment that a Minister like the Prince -would have lightly made a confidant of an inferior and irresponsible -person, it was difficult to believe that the crime was the work of one -individual; and here again Danevitch had to build up a theory, which he -did as follows: - -A was in possession of a secret that a draft treaty was being conveyed -from Bulgaria to Russia, and would reach the Prince at a certain hour -on a certain day, and for political or mercenary motives imparted the -information to B, who, probably for political motives only, wished to -make it known to the Government of the country against which the treaty -was framed. B had to fall back upon C to procure the keys, without -which the documents could not be carried off. - -Here at once a conspiracy was suggested, and, a conspiracy admitted, -it was impossible to dismiss the courier and Vladimir Nicolayeff -from it. These two men, of course, represented extremes of position. -The courier, whose name was Boruff, was a trusted and confidential -Government officer of good birth and high social position. Nicolayeff, -on the other hand, was a porter--a trusted servant, it was true, but a -servant of humble origin and low rank. His services, if they had been -given and used, must have been bought; that is, he had been corrupted, -tempted from his allegiance by money. Next, the third or middle person -had to be considered. What position did he occupy? It was not easy to -answer that beyond saying it was obviously someone very close to the -Prince. - -Having arranged these various points, and set them forth in their -order, he felt satisfied that his theory was a feasible one, -and, if acted upon, was more likely to yield results than the -search-for-the-needle-in-the-bottle-of-hay process of stopping people -at the frontiers. At any rate, while that process was being carried -out, Danevitch proceeded on his own lines, and his first step was -directed to learning some particulars about Boruff. - -In age the courier verged on forty. He had been in the Government -service for fifteen years. Every confidence was reposed in him, and -he was greatly respected. He had been engaged on courier duty for -something like four years, and had made many journeys between Turkey -and Russia. Formerly he had been a confidential clerk at the Russian -Consulate at Smyrna. - -He was a married man, and had four children, but lived apart from his -family. There had been serious disagreements between him and his wife, -owing, so it was stated, to his infatuation for another lady, which had -led to all sorts of complications, difficulties, and domestic jars. -These, of course, were purely family matters, and had not affected -his Government position, as it was considered there were faults on -both sides. Boruff was not well off. Such officials are poorly paid -in Russia; and as he was forced to keep up two establishments, and -moreover was extravagant, his resources were severely taxed. - -So much did Danevitch learn of Boruff. Not much, if anything at all, to -suggest a probability that Boruff had any guilty knowledge. He was a -poor man; that was the worst that could be said about him. But poverty -lays a man open to many temptations. Starving virtue is sorely tested -when gold is jingled in its ears. It is so easy to be honest when one -wants for nothing. - -Such were Danevitch’s reflections, and he put Boruff in his note-book, -as he says, for future use if necessary. He thought it was just -possible that ultimately the courier would prove one of the pieces -necessary to complete the puzzle. - -He next turned his attention to Vladimir Nicolayeff, a man of a totally -different stamp. He was an old man--well, that is, he was close on -sixty. He had been in the army, and had seen service in his youth, -but, having been severely wounded, was discharged, and ultimately got -employment under the Government. He had served at the Foreign Office a -great many years. His position, though humble, was an important one. In -his lodge in the entrance-hall all the keys not in use were kept. He -also received messages and parcels, answered questions of inquirers, -and pointed out the way to the different departments. - -At this stage Danevitch sought another interview with the Prince, who -cast a quick, keen glance at the detective, and asked curtly: - -‘What news?’ - -‘None,’ was the equally curt answer. - -‘Have you entirely failed?’ asked the Prince. - -‘At present I can say nothing.’ - -‘But you have got no clue?’ - -‘No.’ - -A look of annoyance swept across the face of the Prince, and he -shrugged his shoulders, as if in disgust. - -‘I suppose it is hopeless now to expect any results from your -inquiries?’ - -‘You forget, Prince,’ said Danevitch, with dignity, ‘it is not -many hours since you instructed me in the matter. I cannot perform -impossibilities.’ - -‘True, true,’ was the irritable response. ‘But tell me, do you see any -likelihood of being able to bring the guilt home to anyone?’ - -‘Excuse me, Prince,’ answered Danevitch firmly, ‘I am not given to -expressing ill-formed opinions, and, not being a prophet, I decline to -run the risk of prophesying.’ - -‘Forgive me,’ said the Prince; ‘I am afraid I have allowed my anxiety -to blind me to common-sense. But the fact is, this loss has preyed upon -my mind terribly. It is a very serious affair indeed--very serious. -Moreover, it shows that there is a traitor somewhere. If we have -traitors about, the State is in danger. Therefore it is imperative that -this matter should be sifted to the very bottom. No time, no money, no -patience, no skill, must be spared. The truth will have to be revealed.’ - -‘I would venture to remind you, Prince,’ said Danevitch, ‘that the -virtue of patience is one which, above all others, should be exercised -in a case of this kind.’ - -The Prince was not indifferent to the point of the remark, and, bowing -with consummate politeness, said: - -‘Pardon me, Danevitch; I have perhaps been hasty. You understand your -art better than I do. I have no right to dictate to you. Pray proceed -on your own lines.’ - -‘Thank you,’ Danevitch replied. ‘We shall get on now. My object in -requesting this interview is to ask who conveys your keys to Nicolayeff -at night?’ - -‘No one. It is his duty to come to me and receive them. But as it often -happens that it is not convenient for me to see him myself, the keys -are then given to him by my valet--a fine youth named André.’ - -‘Did André give them to him the night before last, when the papers were -stolen?’ - -‘No; I gave him the keys myself.’ - -‘There is no mistake about that, Prince?’ - -‘None whatever.’ - -‘One more question: Did you go out that night?’ - -‘I did. I went to the opera.’ - -‘What time did you return?’ - -‘About two in the morning.’ - -‘Did you note if the door of the safe in your sleeping apartment was -closed then?’ - -‘I haven’t a doubt about it.’ - -‘But you didn’t try the door?’ - -‘No.’ - -‘Were the keys in their proper places in the morning?’ - -The Prince did not answer immediately. He appeared to be reflecting. At -last he said: - -‘Yes, of course they were. I remember now taking them out of the safe -myself, and handing them to my private secretary, who proceeded with -me to my bureau. There is one point I forgot to tell you at our last -interview. When I opened the safe in the bureau, I noticed that the -lid of the despatch-box was wide open. It was that that aroused my -suspicions, and led to my discovering immediately that the papers had -gone.’ - -‘But the despatch-box had been locked overnight?’ - -‘I am certain of it.’ - -‘So that the thief must have forgotten to close it again after -abstracting the papers.’ - -‘Precisely so.’ - -After this interview, Danevitch felt more than ever convinced that -someone in very close personal relations with the Prince had been a -party to the deed, and began to look round to see if suspicion could -be justifiably entertained against any one of the inner household, so -to speak. With a view to this end, he arranged the following plan with -the Prince. He was to spend two days at the official residence in the -character of a foreign visitor--the Prince’s guest. André, the valet, -was to be told off to personally attend him. - -In due course Danevitch arrived. He was driven to the residence in one -of the Prince’s carriages, which was sent to the station to meet him. -He had a certain amount of luggage, which was deposited in the handsome -bed-chamber allotted to him. He was a German on a secret mission, and -did not understand Russian. His get-up would have deceived his own -mother. He found André a smart, intelligent young man, who seemed to -wear his heart upon his sleeve. There was nothing whatever in his -manner or bearing which caused Danevitch to mistrust him. - -The beautiful Catarina presided over the Prince’s household, but never -sat at his table. The detective was a little puzzled at first to -understand the reason of that; and, in fact, Catarina was a kind of -mystery, but in a few hours he had defined her position. Ostensibly -she was his ward. She was the daughter of a very old friend of his, a -military man, who had been killed on active service, and, in accordance -with a solemn compact made between the two men, the Prince undertook -to be a father to the orphan daughter. That was the story generally -believed; at any rate, people affected to believe it. Danevitch did -not. He found that Catarina had great influence over the Prince at -times; but at others he seemed to treat her with coldness, even -disdain, according to his mood. Danevitch came to the conclusion that -Catarina was, in her way, almost as much a diplomatist as the Prince -himself; but he saw signs--trifling ones, but significant to him--that -whatever love or affection there was was on the Prince’s side. He was -sure that Catarina was not happy, but led a lonely, fretting life in -that splendid palace. - -Danevitch went for two days, but his visit was extended to a week. When -he was taking his departure, the Prince asked him if he was any wiser -than when he went. - -‘A little,’ answered Danevitch. - -‘But is there anybody in my household whom you suspect?’ asked the -Prince with some anxiety. - -‘Frankly there is,’ said the detective. - -‘Who is it?’ the Minister demanded in a peremptory tone. - -‘Pardon me,’ said Danevitch, ‘for declining to answer you now. But -unless I am very much mistaken, I shall be able to give you some -valuable information before many days have passed.’ - -In less than a week Danevitch sought another interview with the Prince. - -‘I have a request to prefer this time,’ said Danevitch after some -preliminary remarks. - -‘What is it?’ asked the Minister quickly, and possibly reading in his -visitor’s face that he had made a discovery. - -‘You have a daughter?’ - -‘Yes,’ gasped the Prince, who, in spite of his power of self-control, -started at the question, and his brow clouded over. - -‘She is the wife of Kasin, who is the Russian Consul at Smyrna.’ - -A cold, cynical smile of bitterness played about the Prince’s thin lips -as he remarked: - -‘That is an open secret. But let me tell you at once, I have not seen -my daughter for years, and never wish to see her again. She is an -ingrate. I have cast her forth from my heart.’ - -The Prince betrayed the fact that, though he bore the reputation of -being a man of blood and iron, and very likely justified his reputation -when it came to matters of diplomacy, he had hidden springs of deep -emotion and passion which were capable of being called into play. - -‘I do not wish to probe you, sir, nor touch upon your domestic affairs -more than can possibly be helped. I have come here to request that you -will influence the recall of your son-in-law from Smyrna.’ - -The Prince sprang to his feet, and grasped the back of his chair, and -though he tried to control himself, it was evident he was greatly -excited. - -‘Good God!’ he exclaimed, ‘do you mean to say that my son-in-law has -had a hand in this business?’ - -‘I mean to say nothing, sir, at present.’ - -‘But your request carries with it an accusation. Remember the terrible -responsibility of that. If Kasin has had a hand in purloining these -papers he is a traitor, and the penalty is death.’ - -‘I am aware of that, Prince.’ - -‘The disgrace to me would be terrible. I hate him, but he is my -son-in-law.’ - -The Prince paced up and down the room. He was strongly agitated. His -pride was wounded, perhaps, as it had never been wounded before. -Danevitch remained silent. He had nothing more to say then. Presently -the Prince swung round on his heel, and said sternly, and threateningly: - -‘Remember this, Danevitch, not only is your own reputation at stake, -but the honour of my family. You may risk your reputation as much as -you like--it is naught to me; but, by the Virgin! be careful of my -honour, or----’ - -He suddenly checked himself. Danevitch rose, and, with a cold bow, -remarked: - -‘I will withdraw from this business altogether. What I have learnt -shall be a locked secret with me. I wish you good-day, sir.’ - -‘Stay!’ cried the Prince. ‘I apologize to you. I forgot myself, but -make allowance for my feelings. I am in the wrong; you are in the -right. Forgive me. This matter must go through, let the consequences be -what they may. Though my daughter, my own flesh and blood, be guilty of -this crime, she shall suffer. My country--Russia’s interests have the -first claim upon me. Pray proceed. I was the father a few minutes ago. -I am Prince Ignatof, Russia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, again.’ - -He resumed his seat. He was the calm, cold, passionless, unemotional -diplomatist once more. - -‘Now, then, tell me all,’ he said peremptorily. - -‘At this hour I have nothing to tell you. I am here to prefer a -request. That I have a motive in making that request, you may take for -granted.’ - -‘You want Kasin to be recalled?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘It shall be done.’ - -‘When? Immediately.’ - -‘Is it so urgent as that?’ - -‘It is.’ - -‘Good. He shall be recalled by telegraph.’ - -‘I would request that he be commanded to leave Turkish soil in twelve -hours’ time, and to telegraph as soon as he is in Russia.’ - -‘And after that?’ - -‘And after that I will make a revelation to you.’ - -‘So be it. In three days’ time, call here again at this hour. You will -find me alone, and prepared to receive your revelation.’ - -Danevitch took his departure. That same evening Vladimir Nicolayeff was -walking along one of the principal streets. He had been dining at a -café, and was making his way back to his duties at the Foreign Office. -A bearded man suddenly confronted him at a corner of a street, and said: - -‘Nicolayeff, what was your reward for being false to your trust?’ - -‘What do you mean?’ demanded the porter angrily. - -‘Why do you answer my question with another? I ask how much were you -paid for being false to your trust?’ - -Nicolayeff was agitated and confused. - -‘Who are you?’ he demanded. - -‘The devil.’ - -‘Then, betake yourself to your kingdom.’ - -‘Not until I have done with you here. Again I ask you how much were you -paid for giving up the key of Prince Ignatof’s safe to the beautiful -Catarina? Or was it her beauty alone that tempted you?’ - -Nicolayeff reeled. It almost seemed as if he was suddenly seized with -palsy, and he uttered a strange, half-choked cry as he sank to the -ground in a swoon. Perhaps in his superstitious mind he really thought -the bearded man was the Evil One. A policeman approached. The bearded -man whispered something in his ear and disappeared. The policeman -blew a whistle, and assistance came. Then Nicolayeff was carried to -the station, and when he recovered from the swoon he found himself a -prisoner. In the meantime a message had been sent to the Foreign Office -to say that the Clerk of the Keys had been picked up in the street in a -swoon, and was then in custody. The message was conveyed direct to the -Prince. - -Three days passed, and Danevitch again presented himself at the -Prince’s bureau. - -‘Have you any news, Prince?’ he asked. - -‘A code telegram was sent to Kasin recalling him.’ - -‘Is he in Russia?’ - -‘I don’t know. He has not answered.’ - -‘Ah, I suspected that would be the case.’ - -‘I await your revelation,’ said the Prince calmly. - -‘It is here,’ answered Danevitch, as he took a letter from his -pocket-book and handed it to the Prince. ‘Shall I retire while you read -it?’ - -The Prince glanced at the handwriting, and became very agitated. - -‘Yes,’ he said, ‘do. Come back in a quarter of an hour.’ - -As Danevitch went out, the Minister called to the sentry at the door: - -‘He will return in fifteen minutes. In the meantime let no one else -enter at your peril.’ - -When Danevitch went back, he found the Prince seated at his desk. His -face was almost deathly in its whiteness; but he was calm and frigid. - -‘You are deserving of your reputation,’ he said. ‘You have indeed made -a revelation. How did you obtain possession of that letter?’ - -‘I intercepted it. The writer believes, no doubt, that it is now on its -way to Turkey.’ - -‘Nicolayeff is under arrest.’ - -‘He is.’ - -‘See that not a moment is lost in securing Boruff.’ - -‘That shall be done, Prince.’ - -‘The interview can end.’ - -‘Have you no other instructions?’ asked Danevitch significantly. - -The Prince understood. A pang of emotion caused his face to twitch, and -he turned away. But in a few moments he was the cold, passionless man -once more. - -‘I have no other instructions,’ answered the Prince with equal -significance. - -‘And the letter?’ - -‘I will keep it.’ - -Danevitch bowed and withdrew. - -The following morning, early, a closed carriage, drawn by four superb -horses, left the Foreign Offices. The occupants of the carriage were -Prince Ignatof and the beautiful Catarina. She was elegantly attired, -and looked charming; but there was an expression of some anxiety on her -face, and when she gave certain instructions to her maid, who was to -sit with the driver, there was a tremulousness in her tone which was -not natural to her. - -The carriage was driven to one of the Prince’s country estates on the -great Moscow road. It was an old-fashioned mansion in the midst of -pine-woods, and the extensive pine-woods round about swarmed with game, -fur and feathered. The Prince often entertained large shooting-parties -there, but on this occasion he had no guests. The servants in charge -had been apprised of his coming, and had the mansion in readiness. - -Two nights later a strange thing happened. The Prince and Catarina were -together in their chamber, when a shrill scream resounded through the -house. It was a woman’s scream. A few minutes afterwards the Prince -flung open the door, and rang his bell for assistance. He was pale and -agitated. When the servants rushed up, he said, ‘Your mistress has been -taken suddenly ill. Attend to her,’ and at the same time he ordered a -man-servant to ride with all speed for a doctor from the neighbouring -village, six miles away. - -When the servants entered the room, they found Catarina fully dressed, -lying on the bed. Her face was ashen in its hue. Her eyes seemed -starting from her head. Foam was oozing from her mouth; her limbs were -convulsed. The servants did what they could, but Catarina never spoke. -When the doctor came, she was dead. He examined her, and said she had -died from the effects of some powerful poison. There was a strange -smell in the room; there was a broken glass on the floor. Before -leaving the house, however, he changed his opinion, and certified that -she had died from apoplexy. - -Some nuns were brought from a neighbouring convent to pray and watch -by the body. Three days afterwards it was quietly and unostentatiously -buried in a plain grave in the little village cemetery. The Prince -followed as chief mourner. An hour later he was a changed man. He -seemed to have grown ten years older. About three weeks later it was -officially announced in the _Gazette_ and other papers that Prince -Ignatof had retired from the Foreign Office by the advice of his -physicians, his health having completely broken down. - -Some few particulars have yet to be told. The letter which Danevitch -intercepted and handed to the Prince was written by Catarina. It was -addressed to Madame Kasin at Smyrna. There are reasons why the letter -should not be given _in extenso_, but its substance can be indicated. -The writer made it evident that Madame Kasin, who was as strongly -embittered against her father as he was against her, conspired with her -husband and Buroff and Catarina to obtain the information contained in -the secret treaty, and sell it for a large sum of money to Turkey, to -whom it was of immense value. Kasin, it appeared, had learnt that a -treaty was being negotiated; and though Buroff would not undertake to -purloin the document himself, he was heavily bribed to inform Catarina -that he had brought it. - -Between Catarina and Madame Kasin a very strong friendship existed. -Catarina considered the daughter had been very badly treated. This -sympathy and friendship had led to great ill-feeling between Catarina -and the Prince, who had threatened to send her adrift. She undertook to -abstract the document, but she went to work so clumsily that, as the -saying is, she gave herself away. And her incautiousness in writing -that condemnatory letter showed that she had not in her the qualities -of a trickster and a thief. She told the whole miserable story in the -letter, and said that she herself would convey the precious document -to Smyrna. She did not mention Nicolayeff’s name, but Danevitch felt -certain that the Clerk of the Keys had been corrupted in order that the -key of the Prince’s bed-chamber safe should be procured, and to put his -belief to the test he accosted the unfortunate porter in the street -in the way we have seen. His intention was, if the porter betrayed -himself, to place him at once under arrest. He was not prepared, -however, for the sudden collapse of the wretched man, who did not long -survive the shock and the disgrace. - -The whole matter, of course, was hushed up as much as possible. It was -deemed advisable that the details should not reach the ears of the -public. It is perhaps needless to say that the Kasins, who were ready -to prove traitors to their country, never again set foot on Russian -soil. Danevitch confesses that he was anxious, if possible, to save -the Prince the disgrace of having his own daughter arrested, hence the -telegram. He was sure that telegram recalling Kasin would sound a note -of alarm to him, and he would take himself off. That proved to be the -case. When some months had elapsed, Buroff was quietly packed off to -Siberia. - -The Prince when he had sold off a large proportion of his estates, -went abroad--to France, it is said--where he spent the rest of his days -in strict retirement. Before leaving Russia, he erected a magnificent -and costly marble monument over the grave of the beautiful Catarina, -the mystery of whose death will never be solved until the secrets of -all hearts are known. - - - - -HOW PETER TRESKIN WAS LURED TO DOOM. - - -THE FIRST ACT--THE PLOT. - -The period was the reign of Alexander II. The time, the afternoon of -a day in early summer. The place, an office in the huge building in -St. Petersburg known as the Palace of the Admiralty, one of the finest -and most imposing structures of the kind in the world. Its principal -front is more than a quarter of a mile in length, while its wings, -which extend to the Neva, are nearly seven hundred feet long. In this -palace an enormous number of people are employed, including many women; -and here the whole business in connection with the Imperial navy is -transacted. - -The office referred to was a large room lighted by several long -windows. Running the whole length of the room was a flat-topped -mahogany desk, on which were spread a number of plans of vessels, -tracing-papers, compasses, squares, pencils, and other things of a -like kind usually found in the office of a draughtsman. To give the -place its official description, it was ‘Department H, Left Wing, Second -Floor, Room 12. Imperial Yachts.’ - -It was under the control of a much-trusted Government servant, one -Samuel Snell. That was not a Russian name, but an English one. -Snell was an Englishman--a Cockney, for he was born within sound -of Bow bells. He had been brought up as an engineer’s designer and -draughtsman, and was considered very clever. He left his native country -when he was three-and-twenty, and went to Russia, induced thereto by -a Russian friend in trade in London, who had taught him to speak the -Russian language, and assured him that his talents would find greater -appreciation and a better market abroad than at home. Samuel Snell was -influenced by this, and went. He was fortunate, through his friend’s -influence, in speedily obtaining employment, and having marked ability, -he made his way. - -In the course of time he obtained naturalization; married a Russian -lady, the daughter of a gentleman holding an appointment in the naval -construction department; and ultimately, through his father-in-law’s -influence, obtained an appointment himself as assistant copyist in the -Admiralty Palace. His talents soon made him conspicuous; he was singled -out for gradual promotion, until at last he was placed at the supreme -head of the department responsible for the building and repairs of the -Imperial yachts. It was no sinecure, but an important and responsible -position. - -In this room, on the day and at the hour in question, two young women -were seated. One had soft brown hair, bright blue eyes, a delicate -complexion, and regular features. She was the daughter of Snell, -and was just twenty years of age. Her name was Catherine. She was -unmistakably of an English type, though born in Russia, of a Russian -mother, and had never been out of the country in her life. Her -companion was as unmistakably Russian; she had dark eyes, black hair, -olive complexion, and was slightly older than the other girl. They -were both good-looking. The brunette was called Anna Plevski. Her face -indicated great strength of character. She had a strong, determined -mouth; intelligence beamed from her eyes; her forehead spoke of -brain-power. - -Their respective positions were as follows: Catherine was a -confidential clerk to her father. She had been specially trained for -the work, and had held the appointment for over three years. Anna was -in another department altogether. She was what was termed ‘an indexer.’ - -The two girls were friends. They had been to school together. Anna had -taken advantage of a little relaxation to slip into Room 12 to have -a chat with Catherine, for she knew Mr. Snell was away; he had gone -down to Kronstadt on official business. But it wasn’t for the sake of -a purposeless chat that Anna went to Room 12. She had a deep and dark -design, as was destined to be revealed at a later stage of this strange -and tragic drama. Her own department was a long way off, in another -part of the huge building, and she was at some trouble to reach her -friend’s office by a very circuitous and round-about route, anxious, -presumably, that it shouldn’t be generally known that she had gone to -Room 12. - -‘It’s a beautiful day, Catherine, isn’t it?’ said Anna, after some -preliminary greeting. ‘It’s a pity you and I are not rich.’ - -‘Why?’ asked Catherine, with a simple expression on her pretty face. - -‘Surely you don’t need to ask why. If we were not mere drudges, we -should be able to taste some of the pleasures of the world--go where we -liked, stay as long as we liked, and enjoy ourselves generally, instead -of being stewed up here when the sun is shining.’ - -‘Well, you know, money doesn’t always bring happiness, Anna, my dear,’ -answered Catherine. - -‘It may not always do so; but as sure as eggs are eggs there can be -precious little happiness without it.’ - -‘Oh, I don’t know. Contentment goes a long way,’ Catherine said, with -some timidity, for she knew that her friend held very pronounced views, -was unusually strong-minded, and had an iron will, to say nothing of -an unyielding dogmatism, which occasionally, when stirred up, became -objectionable, and at times offensive. In short, Anna had an aggressive -spirit, and was disposed to find fault with all constituted authority. - -‘Contentment!’ she echoed with a malicious sort of chuckle; ‘how can -one be contented with a lot that is hard, toilsome, and irritating? -It’s not pleasant to realize every hour of your life that you are only -a drudge. I ask myself over and over again why wealth is so unequally -distributed. Why should it be in the hands of the few, while the vast -majority of mankind are the slaves of those few, and groan and sweat -under the yoke of paid labour--for what? merely to keep body and soul -together.’ - -Catherine had heard her friend express similar sentiments before, so -that she was not surprised at this bluntness of speech; but as she -herself did not consider she had any particular cause to complain, -and as the views she held were not altogether in accordance with -Anna’s, she ventured to mildly express dissent from Anna’s doctrine. -It only seemed, however, to arouse that young woman to a more vigorous -display of her feelings, and with a pepperiness that was distinctly -characteristic of her, she exclaimed scoffingly: - -‘Well, friend Catherine, I can’t help saying that I’ve no patience -with anyone who is willing to accept stripes and lashes without a -murmur. That’s not my spirit. I’ve got brains, so have you, and yet -we are forced to toil long hours every day for bare sustenance, while -thousands and tens of thousands of brainless louts are rolling in -riches. Ugh! It makes me mad to think of it.’ - -Catherine smiled prettily as she remarked: - -‘You seem to have been stirred up to-day, dear. Something has put you -out of temper.’ - -‘Yes; I am out of temper. I’m dissatisfied. Why, only to-day an order -was issued in our department that we are to work two hours extra every -day owing to pressure of work; but, as you know, the miserly Government -take precious good care they won’t pay us so much as an extra copeck, -no matter how long we work. I say it’s shameful!’ - -‘But what’s the use of fretting about it if we cannot alter it?’ asked -Catherine. - -‘But I say we can alter it. The working classes of this country are the -bone, sinew, and brains of the country; yet they are kept in shackles -and ground into the dust.’ - -‘And yet, after all, Anna, talent is always recognised, and -individualism will make its mark.’ - -‘Great heavens!’ cried Anna, lifting her dark eyebrows in amazement, -while she looked at her friend with something like pitying contempt, -‘is it possible that you can cheat yourself into the belief that that -is true? You know as well as I do that talent and individualism are -not worth a rap without influence to advance them. Kissing goes by -favour in this world; and if you’ve no influence you may starve, while -some idiot is pitchforked into power and authority. But, there, don’t -let us wrangle any more at present. Some day I shall convert you, and -bring you round to my views. By the way, I see that our Little Father, -the Czar, is to make a yachting cruise round the coast of Finland -next month, and that his yacht, the _North Star_, is to be entirely -overhauled and refitted.’ - -‘Yes, that is so.’ - -‘It’s a very fine yacht, isn’t it, the _North Star?_’ - -‘I should think so. I’ve never seen it, though.’ - -‘That’s a wonder. I thought your father could have taken you on board -any of the Emperor’s yachts.’ - -‘So he could, I’ve no doubt; though he has never done so.’ - -‘But you have the plans of the _North Star_ in this department, haven’t -you?’ - -‘Oh yes.’ - -‘I should like to see them. Would you mind showing them to me? I want -to know what this grand vessel is like.’ - -Catherine hesitated; but failing to see that she would do any harm by -complying with her friend’s request, she went to a huge safe, and took -therefrom a large roll of cartridge-paper, which she spread out on the -desk, and kept it in position by weights at the corners. And then there -was revealed to Anna a scale drawing, showing the hull, the sections, -the ground-plan, and general design of the Imperial vessel, which was -one of several used by his Majesty for pleasure cruises. - -This particular one was then in the hands of the Admiralty for refit -and overhaul, and was under orders to be at Kronstadt on the 20th of -the following month; to receive the royal party, including the Czar, -for a trip up the Gulf of Bothnia, and along the coast of Sweden, -returning by the coast of Finland. - -Anna looked at the plan attentively, critically. Indeed, she studied -it; and having an excellent memory, the result of training as an -‘indexer,’ she was enabled to carry the whole of the plan in her mind’s -eye. - -She would have liked to have made some notes, but did not dare do so, -and so she fixed the details in her mind. - -‘The Little Father’s apartments seem very spacious,’ Anna remarked -carelessly, as though she meant nothing. - -‘Oh yes,’ said Catherine; ‘but they are all to be reconstructed, and -removed from the after-part of the vessel, where they are now.’ - -Anna’s dark eyes opened wide, and her ears were all alertness. - -‘Indeed! Why?’ - -‘Well, they are in the extreme stern of the ship now; and as the vessel -pitches very much, they are not comfortable.’ - -‘Then, where are the Czar’s rooms to be placed?’ asked Anna eagerly. - -‘A large deckhouse is to be constructed amidships. It will be fitted up -like a little palace.’ - -‘Ah! umph! I understand,’ Anna muttered thoughtfully. ‘Then I suppose -that is where the rooms will be?’ and she placed her finger in the -centre of the plan. - -‘Yes.’ - -Catherine made a movement to remove the weights from the corners of the -paper, when Anna exclaimed: - -‘Stop a minute. I just want to look at something. All right. Thanks. -It’s most interesting. I wish I were a rich person, that I could have a -steam-yacht like that, and go where I liked.’ - -‘You should marry an emperor; then you would have all you could -desire,’ said Catherine with a laugh, as she rolled the draft plan up -and restored it to the safe. - -‘No; I wouldn’t be an empress if I had the chance,’ Anna replied -tartly. ‘Kings, queens, emperors, empresses, and the like, are all -tyrants. There should be no crowned heads. I don’t believe in ’em. They -are a curse to the world.’ - -‘Anna, you surprise me!’ said Catherine with a frightened look. ‘I knew -you were peculiar, and held remarkable views, but I had no idea you -were disloyal.’ - -‘Hadn’t you, dear?’ answered Anna, with a laugh. ‘Well, well, don’t -take me too seriously, you know. I say some queer things sometimes.’ - -Then, suddenly throwing her arms round her friend’s neck, she kissed -her on both cheeks and sped out of the room. - - * * * * * - -The scene changes. In what is known as the St. Petersburg quarter, -which is situated on the north side of the Neva, is an old and lofty -house, not unlike some of the old buildings in Edinburgh. - -The house is let out in tenements, and there is a common stair for -the use of all the tenants, who for the most part are working men, -artisans, and the like. At the very top of the building, immediately -under the tiles, is a long room with a slanting roof. In this room -three men are at work, busily at work, though it is the dead of night. -They carry on their work by lamplight. - -Two are seated at a bench, which is covered with a miscellaneous lot of -tools--pliers, small hammers, pincers, files, tiny saws, screw-drivers, -chisels of various shapes, punches, etc. There are also sets of -mathematical instruments; and before the men are carefully-prepared -diagrams and drawings to scale, and to these the men make constant -reference. - -They are fitting together an ingenious and clever piece of mechanism -in a small oblong box, lined with tin, and divided into compartments. -It is a sort of clockwork arrangement they are engaged upon, and it is -intended that the motive power of this mechanism shall be a noiseless -spring, acting on a solid brass, notched wheel. In the rim of this -wheel are forty-eight notches. The wheel can be made to revolve slowly -or quickly, as may be desired. As the wheel revolves, every time a -notch reaches a given point, mathematically determined, a tiny, but -powerful, steel lever drops into it, and this causes a steel rod, -something like a miniature shaft of a screw-steamer, to advance at -right angles with the wheel towards a partition at the end of the box. - -When this rod or shaft has been pushed forward a stage, the lever rises -again, until the next notch is reached, when the same thing occurs, and -the rod gets a little nearer to the partition, in which, immediately -facing the point of the rod, is a circular hole corresponding in -circumference to the rod itself, so that ultimately the rod must pass -through the hole into a recess between the partition and the end of the -box. - -The object of this will presently be seen. The two men, who are -evidently skilled mechanics of a high class, are both young. Neither of -them has yet numbered thirty years. - -A third man is engaged in a totally different occupation. He is an old -man, tall and thin, with a grave, professional face, small, keen eyes, -and a high forehead. He is dressed in a long, dark blouse, and wears a -black silk skull-cap. He has a square table before him in the centre of -the room; on it are retorts, crucibles, phials, mortars, and pestles. - -In a retort, beneath which burns a spirit-lamp, he is compounding -something from which most obnoxious vapours arise, but immediately -above is a skylight, which is open to give egress to the fumes. - -The man watches the retort anxiously and nervously, and every few -minutes he plunges a small thermometer into the boiling liquid, and -then, withdrawing it, reads by the light of an Argand lamp what the -figures indicate. At last he suddenly extinguishes the flame of the -spirit, utters a sigh of relief, and straightens his aching back. As he -does so, one of the two young men turns towards him, and says: - -‘Well, Professor, have you finished?’ - -‘Yes, thank God, I have, and I am glad.’ - -It seemed like blasphemy that he should have thanked God, having regard -to the deadly objects of his work. But the phrase was either uttered -carelessly, or he was a fanatic who believed that what he was doing was -blessed of Heaven. - -Presently there were three light taps on the door. The men paused in -their labours and listened. Then the Professor advanced noiselessly to -the door, and gave three raps himself. - -This was followed from outside by two quick raps, then two deliberate -ones. Instantly on receiving this signal the professor turned the key, -opened the door, and admitted a man, who wore a large cloak, which, on -entering the room, he threw off, and a handsome, striking young man was -revealed, with a strongly-marked face, and a well-shaped head covered -with dark, curly hair. - -It was a face full of intellectuality. The mouth, which was shaded by -a carefully-trimmed moustache, was well shaped, but the lower jaw was -heavy, and destroyed the general symmetry of the features. His eyes -were almost coal-black, restless, and full of fire. They indicated an -intense nervous energy. - -There was something--it is really difficult to define it--about the -man’s whole appearance which suggested the masterful, commanding -spirit--the leader of men. And when he spoke, the full, resonant voice, -the rich, decisive tones, accentuated and emphasized this something, -and proclaimed that he was one to be feared, to be obeyed. Peter -Treskin--that was his name--was in every way a remarkable man. And even -at the present day there are parts of Russia where he is referred to -with sorrow, and spoken of with reverence. - -Peter Treskin came of good family. He was intended for the law, and had -studied hard and acquired an immense amount of general knowledge. But -somehow he had been attracted to a set of malcontents, who were for -revolutionizing everything and everybody. - -They believed, or fancied they believed, which was much the same -thing, that it was their mission to set the world right; to alter this -and change that, to pull down thrones and set up their own forms of -government, which would be so perfect, so just, so equitable, that -every human wrong and every human sorrow would be done away with. - -It was the Utopian dream of lotus-eaters; but fools have dreamed it -through all time; they will go on dreaming it until time closes, and -instead of ending sorrow, they will, as they have ever done, increase -it manifold. - -However, these men thought differently, and Peter Treskin’s vanity was -gratified, his ambition found a channel, his fiery disposition a means -of satisfying it; and as he never played second fiddle to anyone, he -was raised to a height, from which he commanded. - -In other words, he became the head of a vast conspiracy which had for -its object the destruction of the rulers who then ruled. In short, -Peter, at the head of a mob, so to speak, opposed himself to the -constituted forces of law and order. - -It is true those forces were not what they might, and perhaps ought to, -have been. They were stern, in many ways oppressive, in some respects -unjust, and often ungenerous; but Peter Treskin’s methods were not -calculated to change them. - -It was astonishing, however, how he was enabled to enlist clever -and intellectual men of all sorts and conditions under his banner, -which, figuratively speaking, was inscribed with one word of ghastly -import--Revolution! - -‘Well, friends, how does the work go on?’ he asked, as he entered the -room, wiped his perspiring forehead with his handkerchief, and then, -with a quick, nervous touch, rolled a cigarette and lit it. - -‘We’ve nearly finished,’ answered one of the two men. ‘By to-morrow -night the machine will be ready.’ - -‘Good! excellent! bravo!’ said Treskin. ‘And you, Professor?’ - -‘My part is also nearly completed. It has been a dangerous operation, -but will be successful.’ - -The man who spoke was Professor Smolski, a clever chemist, whose -researches and knowledge, if properly applied, might have been of -immense benefit to the world, and have earned him a niche in the -gallery of worthies. But he had ranged himself on the side of the -malcontents, and for the sake of his craze he was willing to sacrifice -the prospects of fame, if not fortune, and to run the almost certain -risk of a shameful death. Truly human nature is a mystery. - -The other two men were brothers--Jews, Isaac and Jacob Eisenmann. They -were born in Russia, but their parents had fled from Germany to avoid -persecution, though, in flying from the hornets, they had encountered -the wasps; that is to say, they had found no peace in Russia. They had -been oppressed, persecuted, harried, and their offspring had vowed -vengeance. Isaac and Jacob were sworn foes of the Government. They -were clever mechanics, and their cleverness was used to build up a -destructive instrument of death, contrived with devilish ingenuity and -diabolical cunning. - -These men represented a large party, which included women as well as -men; but Treskin was the head, the leading light, the impelling spirit. -His influence, his restless energy, his ambition, his vanity, made him -one of the most dangerous men in all Russia. He seemed able by some -extraordinary power he possessed of swerving men from the paths of -rectitude into the tortuous ways of crime. He led women like lambs to -the slaughter; he bent even strong men to his will. - -Strangely enough, however, up to the time that he is brought under the -reader’s notice, he had managed to escape falling under suspicion. -It is difficult to say what this immunity was due to; possibly some -superior cunning, some extraordinary cautiousness. But whatever it was, -Peter was not wanting in courage, and was quite ready to take his share -of risk. - -His co-conspirators now proceeded to explain to him the result of -their labours and their ingenuity. The empty recess at the end of the -mechanical box was to be filled with a novel preparation containing a -latent explosive power of immense force. This latent power, however, -could only be aroused into activity by the combination of a chemical -fluid, and in order to bring this about, the mechanism had been -arranged with wonderful precision and cleverness. Professor Smolski -had produced the necessary fluid, and the two Jews had, between them, -constructed the machinery. At the end of the rod or shaft already -described a glass tube, hermetically sealed, would be attached by -fitting into a socket. As the rod was advanced by the revolving notched -wheel, which could be set to do its work in one hour or forty-eight, -the glass tube would ultimately be thrust through the hole in the -partition, where, coming in contact with an opposing rigid bar of iron, -it would break, and then instantly something like a cataclysm would -follow. - -This, of course, only describes the machine in rough outline, and that -is all that is intended to be done. Those who are curious to learn the -details of the strange instrument of death and destruction will find -drawings of it preserved in the police archives of St. Petersburg. It -was, at the time, the most perfect and certain thing of its kind that -man’s devilishness had been able to create. And in some respects it is -doubtful if it has been improved upon up to the present day. - -Four o’clock was striking when Peter Treskin stole forth from that -reeking den of evil designs, and made his way into the sweet, fresh -air. Overhead the stars burned with an effulgency only seen in a -Northern climate. Peace and silence reigned in the sleeping city. The -clear, pellucid waters of the Neva glistened and glinted as they flowed -to the sea, emblematic of the Stream of Time, which silently but surely -sweeps all men into the great ocean of eternity, and obliterates even -their memory. - -Man’s life is a little thing indeed when compared with the -stupendousness of Time and Eternity. The bright stars shine, the -rivers roll for ever; but man is born to-day; to-morrow he is dust -and forgotten. No such feeling or sentiment, however, stirred Peter -Treskin’s emotion as he hurried along to his lodgings. He was elated, -nevertheless, and full of a fierce, wicked joy, for his designs seemed -to be going well. He had that night seen the completion, or almost -the completion, of an instrument of destruction which was calculated -and intended to strike terror into the hearts of tyrants, and he -even believed that the hour was at hand when constituted power and -authority, as it then existed, would be shattered into the dust, and -from its ruins a new order of things would arise, in which he would -figure as a supreme ruler. - -Fools have dreamed these dreams before, and awakened with the -curses of their fellow-men ringing in their ears; and then, having -died a shameful death, have been thrust, unhonoured and unwept, -into a nameless grave. But Treskin was not disturbed by any gloomy -forebodings, and having reached his lodgings, he hurried to bed. - - * * * * * - -The scene shifts once more, and shows us Kronstadt, a busy, thriving -seaport, arsenal, and naval and military town, at the head of the Gulf -of Finland, exactly thirty-one miles west from St. Petersburg. The -town is built on an island, and is so strongly fortified that it is -called the ‘Malta of the Baltic.’ The greater portion of the Imperial -navy assembles here, and there are armour and appliances, not only -for repairing vessels, but building men-of-war. There are three great -harbours. Two are used exclusively for the Imperial ships, and the -third is a general harbour capable of accommodating seven hundred -vessels. In the winter no trade with the outer world is carried on, -owing to the ice; but during the summer months the flags of various -nationalities may be seen, but by far the largest number of foreign -vessels visiting Kronstadt sail under the British flag. - -At this place, one summer afternoon, a man and woman arrived, and -made their way to a tavern near the entrance to the general harbour. -The woman was young, good-looking, very dark, but her features wore a -careworn expression, and she seemed to glance about her with a nervous -fear, as though she was in dread of something. The man was of middle -height; he had an iron-gray beard and iron-gray hair. Judging from his -grayness, he was advanced in years; but his step was firm, his eyes, -which were very dark, were the eyes of youth--they were restless and -full of fire. He carried a leather hand-bag, which he deposited on a -chair beside him as he and the woman seated themselves at a table -outside of the tavern and ordered refreshment, which was served by the -tavern-keeper himself. The stranger got into conversation with the -landlord, and asked him many questions. - -‘Where is the Little Father’s yacht, the _North Star_, lying?’ he asked. - -‘Out there, moored to that big buoy. You will see she has the Imperial -flag flying.’ As he spoke, the landlord pointed to the outside of the -harbour, where a large steam-yacht, painted white, was moored. A thin -film of smoke was issuing from her funnels, and a little wreath of -steam from her steam-pipes. ‘She has been outside into the roadstead -this morning to adjust her compasses. I see a bargeload of stores has -just gone off to her.’ - -‘At what hour will the Imperial party arrive to-morrow?’ - -‘They are timed, I understand, to be here at nine o’clock,’ said the -landlord. - -‘The Czar is a stickler for punctuality, isn’t he?’ asked the stranger. - -‘Yes. I understand he is seldom behind time if he can help it. Well, -his Majesty will have a good trip, I hope. The weather promises to be -fine. God protect him!’ - -‘She is a fine yacht, is the _North Star_, I suppose?’ - -‘Splendid! Magnificent! I once had the honour of going on board by the -courtesy of one of the officers, who gave me an order. But she was -laid up then, and partly dismantled. Now would be the time to see her, -when she is all ready for the Little Father’s reception. But that is -impossible. No one not connected with the vessel would be allowed on -board.’ - -The stranger smiled, as he remarked: - -‘I am not connected with the vessel, and yet I am going on board.’ - -‘You are!’ cried the host in astonishment. ‘Impossible!’ - -‘By no means impossible. I have official business.’ - -‘Oh, well, of course, that’s another thing. Well, I envy you.’ - -When the landlord had gone about his affairs, the girl said to her -companion, speaking in low tones: - -‘You are a fool to talk about your intentions in that way. You are -simply directing attention to yourself.’ - -‘Tut! hold your tongue! What does it matter? There is nothing to fear -from this thick-headed publican.’ - -‘But you ought to be more careful--you ought indeed,’ urged the girl -tearfully. ‘You are far too reckless. Remember the tremendous risks -you are running--we are running--for if you sacrifice yourself you -sacrifice me too.’ - -‘Are you beginning to funk?’ asked the man irritably. - -‘No. But there is no reason why the risks should be made greater than -they are. We have a great task to accomplish, and every possible -caution should be exercised.’ - -‘Well, now what have I done that is wrong?’ demanded the man angrily. - -‘You told the landlord you were going on board the yacht. It was -foolish to do that. You drew attention to yourself.’ - -‘Possibly you are right--possibly you are right,’ her companion -returned thoughtfully. ‘It was a little bit of vanity on my part, but -it slipped out. However, all will be well. Our plans are so well laid -it is impossible for them to miscarry.’ - -‘Nothing is impossible; nothing should be counted upon as certain until -it is accomplished,’ the girl said. - -‘You are a nice sort of Job’s comforter. Do, for goodness’ sake, keep -quiet!’ answered the man snappishly. He was evidently in a highly -nervous state, and very irritable. ‘Well, I must go. Be sure, now, that -you don’t stir from here until I return.’ - -‘I understand,’ said the girl. ‘But, remember, the suspense will be -awful. Don’t be away from me a minute longer than you can help.’ - -He promised that he would not. Then, taking up his hand-bag, he -embraced his companion and went out. Making his way down to the quay, -he hired a boat, and instructed the boatman to row him to the Imperial -yacht. - -On reaching the vessel, he was challenged by the sentry on duty at -the gangway, and he replied that he had come on official business, -and had a Government order. Whereupon he was allowed to get on to -the lower grating of the steps, where an officer came to him, and he -produced a Government document, stamped with the official seal, and -setting forth that his name was Ivan Orloff, that he was one of the -naval clockmakers, and had been sent down to adjust all the clocks on -board the _North Star_ preparatory to the Czar’s arrival. Such an order -could not be gainsaid, so he was admitted on board, but an armed sailor -was told off to accompany him about the ship, and show him where the -various clocks were situated. There were a good many clocks, as every -officer had one in his cabin. - -The man came at last to the Czar’s suite of apartments in the -newly-constructed deckhouse. The sailor paused at the entrance to cross -himself before a sacred picture that hung on the bulkhead, but Orloff -pushed on, and, passing beneath costly and magnificent curtains, he -reached the Czar’s sleeping-cabin, which was a dream of splendour. With -quick, hurried movements he took from his bag an oblong box, turned -a handle on an index dial, and placed the box beneath the royal bed. -He scarcely had time to recover his position, and get to a chest of -drawers on which stood a superb clock, when the sailor entered, and -said gruffly: - -‘You ought to have waited for me.’ - -‘I’m in a hurry, friend,’ said Orloff. ‘I want to get my work finished -and return to St. Petersburg to-night.’ - -As he lifted the glass shade off the clock, his hands trembled and his -face was as white as marble, but the sailor did not notice it. - -Half an hour later Orloff had completed his task, and took his -departure, and landing once more on the quay, he made his way to the -tavern and joined the girl. - -‘Have you succeeded?’ she asked anxiously. - -‘Yes. But a sailor kept guard over me, and I was afraid the plan -would have miscarried; I racked my brains trying to find an excuse -for freeing myself from him. But fortune favoured me. He stopped to -mumble a prayer before an ikon, and I seized the opportunity to get -into the Tsar’s bed-chamber, where I planted the machine. It is set for -thirty-three hours, and will go off to-morrow night when the Tsar has -retired to his couch.’ - -The girl looked frightened, and said nervously: - -‘Well, let us leave here, and get back without a moment’s delay.’ - -‘Don’t worry yourself, my child; there is plenty of time. I am going to -dine first.’ - -He ordered dinner for two and half a bottle of vodka beforehand by -way of an appetizer, and, having drunk pretty freely, he and the girl -strolled out while the dinner was being prepared. - -It was a glorious evening. The sun was setting. The heavens were dyed -with crimson fire. In the clear atmosphere the masts and rigging of the -vessels stood out with a sharpness of definition that was remarkable. -There was no wind. The water of the gulf was motionless. - -Suddenly there was a tremendous shock as if a great gun had been fired, -and in a few moments a cry arose from a hundred throats that something -had happened on board the Imperial yacht. The air about her was filled -with splinters of wood. Men could be seen running along her decks in a -state of great excitement, and she appeared to be heeling over to the -starboard side. ‘Her boilers have burst,’ cried the people, as they -rushed pell-mell to the quay, while from all parts of the harbour boats -were hurriedly making their way to the _North Star_, as it was thought -that she was foundering. - - -THE SECOND ACT--THE UNRAVELLING OF THE PLOT. - -When the explosion on board the Imperial yacht occurred, Orloff and the -girl were strolling along one of the quays which commanded a full view -of the harbour, and, attracted by the tremendous report, they turned -their eyes seaward to behold a dense column of vapourish smoke rising -upwards, and wreckage of all kinds filling the air. The girl staggered, -and reeled against her companion, and he, clapping his hand suddenly to -his forehead, exclaimed: - -‘My God! what have I done? The machine has gone off before its time. I -must have set the index wrong.’ - -The excitement both on shore and in the harbour was tremendous, -otherwise Orloff and the woman would surely have drawn attention to -themselves by the terror and nervousness they displayed. - -‘We are lost! we are lost!’ wailed the woman. - -At this the man seemed to suddenly recover his self-possession. - -‘Peace, fool!’ he muttered savagely between his teeth. ‘We are not -lost.’ - -He glanced round him anxiously for some moments; then, seeing a boat -containing a solitary boatman about to put off from the quay, he said -hurriedly to his companion, ‘Stop here for a little while; I will -return shortly.’ - -She was so dazed and stupefied that she made no attempt to stop him, -and he hurried away, rushed down a flight of stone steps, and hailed -the boatman. - -After a few words of haggling and bargaining, Orloff sprang into the -little craft and the boatman rowed rapidly out towards the _North Star_. - -The girl waited and waited in a fever of anxiety and impatience. She -paced the quay--up and down, up and down. To and fro she went. Her face -was as white as bleached marble. Her dark flashing eyes bespoke the -fear she felt. Her hands opened and shut spasmodically from the extreme -nervous tension she felt. - -All the light of day faded out of the sky. A blood-red streak did -linger in the western sky for a time, but was suddenly extinguished -by the black robe of Night. The girl still paced the quay, but Orloff -did not return. She heard the gossip of people as they returned to the -shore from the harbour, and from this she gathered that the Imperial -yacht had been partially destroyed, and many lives had been lost. The -prevailing opinion was that the mischief was due to the bursting of a -boiler. - -Unable longer to endure her misery, the girl went back to the tavern. -The landlord came to her, and asked if she had been off to the wreck. - -‘No,’ she answered. ‘My husband has gone. It’s an awful business, isn’t -it? They say the boiler of the steamer blew up, and that there have -been many lives lost.’ - -‘I heard that half the crew are killed,’ said the landlord. ‘God be -praised that the accident occurred before our Little Father arrived! -It’s a Providential escape.’ - -‘Yes,’ answered the girl sullenly. - -The landlord asked her if she would have dinner, as it was all ready. -She replied that she would wait for her husband. She drank some vodka, -however, to steady her nerves, and smoked a cigarette. - -Presently she went forth again, and paced the quay, going back to the -tavern after a time to learn that Orloff had not returned. It was then -a little after nine. And as the last train to St. Petersburg started -at half-past nine, she settled the bill at the tavern, and, taking the -leather bag with her, hurried to the station and got back to town. -She was full of nervous apprehension, and puzzled to account for the -strange disappearance of Orloff. Had he deserted her? Had he been -apprehended? The suspense was horrible. It almost drove her mad. - - * * * * * - -When the news of the disaster on board the Czar’s yacht reached St. -Petersburg, the consternation was tremendous, and a special train -filled with Government officials, including Michael Danevitch, started -at once for Kronstadt to investigate the affair on the spot. - -Several bodies had been recovered and brought on shore. They were laid -out in a shed on the quay. The shed was lighted by oil-lamps, and their -feeble glimmer revealed a ghastly sight. The bodies were all more or -less mutilated. Some were unrecognisable. There were nine altogether, -including the chief officer and the chief engineer. - -The captain arrived with the Government officials. He had been in town, -and was to have travelled down the next day in the Emperor’s suite. - -In mustering his ship’s company, he found that twenty-three were -missing altogether. Nine of that number were lying in the shed. The -rest were being searched for by boats. Several were recovered, but some -drifted out with the currents and were seen no more. - -Investigations soon proved that the destruction was not due to the -bursting of a boiler. The boilers were intact. The cause of the -disaster, therefore, was a mystery, until somebody on board, having -recovered his presence of mind after the dreadful shock, referred to -the visit of the Government clock-winder. - -That sounded suspicious. As far as the officials knew, no one had -been sent down to wind the clocks. But still, as the fellow had come -furnished with Government-stamped credentials, it was probably all -right. - -Owing, however, to some strange oversight or stupid blunder, nothing -could be ascertained then, as no one was at the telegraph-office in St. -Petersburg to receive messages, and so the night wore itself out, and -many hours’ start was given to Orloff and his co-conspirators. - -During this time Danevitch was not idle. He knew, perhaps better than -anyone else, how the Emperor was encompassed round about with enemies -who sought his destruction, and the wily detective smelt treason in the -air. - -Although it was night, Kronstadt kept awake, for people were too -excited to sleep, and a messenger was despatched to St. Petersburg on -an engine, whose driver was ordered to cover the distance in an hour--a -fast run for Russia. The messenger was furnished with a description of -Orloff--at this time it was not known that a woman had been with him; -it will be remembered she did not go on board--and was told to lose not -a moment in circulating that description. - -Then Danevitch began inquiries on his own account in Kronstadt. From -the survivors on board the yacht he ascertained at what time Orloff -went on board; an hour and a half before he presented himself a train -had arrived from St. Petersburg. - -He had probably arrived by that train. The boatman who took him off to -the yacht was found. He said the supposed clock-winder carried a black -bag with him both going and coming. - -After his return to the shore only two trains left for St. Petersburg. -By neither of those trains did he travel, so far as could be -ascertained. - -The sailor who had been told off to accompany Orloff over the vessel -was amongst the missing; but it was gathered that when the clock-winder -had gone the sailor mentioned to some of his companions that he had -been much annoyed by the stranger rushing forward to the Emperor’s -bed-chamber, while he (the sailor) was mumbling a prayer before an ikon -(sacred picture) which hung at the entrance. - -When he got into the room, he noticed that the stranger was pale and -flurried, as if he had received a shock. Those who heard the story -thought the sailor’s imagination had run away with him, and so no -importance or significance was attached to what he said. - -The destructive force of the explosion on board the _North Star_ had -been tremendous. Not only had the whole of the Czar’s rooms been -completely destroyed, but a large section of the ship’s decks and -bulwarks had been shattered, and one of her plates started, so that -the water came in so fast that the pumps had to be kept going, while -preparations were made to tow her into the docks, for her own engines -being damaged, they would not work. - -Soon after six in the morning, the engine that had been sent to the -capital returned and brought some more officials. They stated that, -from inquiries made, no one by the name of Orloff had been sent down to -regulate the clocks on board the Czar’s yacht. - -All the clocks on board the Imperial fleet were kept in order by -contract, and no special warrant had been supplied to anybody of the -name of Orloff. - -This information made it clear that a dastardly conspiracy was at work, -and it was easy to surmise that the explosion on board the yacht was -premature. The intention evidently was that it should take place after -the Czar had embarked; but the cowardly wretches, by some blundering, -had allowed their mine to go off too soon, and though many innocent -people had been sacrificed, and immense damage done to valuable -property, the life of the Emperor had been spared. - -It was not long before Danevitch found out that the man calling himself -Orloff, and a female companion, had put up at a tavern near the quay, -and the landlord gave all the information he could. - -He stated that Orloff told him he was going on board the vessel, and -started off for that purpose, leaving the woman behind him. He returned -later, and ordered dinner, and then he and the woman went off again for -a stroll. - -After the explosion the woman returned alone, and hurried away by -herself, taking the black bag with her, to catch the last train. - -This was instructive, but it was also puzzling. It was established that -the woman did go up by the last train, but not Orloff. What had become -of him? - -Danevitch took measures to have every outlet from Kronstadt watched. -Then he set off for St. Petersburg. In reasoning the matter out, it was -clear to him that several, perhaps many, persons had had a hand in the -conspiracy. - -The infernal machine carried on board the _North Star_ by the man -calling himself Orloff was hardly likely to be the work of one man. Any -way, a woman was mixed up in the business. - -The official document that Orloff had presented was written on -Government paper, and it bore the Government seal. The officer -of the _North Star_ who had examined it before admitting the -pseudo-clock-regulator, and who was amongst those who escaped without -hurt from the explosion, testified to that. - -Such being the case, and the order being written on what was known -as ‘Admiralty’ paper, it followed that it must have been stolen from -the Admiralty office. It struck Danevitch that the thief was probably -a female employé in the Admiralty Palace, and that it was she who -accompanied Orloff to Kronstadt. - -This was a mere surmise, but it seemed feasible, and with Danevitch all -theories were worth testing. Whoever it was, in the hurry of leaving -the tavern at that town she had left behind her a glove. - -It was a black silk-thread glove, ornamented at the back with sprigs -worked in white silk. With this glove in his possession, Danevitch -proceeded to the Admiralty Palace. But as soon as he arrived he learnt -that Miss Catherine Snell had made a statement about Anna Plevski -having visited Room 12 and requested to look at the plans of the _North -Star_. - -Anna was at once confronted with Danevitch. Asked where she had been -the night before, she replied indignantly, ‘At home, of course.’ - -Did she know a person named Orloff? No, she did not. Why did she go to -Catherine Snell and ask her to show her the plans of the _North Star?_ -Simply to gratify her curiosity, nothing else. She was next asked if -she had worn gloves the day previous. She replied that she had. What -sort were they? Kid gloves, she answered. Had she those gloves with -her? No; she had left them at home, and had come to the office that -morning without gloves. - -After a few more inquiries she was allowed to return to her duties, -but was kept under strict surveillance, while poor Catherine Snell was -suspended for dereliction of duty. - -In the meantime Danevitch proceeded to Anna’s lodgings, and a search -there brought to light the fellow to the glove left in the tavern at -Kronstadt. It had been thrown carelessly by the girl on the top of -a chest of drawers. This glove was a damning piece of evidence that -Anna had accompanied Orloff to Kronstadt the day before, and that -established, it was a logical deduction that she had stolen the stamped -paper on which he had written, or caused to be written, the order which -had gained him admission on board of the _North Star_. All this, of -course, was plain sailing. Catherine Snell’s statement had made matters -easy so far. But there was a good deal more to be learnt, a great deal -to be sifted before the truth would be revealed. - -When a person in Russia is suspected of crime, the law gives the police -tremendous power, and there are few of the formalities to be gone -through such as are peculiar to our own country; and in this instance -Danevitch was in a position to do almost absolutely whatever he thought -fit and proper to do. - -The finding of the glove carried conviction to his mind that Anna -Plevski was mixed up in this new plot for the destruction of the -Emperor. So, without any ceremony, he proceeded to rummage her boxes -and drawers for further evidence. The want of keys did not deter him; -chisels and hammers answered the same purpose. His search was rewarded -with a bundle of letters. These were hastily scanned; they were all, -apparently, innocent enough; the majority of them were love letters. -A few of these were signed ‘Peter Treskin’; the rest simply bore the -initial ‘P.’ There was nothing in any of these letters calculated to -cause suspicion, with the exception of the following somewhat obscure -passage in a letter written a few days before the explosion: - -‘The time is at hand when your faith and love will be put to a great -test. The serious business we have in hand is reaching a critical -stage, and success depends on our courage, coolness, and determination. -You and I must henceforth walk hand-in-hand to that supreme happiness -for which we have both toiled. We love each other. We must unite our -destinies in a bond that can only be severed by death.’ - -Having learnt so much, Danevitch once more confronted Anna. She -confessed she had a lover named Peter Treskin; they had quarrelled, -however, and he had gone away; but she knew not where he had gone to, -and she did not care if she never saw him again. - -‘Perhaps you will be able to remember things better in a dungeon,’ -suggested Danevitch, as he arrested Anna, and handed her over to the -care of a gendarme. - -She turned deathly white, but otherwise appeared calm and collected, -and declared that she was the victim of a gross outrage, for which -everyone concerned would be made to suffer. - -Danevitch’s next move was to go to Treskin’s lodgings. He found that -gentleman had been absent for three days. Here also a search was made -for compromising papers. A good many letters from Anna Plevski were -brought to light. They all breathed the most ardent love and devotion -for the man; and the writer declared that she could not live a day -without him, that for his sake she was prepared to peril her soul. But -there were other letters--love letters--written to Treskin by a woman -who signed herself Lydia Zagarin. This person not only betrayed by her -writing that she was desperately, madly in love with Treskin also, but -from her statements and expressions it was obvious that he had carried -on an intrigue with her, and was as much in love with her as she was -with him. She wrote from a place called Werro, in the Baltic provinces. -Danevitch took possession of these letters, and continued his search, -during which he came across a slip of paper which bore the printed -heading, ‘The Technical School of Chemistry, St. Petersburg.’ On it was -written this line: ‘Yes, I think I shall succeed.--SMOLSKI.’ - -Apparently there was not much in this, but what there was was quite -enough for Danevitch under the circumstances, and he had Professor -Smolski arrested. It was a summary proceeding, but in times of -excitement in Russia anyone may be arrested who may possibly turn out -to be a guilty person. It is not necessary that there should be a -shadow of a shade of evidence of guilt in the first instance; it is -enough that there is a possibility of the police being right. But if -they are wrong what does it matter? The person is released, and the -police are not blamed. Danevitch, however, did not often go wrong in -this respect; and in this instance, Smolski being a Professor in the -Technical School of Chemistry, there were probabilities that he might -be able to afford some valuable information respecting Treskin. - -Smolski was one of those extraordinary types of men who, having -conceived a certain thing to be right, are willing to risk fame, -fortune, life itself, for the sake of their opinions. Smolski was -undoubtedly a gentle, high-minded man; nevertheless he believed -that the ruler of his country was a tyrant; that his countrymen -were little better than slaves, whose social and political rights -were ignored; that the ordinary means--such as are familiar to more -liberally-governed countries--being useless to direct attention to -their wrongs, violent measures were justified, and the removal of the -tyrant would be acceptable in God’s sight. Holding these views--and -though he was a family man and one respected and honoured--Smolski had -allied himself with a band of arch-conspirators, whose head was Peter -Treskin. He was calm, dignified, and collected under his arrest, and -when he was interrogated, in accordance with Russian law, by a judge -of instruction, he frankly admitted that he had been concerned in an -attempt to bring about a better form of government; but he steadfastly -refused to denounce any of his accomplices. He could die bravely, as -became a man, but no one should say he was a traitor. - -All this would have been admirable in a nobler cause; as it was, he -simply proved that he had allowed his extreme views to blind him to the -difference between legitimate constitutional agitation and crime--crime -that, whether committed in the name of politics or not, was murder, -and an outrage against God’s ordinance. Smolski, in common with most -men, neglected the safe rule that letters should be destroyed when they -are calculated to compromise one’s honour or betray one’s friends. And -thus it came about that when the Professor’s papers were examined, not -only were Isaac and Jacob Eisenmann brought into the police net, but -many others; and in a diary he had kept there was a record of his -experiments with the deadly compound which was destined to blow the -monarch of the Empire into eternity, but which, owing to an accident or -a blunder, had failed in its object so far as the Czar was concerned, -though it had cruelly cut short the lives of many hard-working and -worthy men. Under any circumstances, even if the Czar had been involved -in the destructive influences of the infernal machine, many others must -have perished with him. Such conspirators never hesitate to destroy -nine hundred and ninety-nine inoffensive people if they can only reach -the thousandth against whom they have a grievance. - -Piece by piece the whole story as set forth in the first part of this -chronicle was put together, and the plot laid bare; but though many had -been brought under the iron grip of the law, the arch-conspirator, to -whose ruling spirit and genius the plot was due, was still at large, -and no trace of him was at that time forthcoming; but Danevitch did -not despair of hunting him down, of bringing him to his doom. And no -one whose mind was not distorted could say his life was not forfeited. -His whole career had been one of plotting and deceit. His commanding -presence and masterful mind had given him such an influence over many -of those with whom he came in contact--especially women--that he had -proved himself more than ordinarily dangerous, while his reckless -and cowardly wickedness in carrying the infernal machine on board -the Czar’s yacht, and thereby causing the sudden and cruel death of -something like two dozen people, stamped him at once as a being against -whom every honest man’s hand should be raised. - -In the meantime, while Danevitch was trying to get a clue to Treskin’s -whereabouts, his co-conspirators--they might truly be described as his -dupes--were tried, found guilty, condemned, and executed. Smolski, -the two Eisenmanns, and four others, were ignominiously hanged in the -presence of an enormous crowd. Smolski met his end with a perfect -resignation, a calm indifference. He firmly believed he was suffering -in a good cause. He died with the words ‘Khrista radi’ (For Christ’s -sake) upon his lips. He posed as a martyr. - -Anna Plevski had been cast for Siberia, but before starting upon the -terrible journey, the prospects of which were more appalling than -death, she would have to spend many months in a noisome dungeon in the -Russian Bastile, Schlusselburgh, in Lake Ladoga. - -But a circumstance presently arose which altered her fate. Danevitch -had kept his eye on Lydia Zagarin, of Werro. He found she was the -daughter of a retired ship-master, who had purchased a little property -in the small and pleasantly-situated town of Werro. He was a widower. -Lydia was his only daughter. On her father’s death she would succeed -to a modest fortune. Treskin had borrowed money from her, and it was -probable that he had singled her out from his many female acquaintances -as one to whom he would adhere on account of her money. Four months -after the fateful day when the Czar’s yacht was partially destroyed and -many people were killed, Treskin wrote to this young woman, renewing -his protestations of regard for her, and asking her to send him money, -and to join him with a view to his marrying her. He gave his address -at Point de Galle, Ceylon, where, according to his own account, he had -started in business as a merchant. He stated that, though he had taken -no active part in the destruction of the _North Star_, he happened -to be in Kronstadt on the night of the crime, and as he knew he was -suspected of being mixed up in revolutionary movements, he deemed it -advisable to go abroad; and so he had bribed a boatman to convey him -to a Swedish schooner which was on the point of leaving the Kronstadt -harbour on the night of the explosion, and he bribed the captain of -the schooner to convey him to the coast of Sweden. By this means he -escaped. From Sweden he travelled to England; from England to Ceylon, -where he had a cousin engaged on a coffee plantation. - -This letter came into the hands of Danevitch before it reached Lydia. -How that was managed need not be stated; but Danevitch now believed -he saw his way to capture Treskin. He knew, of course, that, as a -political refugee, claiming the protection of the British flag, he -could not be taken in the ordinary way. The British flag has over and -over again been disgraced by the protection it has afforded to wretches -of Treskin’s type, and it was so in this instance. To obtain his -extradition was next to impossible. He was a wholesale murderer, but -claimed sanctuary in the name of politics, and he found this sanctuary -under the British flag. - -Danevitch, however, resolved to have him, and resorted to stratagem. -He visited Anna Plevski in her dungeon. She knew nothing at this -time of the fate of her lover, though she did know that he had not -been captured. Danevitch, by skill and artifice, aroused in her that -strongest of all female passions--jealousy. He began by telling her -that Treskin had deserted her in a cowardly and shameful manner on the -night of the crime, and did not care whether she perished or lived. -Then he laid before her Lydia Zagarin’s letters to Treskin, which had -been seized at Treskin’s lodgings, and he watched the effect on the -girl as she read them. Finally he showed her the letter sent from -Ceylon. - -That was the last straw. Her feelings burst from the restraint she -had tried to impose upon them, and she cursed him again and again. -She declared solemnly that she was his victim; that she was innocent -and loyal until he corrupted her, and indoctrinated her with his -revolutionary ideas. He had sworn to be true to her, and used to say -they would live and die together. On the night of the crime he had -persuaded her to go with him to Kronstadt, because he declared that -he could not bear her to be out of his sight. They had arranged that -on the morrow they were to quit St. Petersburg, and travel with all -speed to Austrian soil. But not only had he basely deceived her, but -treacherously deserted her. She was furious, and uttered bitter regrets -that she could not hope to be revenged upon him. - -In this frame of mind she was left for the time. A week later, however, -Danevitch once more visited her. She was still brooding on her wrongs -and her hard fate. To suffer Siberia for the sake of a man who had so -cruelly deceived her and blighted her young life was doubly hard. - -‘Would she be willing, if she had the chance, to bring him to justice?’ -Danevitch asked. - -Her dark eyes filled with fire, and her pale face flushed, as she -exclaimed with passionate gesture that she would do it with a fierce -joy in her heart, and laugh at him exultingly as he was led to his doom. - -She was told that the chance would be given to her to betray him into -the hands of justice. She would be set free on sufferance, and allowed -to proceed to Ceylon, and, provided she succeeded in her task and -was faithful to the trust reposed in her, she would, on returning to -Russia, receive a full pardon, and be supplied with a considerable sum -of money to enable her to live abroad if she desired it. - -In setting her free, however, in the first instance, the Government -intended to retain a hold upon her, and to that end her youngest and -favourite brother, who was an invalid, and to whom she was devoted, -had been arrested on suspicion of being mixed up with revolutionary -movements. If she did not return within a fixed time, the brother would -be sent to the Siberian quicksilver-mines. While she was away he would -be treated with every kindness, and on her return he would be set at -liberty. His fate therefore was in her hands. If she allowed the false -lover to prevail over her she would sacrifice her brother. If, on the -other hand, she was true to her trust, she would save her brother, -gratify her revenge, and be provided for for life. - -She was allowed a week in which to make up her mind; but in two days -she gave her decision. She would go to Ceylon. She would lure Treskin -to his doom. To prepare the way she wrote a letter to dictation. In it -she stated that she had been tried and found not guilty. No sooner was -she released than she had been visited by a wretch of a woman named -Lydia Zagarin, who abused her fearfully for having corresponded with -Treskin, whom she claimed. And in her mad passion she had disclosed -his whereabouts, but vowed that she hated him, knowing that he had been -false to her, and that all he wanted now was her money. Anna, however, -had no such thoughts about him. She loved him to distraction, and could -not live without him. She intended, therefore, to go to Ceylon; and she -had managed to secure some money, which she would take to him. She was -perfectly sure, she added, that he loved her, and that they would be -very happy together. - -This letter was duly despatched, and a fortnight later Anna set out on -her strange mission, having first had an interview with her brother, -though she was cautioned against telling him or any living soul where -she was going to. She found him almost broken-hearted, for he declared -he was as innocent of revolutionary ideas as a babe unborn; but he knew -that when once a man fell into the hands of the police as a ‘suspect’ -he had very little to hope for. Anna endeavoured to cheer him up by -saying she would do all that mortal could do to prove his innocence; -and as the Government had failed to substantiate their charge against -her, she was sure they would not succeed in his case. - - * * * * * - -The scene changes again for the final act, and shows the beautiful -island of Ceylon and the wide, sweeping bay of Point de Galle, with its -splendid lighthouse, its great barrier reef, and its golden sands. Anna -Plevski had landed there from a P. and O. steamer, and had been met by -Treskin, who, while he declared he was delighted to see her, showed by -his manner he was annoyed. - -As a matter of fact, he hoped for Lydia Zagarin, but Anna Plevski had -come to him instead. But there was another cause for his annoyance, as -Anna soon discovered. He had a native mistress; but in a little time -Anna had so far prevailed over him that he put the dusky beauty away. -He had commenced in business as a commission agent and coffee merchant; -but so far success had not attended his efforts. He had neither the -energy, the perseverance, nor the patience necessary if one would -succeed in business, so that he very eagerly inquired of Anna what -money she had brought. She told him that she had not very much with -her, but in a few weeks would receive a remittance. In the meantime -there was enough to be going on with. She thus won his confidence. -Indeed, he never for a moment suspected her mission. There was nothing -whatever to arouse his suspicions. It all seemed perfectly natural and -he believed that under the ægis of the British flag he was perfectly -safe. So he would have been if Danevitch had not played such a clever -move to checkmate him. - -A little more than two months passed, during which Treskin knew -nothing of the sword that swung above his head. Then Anna complained -of illness. She thought Point de Galle did not agree with her; she -wanted a change; she had been told that Colombo was a very pretty -place; she would like to see it; and as she had received a remittance -of thirty pounds they could afford the journey. He must take her there. -To this he consented, and they travelled by gharry. It was the first -step towards his doom. With the remittance came another letter to Anna -giving her secret instructions. - -Colombo was duly reached. It was the best season. The days were -tranquil and brilliant. The nights were wordless poems. The third night -after their arrival Anna expressed a desire to go out in a native boat -on the water. The sea was motionless. It was like a sheet of glass. The -night was glorious; a soft land-breeze blew, laden with rich scents. -The heavens were ablaze with stars, and a dreamy languor seemed to -pervade the delicious atmosphere. Accordingly, a native boat and two -stalwart rowers were hired, and Treskin and Anna embarked. It was the -second step towards his doom. - -The boatmen pulled from the land. The calm water and tranquil night -made rowing easy, and presently a little bamboo sail was hoisted, which -helped the craft along. Treskin lay back in the stern and smoked; Anna -sat beside him, and sang softly snatches of plaintive Russian airs. - -When about five miles from the shore, they saw a small steamer creeping -slowly along. She came close to the boat, and an English voice hailed -her and asked if anyone in the boat spoke English. - -Treskin answered. The voice then inquired if the occupant of the boat -would kindly take some letters on shore. The captain of the steamer did -not want to go into the port. - -Treskin gladly consented, and he was asked to order his boatmen to pull -alongside the steamer, which proved to be a pleasure-yacht. - -Without a shadow of suspicion in his mind, Treskin did so, and he was -politely invited to step on board, a ladder being lowered for that -purpose. He turned to Anna, and asked her if she would go. Of course -she would. So she preceded him up the ladder. - -As soon as he was on the deck the gangway was closed, and a man in -uniform directed him to the little saloon, where some wine and biscuits -stood on the table. The engines of the steamer were started, though -that did not alarm him; but in a few minutes a stern, determined man -entered the cabin. He wore the uniform of a lieutenant of the Russian -Navy, and had a sword at his side. - -‘Peter Treskin,’ he said in Russian, ‘you have been cleverly lured on -board this boat, which is owned by a Russian gentleman, and flies the -Russian flag, in order that you may be taken back to Russia to answer -for your great crime.’ - -Treskin’s face turned to an ashen grayness, and, springing to his feet, -he rushed to the door, but found his exit barred by armed men. In -another instant he was seized, and heavily ironed. He knew then that -his fate was sealed, and his heart turned to lead with an awful sense -of despair. - -Steaming as hard as she could steam, the yacht rounded Point de Galle, -and when about fifteen miles due east of Ceylon she suddenly stopped. -A Russian gunboat was lying in wait. To this gunboat the prisoner was -transferred, but Anna remained on board the yacht. - -The gunboat steamed away at once, and shaped her course for Manilla, -where she coaled; and that done she proceeded under a full head of -steam for the sea of Japan and Vladivostock. - -The yacht went in the other direction, making for the Gulf of Aden and -the Red Sea, and after a pleasant and uneventful voyage she sailed by -way of the Bosphorus to the Crimea. She made many calls on the way, -and at every port she touched at she was supposed to be on a pleasure -cruise, and Anna was looked upon as the owner’s wife. - -As Anna Plevski entered Russia in the west, her false lover entered -it in the far east, and thence under a strong escort he was conducted -through the whole length of Siberia to St. Petersburg, a distance of -something like five thousand miles. - -It is an awful journey at the best of times. In his case the awfulness -was enhanced a hundredfold, for he knew that every verst travelled -placed him nearer and nearer to his shameful doom. - -He was six months on the journey, and when he reached the capital his -hair was white, his face haggard and drawn, his eyes sunken. He was an -old and withered man, while the terrible strain had affected his mind; -but as he had been pitiless to others, so no pity was shown for him. He -had brought sorrow, misery, and suffering to many a home. He had made -widows and orphans; he had maimed and killed, and he could not expect -mercy in a world which he had disgraced. - - -THE DÉNOUEMENT. - -It is a typical Russian winter day. The sun shines from a cloudless -sky. The air is thin and transparent, the cold intense; the snow is -compacted on the ground until it is of the consistency of iron. - -On the great plain outside of St. Petersburg, where the public -executions take place, a grim scaffold is erected. It is an exposed -platform of rough boards, from which spring two upright posts, topped -with a cross-bar, from which depends a rope with a noose. - -It is the most primitive arrangement. The scaffold is surrounded with -troops, horse and foot. There are nearly two thousand of them; but the -scaffold is raised so high that the soldiers do not obscure the view. - -The plain is filled with a densely-packed crowd; but on one side a lane -is kept open, and up this lane rumbles a springless cart, guarded by -horsemen with drawn swords. In the cart, on a bed of straw, crouches -a man, bound hand and foot. His face is horrible--ghastly. It wears a -stony expression of concentrated fear. - -A priest sits with the man, and holds a crucifix before his eyes. But -the eyes appear sightless, and to be starting from the head. - -The cart reaches the foot of the ladder which leads to the platform. -The bound man is dragged out, for he is powerless to move. He is pushed -and dragged up the ladder, followed by the priest. As soon as he -reaches the platform and sees the noose, he utters a suppressed cry of -horror, and shrinks away. - -Pitiless hands thrust him forward again, and he is placed on some -steps; the noose is adjusted round his neck. No cap is used to hide his -awful face. At a given signal the steps are drawn away, and the man -swings in the air and is slowly strangled to death. A great cheer rises -from the crowd, but it is mingled with groans. - -Thus did Peter Treskin meet his doom. He lived like a coward; he died -like a coward. He had talents and abilities that, properly directed, -would have gained him high position, but he chose the wrong path, and -it ended in a dog’s death. - -He well deserved his ignominious fate, and yet, even at the present -day, there are some who believe he was a martyr. But these people may -be classed amongst those who believe not, even though an angel comes -down from heaven to teach. - - - - -THE CLUE OF THE DEAD HAND - -THE STORY OF AN EDINBURGH MYSTERY - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -NEW YEAR’S EVE: THE MYSTERY BEGINS. - - -A strange, weird sort of place was Corbie Hall. There was an eeriness -about it that was calculated to make one shudder. For years it had been -practically a ruin, and tenantless. - -Although an old place, it was without any particular history, except -a tradition that a favourite of Queen Mary had once lived there, and -suddenly disappeared in a mysterious way. He was supposed to have been -murdered and buried secretly. - -The last tenant was one Robert Crease, a wild roisterer, who had -travelled much beyond the seas, scraped money together, purchased the -Hall, surrounded himself with a number of boon companions, and turned -night into day. Corbie Hall stood just to the north of Blackford Hill, -as those who are old enough will remember. - -In ‘Rab’ Crease’s time it was a lonely enough place; but he and his -brother roisterers were not affected by the solitude, and many were the -curious tales told about their orgies. - -However, Rab came to grief one night. He had been into the town for -some purpose, and, staggering home in a storm of wind and rain with a -greater burden of liquor than he could comfortably carry, he missed his -way, pitched headlong into a quarry, and broke his neck. - -He left the place to a person whom he described as his nephew. But -the heir could not be found, nor could his death be proved. Then -litigation had ensued, and there had been fierce wrangles; bitterness -was engendered, and bad blood made. The place, however, remained empty -and lonely year after year, until, as might have been expected, it got -an evil reputation. People said it was haunted. They shunned it. The -wildest possible stories were told about it. It fell into dilapidation. -The winter rains and snows soaked through the roof. The window-frames -rotted; the grounds became a wilderness of weeds. - -At last the heir was found. His name was Raymond Balfour. He was the -only son of Crease’s only sister, who had married a ne’er-do-weel of a -fellow, who came from no one knew where, and where he went to no one -cared. He treated his wife shamefully. - -Her son was born in Edinburgh, and when he was little more than a baby -she fled with him and obtained a situation of some kind in Deeside. -She managed to give her boy a decent education, and he was sent to -Edinburgh to study law. - -He seemed, however, to have inherited some of his father’s bad -qualities, and fell into disgrace. His mother dying before he was quite -out of his teens, he found himself friendless and without resources. - -His mother in marrying had alienated herself from her relatives, -what few she had; and when she died no one seemed anxious to own -kindredship with Raymond, whose conduct and ‘goings on’ were described -as ‘outrageous.’ So the young fellow snapped his fingers at everyone, -declared his intention of going out into the world to seek his fortune, -and disappeared. - -After many years of wandering in all parts of the world, and when in -mid-life, he returned to Edinburgh, for he declared that, of all the -cities he had seen, it was the most beautiful, the most picturesque. - -He was a stalwart, sunburnt, handsome fellow, though with a somewhat -moody expression and a cold, distant, reserved manner. He had heard by -mere chance of his inheritance, and, having legally established his -claim, took possession of his property. - -Although nobody could learn anything at all of his affairs, it was soon -made evident that he had plenty of money. He brought with him from -India, or somewhere else, a native servant, who appeared to be devoted -to him. This servant was simply known as Chunda. - -He was a strange, fragile-looking being, with restless, dreamy eyes, -thin, delicate hands, and a hairless, mobile face, that was more like -the face of a woman than a man. Yet the strong light of the eyes, and -somewhat square chin, spoke of determination and a passionate nature. -When he first came he wore his native garb, which was exceedingly -picturesque; but in a very short time he donned European clothes, and -never walked abroad without a topcoat on, even in what Edinburgh folk -considered hot weather. - -When it became known that the wanderer had returned, apparently a -wealthy man, those who years before had declared his conduct to be -‘outrageous,’ and declined to own him, now showed a disposition to pay -the most servile homage. - -But he would have none of them. It was his hour of triumph, and he -closed his doors against all who came to claim kinship with him. - -Very soon it was made manifest that Raymond Balfour was in the way to -distinguish himself as his predecessor and kinsman, Crease, had done. - -Corbie Hall was turned into a place of revel and riot, and strange, -even startling, were the stories that came into currency by the vulgar -lips of common rumour. Those whose privilege it was to be the guests at -Corbie Hall were not people who, according to Edinburgh ethics, were -entitled to be classed amongst the elect, or who were numbered within -the pale of so-called ‘respectable society.’ They belonged rather to -that outer fringe which was considered to be an ungodly Bohemia. - -It was true that in their ranks were certain young men who were -supposed to be seriously pursuing their studies in order that they -might ultimately qualify for the Church, the Law, and Medicine. - -But their chief sin, perhaps, was youth, which, as the years advanced, -would be overcome. Nevertheless, the frowns of the ‘superior people’ -were directed to them, and they were solemnly warned that Corbie Hall -was on the highroad to perdition; that, as it had always been an -unlucky place, it would continue to be unlucky; in short, that it was -accursed. - -Raymond Balfour’s guests were not all of the sterner sex. Ladies -occasionally graced his board. One of them was a Maggie Stiven, who -rejoiced in being referred to as the best hated woman in Edinburgh. - -She was the daughter of a baker carrying on business in the High -Street; but Maggie had quarrelled with her parents, and taken herself -off to her only brother, who kept a public-house in College Street. - -He, too, had quarrelled with his people, so that he not only welcomed -Maggie, but was glad of her assistance in his business. - -Maggie bore the proud reputation of being the prettiest young woman -in Edinburgh. Her age was about three-and-twenty, and it was said she -had turned the heads of half the young fellows in the town. She was -generally regarded as a heartless coquette, a silly flirt, who had -brains for nothing else but dress. - -She possessed a will of her own, however, and seemed determined to -shape her course and order her life exactly as it pleased her to do. - -She used to say that, if ‘the grand folk’ turned up their noses at her, -she knew how to turn up her nose at them. - -When she found out that a rumour was being bandied from lip to lip, -which coupled her name with the name of Raymond Balfour--in short, that -he and she were engaged to be married--she was intensely delighted; -but, while she did not deny it, she would not admit it. It was only in -accordance with human nature that some spiteful things should be said. - -‘It’s no for his guid looks nor his moral character that Maggie -Stiven’s fastening herself on to the reprobate of Corbie Hall,’ was -the sneering comment. ‘It’s his siller she’s thinking of. She’s aye -ready to sell her body and soul for siller. Well, when he’s married on -to her he’ll sune find that it taks mair than a winsome face tae make -happiness. But fules will aye be fules, and he maun gang his ain way.’ - -It is pretty certain that Maggie was not affected by this sort of -tittle-tattle. She knew the power of her ‘winsome face,’ and made the -most of it. She knew also that the scathing things that were said about -her came from her own sex. - -She could twist men round her little finger. They were her slaves. That -is where her triumph came in. She could make women mad, and bring men -to their knees. - -Whether or not there was any truth in the rumour at this time, that she -was likely to wed the master of Corbie Hall, there was no doubt at all -that she was a frequent visitor there. - -Sometimes she went with her brother, who supplied most of the liquor -consumed in the Hall--and it was a pretty good source of income to -him--and sometimes she went alone. - -Scarcely a night passed that Mr. Balfour was without company; and -Maggie was often there three or four nights a week. She had even been -seen driving about with him in his dogcart. - -It seemed, therefore, as if there was some justification for the -surmise as to the probable match and the ultimate wedding. - -These preliminary particulars about Maggie and the new owner of Corbie -Hall will pave the way to the series of extraordinary events that has -now to be described. - -It was New Year’s Eve. Raymond Balfour had then been in possession of -his property for something like nine months, and during that period had -made the most of his time. - -He had gone the pace, as the saying is; and the old house, after years -of mouldiness and decay, echoed the shouts of revelry night after -night. There were wild doings there, and sedate people were shocked. - -On the New Year’s Eve in question there was a pretty big party in the -Hall. During the week following Christmas, large stores of supplies had -been sent out from the town in readiness for the great feast that was -to usher in the New Year. - -Some fifteen guests assembled in the house altogether, including Maggie -Stiven and four other ladies, and in order to minister to the wants of -this motley crowd, three or four special waiters were engaged to come -from Edinburgh. - -The day had been an unusually stormy one. A terrific gale had lashed -the Firth, and there had been much loss of life and many wrecks. The -full force of the storm was felt in Edinburgh, and numerous accidents -had occurred through the falling of chimney-cans and pots. Windows were -blown in, hoardings swept away, and trees uprooted as if they had been -mere saplings. - -The wind was accompanied by hail and snow, while the temperature was so -low that three or four homeless, starving wretches were found frozen to -death. - -As darkness set in the wind abated, but snow then began to fall, and -in the course of two or three hours roads and railways were blocked, -and the streets of the city could only be traversed with the greatest -difficulty. Indeed, by seven o’clock all vehicular traffic had ceased, -and benighted wayfarers despaired of reaching their homes in safety. - -The storm, the darkness, the severity of the weather, the falling snow, -did not affect the spirits nor the physical comfort of the guests -assembled at Corbie Hall. - -To the south of Edinburgh the snow seemed to fall heavier than it did -in the city itself. In exposed places it lay in immense drifts, but -everywhere it was so deep that the country roads were obliterated, -landmarks wiped out, and hedges buried. - -In the lonely region of Blackford Hill, Corbie Hall was the only place -that gave forth any signs of human life. Light and warmth were there, -and the lights streaming from the windows must have shone forth as -beacons of hope to anyone in the neighbourhood who might by chance have -been battling with the storm and struggling to a place of safety. - -But no one was likely to be abroad on such a night; and the guests at -the Hall, when they saw the turn the weather had taken, knew that they -would be storm-stayed at the Hall until the full light of day returned. -But that prospect did not concern them. - -They were there to see the old year out and the new one in; and so long -as the ‘meal and the malt’ did not fail they would be in no hurry to go. - -From all the evidence that was collected, they were a wild party, and -did full justice to the stock of eatables and drinkables--especially -the drinkables--that were so lavishly supplied by the host. - -When twelve o’clock struck there was a scene of wild uproar, and -everyone who was sober enough to do so toasted his neighbour. During -the whole of the evening Balfour had openly displayed great partiality -for Maggie Stiven. - -He insisted on her sitting next to him, and he paid her marked -attention. When the company staggered to their feet to usher in the -new year, Raymond Balfour flung his arms suddenly round her neck, and, -kissing her with great warmth, he droned out a stanza of a love-ditty, -and then in husky tones exclaimed: - -‘Maggie Stiven’s the bonniest lass that ever lived, and I’m going to -marry her.’ - -About half-past one only a few of the roisterers were left at the -table. The others had succumbed to the too-seductive influences of the -wine and whisky, and had ceased to take any further interest in the -proceedings. Suddenly there resounded through the house a shrill, -piercing scream. It was a scream that seemed to indicate intense horror -and great agony. - -Consternation and silence fell upon all who heard it. In a few moments -Raymond Balfour rose to his feet and said: - -‘Don’t be alarmed. Sit still. I’ll go and see what’s the matter.’ - -He left the room with unsteady gait, and nobody showed any disposition -to follow him. Something like a superstitious awe had taken possession -of the revellers, and they conversed with each other subduedly. - -Amongst them was a tough, bronzed seafaring man, named Jasper Jarvis. -He was captain of the barque _Bonnie Scotland_, which had arrived at -Leith a few weeks before from the Gold Coast with a cargo of palm-oil -and ivory. - -Jarvis, who seems to have been quite in his sober senses, got up, -threw an extra log on the fire, and in order to put heart into his -companions, began to troll out a nautical ditty; but it had not the -inspiriting effect that he expected, and somebody timidly suggested -that he should go in search of the host. - -To this he readily assented, but before he could get from his seat, -Maggie Stiven jumped up and exclaimed: - -‘You people all stay here. I’ll go and look for Raymond.’ - -Captain Jarvis offered no objection, and no one else interposed, so -Maggie hurriedly left the room. From this point the narrative of what -followed can best be told in the skipper’s own words. - - -THE STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN JASPER JARVIS. - -When Maggie had gone we were six all told. The four ladies had -previously gone to bed. Two out of the six were so muddled that they -seemed incapable of understanding anything that was going on. - -The other three appeared to be under the spell of fear. They huddled -together round the fire, and all became silent. - -It is curious that they should have been so affected by the scream; and -yet, perhaps, it wasn’t, for somehow or other it didn’t seem natural at -all. But the fact is, we had all been so jolly and happy, and the cry -broke in upon us so suddenly, that it impressed us more than it would -have done otherwise. - -And then another thing was, it was difficult to tell whether it was a -woman or a man who had screamed. It was too shrill for a man’s cry, and -yet it wasn’t like the scream of a woman. - -When Maggie Stiven had been gone about ten minutes--it seemed much -longer than that to us--Rab Thomson, who was one of three men who sat -by the fire, looked at me with white face, and said: - -‘Skipper, you go and look after them. I don’t feel easy in my mind. -I’ve a sort of feeling something queer has happened.’ - -On that I rose, saying I would soon find out, and went to the door. As -I opened it I heard a sigh, and then a sort of prolonged groan, and I -saw, or fancied I saw, a shadowy figure flit up the stair. - -The hall was in darkness, save for the light that fell through the -doorway as I held the door partly open. I’m ashamed to say it, but when -I saw--if I did see it--that ghostly figure glide up the stairs, and -heard the sigh and the groan, I shut the door quickly and drew back -into the room. - -Like most sailor men, I’m not without some belief in signs, omens, -wraiths, and those kind of things; though nobody can say, and nobody -must say, I’m wanting in pluck. - -I’ve been at sea for thirty-two years, and during that time I’ve faced -death in a thousand forms, and never had any feeling of fear. But, to -be straight, I don’t like anything that’s uncanny. I like to be able to -get a grip of things, and to understand them. - -When I started back into the room, Rab Thomson rose to his feet and -asked me what I’d seen. I told him I had seen a shadowy figure glide up -the stairs, and had heard a sigh and a groan. - -He laughed, but it wasn’t a real kind of laugh. He was as white as -death, and I heard his teeth chatter, and with a sudden movement he -went to one of the long windows, pulled aside the heavy curtain, and, -pressing his face to the glass, peered out. - -I think his intention was to get out of the window and go home; but he -saw what an awful night it was. The snow was still falling heavily; -it was piled up against the window, and no one but a madman or a fool -would have dreamed of going forth in such a storm, for it was all but -certain he would have lost his life in the drifts. - -Rab let the curtain fall, and, drawing back, filled himself a measure -of whisky, and, tossing it off, said to me: - -‘Why don’t you go and see what’s the matter, man? Surely, you are no’ -frightened?’ - -‘No,’ I said, ‘but you are.’ - -And I walked to the door again, flung it open wide, so that the light -streamed forth, and as I did so I saw a woman lying huddled up on the -mat at the foot of the stairs. - -I recognised her at once by the dress, which was a kind of pink silk, -with a lot of fluffy lace all round the neck part of it, as Maggie -Stiven, and, thinking she had fainted, I rushed forward, lifted her -up with ease--for I am a powerful man, and she was a lightly-built -little woman--and carried her to a big chair that stood empty near the -fire. As I put her in the chair I noticed that her head fell forward -on to her bosom with a strange kind of limpness, and her face was of a -greenish, chalky kind of hue. - -I felt frightened, and called out to the others to rouse up James -Macfarlane, who had been studying medicine, but had nearly finished his -course, and expected to get his diploma the next session. - -Jamie had stowed away too much liquor in his hold in the early part -of the evening, and had foundered, so somebody had rolled him up in -a rug and put him on a couch, where he had been sleeping for hours. -Notwithstanding that fact, it took a long time to waken him. - -In the meanwhile I chafed Maggie’s hand, and Rab tried to get brandy -down her throat, but it flowed out of her mouth again. - -When James Macfarlane realized that something was wrong, he pulled -himself together at once, and having felt Maggie’s pulse, he exclaimed -with a horrified expression on his face: - -‘My God, boys, she’s dead!’ - -This was only a confirmation of my own fears; nevertheless, the -definite assertion by one who was qualified to tell was an awful shock -to us. - -A little more than a quarter of an hour before, Maggie, radiant with -health and spirits, and looking very bonnie--she was one of the -prettiest girls I think I’ve ever seen--had run out of the room; and -now she was there in the chair, dead. - -At Macfarlane’s suggestion we laid her flat on her back on the rug -before the fire, and he tried to force a little brandy down her throat, -but failed; and as he rose to his feet again, he said sadly: - -‘There’s no mistake about it, boys: she’s dead as a herring.’ - -Our first thought now was of our host. What had become of him? I and -Rab, who had recovered from his fright by this time, undertook to go -in search of him. We lit the swinging lamp in the hall, and, taking -candles with us, went upstairs to his room; but he was not there, and -there were no signs of his having been there. Then we went to the room -of the black fellow, Chunda. - -The door was locked, and we had to shake and hammer it pretty hard -before we roused him up. As he opened the door and stood before us in -his night-clothes, he looked dazed, as one does when just wakened from -sound sleep. - -He did not speak English, but I could manage a little Hindustani, -having been much in India, and I asked him if he had seen his master -lately, and he answered ‘No.’ I told him he must come with me and look -for him, as he knew the run of the house better than I did. - -He only stopped to slip on some of his clothes and wrap a heavy rug -round his shoulders, for he felt the cold very much. - -Then we roused up the other three house-servants and the temporary -servants, who had retired soon after midnight, and we went from room to -room, passage to passage; in fact, we searched the house from top to -bottom, but all in vain; not a trace of our friend could we get. - -Our next step was to ascertain if he had gone out. But all the doors -and windows were fastened. Nevertheless, I undertook to search the -grounds, and, having been provided with a horn lantern, we got the big -hall door opened; but the snow had drifted against it to such an extent -that a great mass of it fell into the hall. - -The night was pitch-dark, the air thick with snow. I made some attempt -to go forth, but sank up to my waist, and was forced to return. - -We then tried the back of the house, where there was a stable-yard. The -snow was pretty heavy there, but not so heavy as in the front. Two men -slept over the stable. I roused them up, got the keys of the stable, -and went in. Balfour kept three horses, and they were in their stalls -all right. - -The stable-yard gate was barred, and it was very clear no one had been -out that way. - -I returned to the house, half frozen and very depressed. We then -consulted together, and decided that nothing could be done until -daylight. - -It was an awful ending to our merry meeting, and the mystery of the -whole affair weighed upon us like a nightmare. - -The ladies of our party, who had gone to bed soon after we had drunk -in the New Year, got up and dressed themselves. In the meantime we -carried Maggie Stiven’s body into another room, where it was laid -out on a table. James Macfarlane’s opinion was that she had died -from a sudden shock of fright; and when that was taken in connection -with the eldritch scream which had so startled us, and the mysterious -disappearance of our host, we felt that there was something uncanny -about the whole business. - -The rest of the night was wearily passed. The others of our party, -having been o’er fu’ when they went to sleep, continued to sleep -through it all, and knew nothing of the tragic ending until they awoke -in the morning. - -With the coming of the morning our spirits revived a little, though -we still felt miserable enough. It had almost ceased to snow, but the -whole country was buried, and round about the house the drift was piled -up until it reached to the lower windows. - -As soon as it was broad daylight we made another careful search of the -house, but not a sign of Raymond Balfour could we see. - -Chunda helped us in our search. He was terribly cut up, and became so -ill from grief and the cold that he was obliged to go to bed. - -The only reasonable theory that we could find to account for Balfour’s -strange disappearance was that, by some means we could not determine, -he had managed to leave the house, and had perished in the snow. - -As it had continued to snow all night, and at eight o’clock was still -falling lightly, all traces were, of course, obliterated. - -Every one of the visitors was now anxious to get away, but before -anyone went, I drew up a statement which was duly signed. James -Macfarlane and I then undertook to report the matter to the police in -Edinburgh. - -Before any of us could leave, we had to clear the snow away from the -door and dig a path out. And even then it was no easy matter to get -clear. - -We were a sorrowful enough party, as may be imagined, and we all felt -that the New Year had commenced badly for us. - -The death of Maggie Stiven was a terrible business, and I confess to -feeling surprised that she should have died from fright, for she was -by no means a nervous girl. Indeed, I think she was as plucky as any -woman I have ever known, and I was certain that if fright had really -killed her she must have seen something very awful. - -With reference to this, nobody, I think, liked to put his thoughts -into words, but somehow we seemed to divine that each believed Satan -had spirited Raymond Balfour away and frightened poor Maggie to death. -Any way, the mystery was beyond our solving, and we were silent and -melancholy as we straggled into Edinburgh, where armies of labourers -were busy clearing the streets of snow. - -It was an awful day. The cold was intense, and overhead the sky was -like one vast sheet of lead. Except the labourers, few people were -abroad, and those few looked pinched up, draggled, and miserable. - -God knows, we were miserable enough ourselves! I know that my heart -was like a stone; for I was not so wanting in sense as not to see that -trouble was bound to come out of the business, and I fairly shuddered -when I thought of poor Balfour’s end, for it seemed impossible to hope -that he was still alive. - -Look at the matter whichever way I would, it was a mystery which -absolutely appalled me, and it had all come about with such awful -suddenness that, speaking for myself, I felt stunned. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.--THE NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY PETER BRODIE, OF THE -DETECTIVE SERVICE. - - -I was in Liverpool, engaged on a rather delicate matter, when I -received a telegram from the chief of the police in Edinburgh, telling -me to return by the next train. I wasn’t at all pleased by this recall, -for it was wretched weather, and the prospect of a night journey to the -North was far from agreeable. - -The date was January 3. During the whole of New Year’s Eve there had -been a violent storm, which seems to have been general all over the -country. The result was a breakdown of telegraph-wires and serious -interruption to traffic. - -The telegram sent to me was five hours on the road; and as the ‘next -train’ meant the night mail, I had no alternative but to bundle my -traps together and start. - -When we reached Carlisle a thaw had set in, and on arriving at -Edinburgh I thought I had never seen Auld Reekie look so glum and dour. -The streets were ankle-deep in slush. - -Snow was slipping from the roofs everywhere in avalanches, -necessitating considerable wariness on the part of pedestrians. - -Horses panted, groaned, and steamed as they toiled with their loads -through the filthy snow, and overhead the sky hung like a dun pall. - -On reaching the head office, I was at once instructed to proceed to -Corbie Hall to investigate a case of murder, and endeavour to trace the -whereabouts of one Raymond Balfour, who, according to the statement -of a Captain Jasper Jarvis, corroborated by James Macfarlane, medical -student at the Edinburgh College, had mysteriously disappeared soon -after midnight on January 1. The remarkably sudden and unaccountable -death of Maggie Stiven necessitated a legal inquiry, and Dr. Wallace -Bruce was sent to examine the body and report on the cause of death. - -On removing the clothes, he noticed that the linen that had been next -to the chest was slightly blood-stained, and an examination revealed -a very small blue puncture, slightly to the left of the sternum, and -immediately over the heart. - -On probing this puncture with his finger, he felt something hard. He -therefore proceeded to open the chest, assisted by a colleague, Dr. -James Simpson, the well-known Edinburgh surgeon. To their astonishment, -they found the puncture was due to a thrust from a very fine stiletto, -which had pierced the heart on the left side. The stiletto had broken -off, and four inches of the steel remained in the wound. This, acting -as a plug, had prevented outward bleeding to any extent, but there had -been extensive internal hæmorrhage. There was nothing else to account -for death. - -The girl was exceedingly well developed, well nourished, and without -any sign or trace of organic disease. As she could not have driven the -stiletto into her chest in such a way herself, it was obviously a case -of murder. - -When I reached Corbie Hall, the country round about was still white -with snow, and Blackford Hill was like a miniature Alp, although the -thaw was making its influence felt. - -The Hall was a curious, rambling sort of place, with every appearance -of age. It was a stone building, flanked by a small turreted tower -at each end. It stood in about an acre of ground that was partly -walled and partly fenced round. Two cast-iron gates of good design, -hung on pillars, each surmounted by a carved greyhound, admitted to a -carriage-drive that swept in a semicircle to the main entrance. - -Passing through the doorway--the door itself was a massive structure--I -found myself in a large square, paved hall, and immediately in front a -broad flight of oak stairs led up to the first landing, where there was -a very fine stained-glass window. - -On the left was a long dining-room, which communicated by means of -folding doors with another room of almost equal dimensions. - -On the opposite side of the passage, and close to the foot of the -stairs, was the door of the drawing-room, which was a counterpart -almost of the dining-room. - -Between the banisters of the stairs and the partition wall of the -dining-room, the passage was continued to a door that gave access to a -passage communicating with the kitchen and back premises. - -The recess underneath the stairs was used for hanging up coats, hats, -and other things. From the second landing the stairs struck off at an -acute angle, and rose to the second story, where there were at least a -dozen rooms, large and small. - -Under the guidance of Chunda, the black servant, who seemed very ill -and much depressed, I made a thorough inspection of the house. As he -could not speak English, we had to communicate in signs, which was -rather awkward. In addition to this Indian, Mr. Balfour had kept a -cook and a small girl to help her, also a housemaid. Besides these, he -employed a groom and a coachman. The coachman lived over the stables at -the back with his wife and daughter, a girl of eighteen, and she and -her mother both assisted in the house when necessary. The groom had a -room to himself above the coach-house. - -I questioned each of these servants individually and apart from the -others as to whether they had heard the scream alluded to by Captain -Jarvis. The three women living in the house said that they heard it, -but those who lived over the stables did not. The ones who heard it -slept in the right-hand tower. They did not retire until after the New -Year had come in. Although the master had given them some hot drink, -they were quite sober when they went upstairs. - -As they were in the habit of doing every night, they extinguished -the hall lamp and a lamp that stood on the bracket at the top of the -stairs, thus leaving that part of the house in darkness. They did not -attach any importance to the scream, as they thought it was some of the -visitors larking, for they had all been very frisky during the evening. - -The cook, however--her name was Mary Kenway--opened her door, which -commanded in perspective a full view of the corridor leading to the -top of the stairs, and she saw, or thought she saw, a shadowy figure -standing in this corridor near the top of the stairs. Feeling a bit -nervous, she shut the door hurriedly, and said to her fellow-servants, -who shared the room with her: - -‘One of those fools is playing at ghosts or something. Well, when the -wine’s in, the wit’s out.’ - -She and her companions then got into bed, and some time afterwards were -startled by a loud knocking at their door. The cook hurriedly procured -a light, and on asking who was there, and being informed it was Captain -Jarvis, and that he was searching for the master, who had disappeared, -she slipped on her clothes and opened the door. - -The temporary servants, of whom there were three, were sleeping in -a room above her. They had indulged somewhat too freely, and it was -a considerable time before they could be made to understand that -something dreadful had happened. - -With these details, and the statement of Captain Jarvis, I felt I was -in a position to begin my researches. - -If Captain Jarvis’s statement was true, and there wasn’t the slightest -reason to doubt it, for it was in the main corroborated by Robert -Thomson and others, the whole affair was shrouded in considerable -mystery. Indeed, I think it was one of the strangest cases I ever had -to do with. Maggie Stiven had been foully done to death by some subtle, -deft, and treacherous assassin. She had been struck with great force, -and the breaking of the weapon showed the fury with which her murderer -had done his damnable work. - -The skipper’s statement that when he opened the dining-room door he -heard a sigh and sort of groan was compatible with the nature of the -wound, for though the heart was injured, the fact of the piece of steel -remaining in the wound would prevent a sudden emptying of the heart, -and she might have lived after being struck five to ten minutes. The -shadowy figure which Jarvis said he saw ‘gliding’ up the stairs was -no doubt the assassin, although Jarvis--his imagination having been -fired--thought it a supernatural appearance. - -The cook also spoke of ‘a shadowy figure,’ and thought that some of the -guests were ‘playing at ghosts.’ This independent testimony suggested -that there was something curious and out of the common about the -figure, and I was led to infer that the person who had done the deed -was small, light of foot, and agile of movement. When he struck Maggie -down he had probably been lurking in the drawing-room, the door of -which, as I have already described, was just at the foot of the stairs, -or he may have been concealed in the recess under the stairs. Whichever -way it was, the girl had not mounted the stairs, and must have been -stabbed the moment she reached the mat where the body was found, and -before she had time to get her feet on the stairs to go up. - -Now came the question, Why was she killed? Her going in search of -Raymond Balfour was quite unpremeditated, and the assassin could hardly -have known that she was coming out of the room. - -Why, then, did he kill her? On the face of it, it seemed to be an -unprovoked and brutal crime without any reason. But a little pondering, -and a careful weighing of all the pros and cons, led me to the -conclusion that the deed was not as purposeless as it seemed. If it was -the result of madness, there was certainly method in the madness. - -Some people expressed the opinion that Balfour himself had murdered the -girl, but that opinion would not hold water. - -Firstly, he himself was induced to leave the room by a scream or cry -that was described as ‘uncanny.’ Did he arrange for that cry to be -uttered in order that he might have an excuse for going out, knowing -that the girl would follow him? - -Secondly, if he was the slayer, why did he choose to kill the girl in -his own house? for very little reflection must have shown him that to -escape detection would be an impossibility. - -No. It was only too evident that he did not kill Maggie Stiven, and his -extraordinary disappearance led me to believe that he also had fallen a -victim to the assassin. But if that was so, where was his body? It was, -of course, of the highest importance that he should be discovered, dead -or alive. - -I caused a search to be made of the house from top to bottom. There -wasn’t a room missed, not a cupboard overlooked, not a recess but what -was scrutinized. Every box or trunk large enough to contain a man’s -body was opened without result. - -Every hole and corner, every chimney, every likely and unlikely place, -was examined, but not a trace, not a sign, of the missing man was -brought to light. - -His bedroom was the largest and most important room in the house. It -was panelled with dark oak panelling. The ceiling was carved wood, and -there was a very large carved oak mantelpiece, which was considered a -work of art. Two lattice-paned windows were in keeping with the place, -which had also been furnished with a view to its character. - -A massive four-post bedstead occupied one corner, and near it was an -unusually large clothes-press of oak. This press was spacious enough to -have held the bodies of three or four men, but Balfour’s body was not -there. - -From this room a small door gave access to a short, narrow passage, -leading to another door at the foot of a stone staircase of about -twenty steps, by which the top of the tower at that end of the building -was gained. From the roof of the tower a very beautiful view was -obtained. I need scarcely say I critically examined the doors, the -passage, the stairs, the tower itself. - -The locks of both doors were very rusty, and it was evident they had -not been opened for some time. In the one at the foot of the tower -stairs there was no key, and it was only after considerable search that -one was found to fit it. And even then the lock could not be turned -until it had been well oiled. - -The dust on the stone stairs was the accumulation of months, and bore -not the faintest trace of footprints. It was obvious that no one had -passed that way for a very long time. - -Having thus exhausted the interior of the building, I now proceeded to -search outside. - -Skipper Jarvis declared that, when he and Bob Thomson went through -the house on the night of the tragedy, they looked to every door and -window, but all were properly secured, and unless Balfour had squeezed -himself through a keyhole or a cranny, he could not have left the -building. Nevertheless, it seemed to me that the man must have got out -in some way; otherwise, if he were dead, how was it we had failed to -find his body in the house? So thorough had been the search that a dead -mouse could not have escaped me. - -There was still a great deal of snow on the ground, especially in the -hollows and ravines; but it was soft and slushy owing to the rise in -temperature. - -Aided by half a dozen men--mostly gamekeepers--and several dogs, we -commenced systematically to examine the grounds, the country round -about, the burns, the woods, but all to no purpose. Every inch of -Braid Glen was gone over; what is now the Waverley curling pond was -dragged; the Jordan and Braid streams examined; all the quarries in the -neighbourhood--of which there are many--were looked into; the Braid -Hill and all round about the Braid Hill was paced; but the result was -the same. Raymond Balfour was not found. - -When our failure became known, the excitement increased greatly, -especially amongst ignorant and stupid people, who stoutly maintained -that the master of Corbie Hall had been spirited away by the Evil One, -who had also killed Maggie Stiven. These good folks failed to explain -why the Evil One should have stabbed Maggie with a stiletto, and have -left more than half the blade in the wound, when he might have deprived -her of life so much more easily. I found that even Captain Jarvis was -not without some belief in this absurd theory. - -‘If there is not something uncanny about the whole business, how is it -you have failed to get trace of the man?’ asked Jarvis, with the air of -one who felt he was putting a poser which was absolutely unanswerable. -‘You see,’ pursued the skipper, with an insistency of tone that was -very amusing--‘you see, we were a bad lot. We’d just come there for an -orgie, and the meat and drink that we wasted would have kept many poor -wretches from starving on that awful night.’ - -‘Do you consider that Raymond Balfour was an exceptionally wicked man?’ -I asked Jarvis. - -‘Well, no,’ he answered seriously; ‘I shouldn’t like to say that. But -he was a wild fellow.’ - -‘What do you mean by wild?’ - -‘Well, he was a little too fond of liquor and the ladies.’ - -‘Have you known him long?’ - -‘Yes, several years. I first met him in Madras. I saw a good deal of -him later in Calcutta. He was a very wild boy then, I can tell you.’ - -‘But still no worse than tens of thousands of other people?’ I -suggested. - -‘Oh no; I don’t say he was,’ Jarvis answered quickly, and in a way that -suggested he was anxious his friend should not be painted too black. - -‘Now, I want you to tell me this, Captain Jarvis,’ I said somewhat -solemnly, as I wished to impress him with the importance of the -question: ‘was there any love-making between Raymond Balfour and Maggie -Stiven?’ - -The skipper did not answer immediately. He seemed to be revolving the -matter in his mind. Then, with a thoughtful stroking of his chin, he -replied: - -‘Balfour was fond of Maggie.’ - -‘Did he allow that fondness to display itself before others?’ - -‘When he was a bit gone in his cups he did,’ answered the captain, with -obvious reluctance. - -‘And was she fond of him?’ - -‘Yes--I think so’--the same reluctance showing itself. - -‘Did she show her partiality?’ - -‘Sometimes.’ - -‘Maggie wasn’t considered to be very stanch to anyone, was she?’ - -‘Well, she’d a good many admirers. She was an awful good-looking lass, -you see. And lads will always run after a pretty girl.’ - -‘That scarcely answers my question, captain,’ I said. ‘I want to know -if she openly--that is, before others--showed that she liked Balfour -better than any other body?’ - -‘You see, Mr. Brodie, I’m not altogether competent to answer that,’ -said the skipper, as though he was anxious to shirk the question. - -‘But did she do so on the New Year’s Eve, when you were all so jovial?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘How did she display her liking?’ - -‘She sat on his knee several times. She kissed him, and he kissed her.’ - -‘That was before the company?’ - -‘It was.’ - -‘Did he make any remark, or did she? I mean, any remark calculated -to engender a belief that this spooning was serious, and not a mere -flirtation, the result of a spree?’ - -‘Well--I--I heard him say two or three times, “Mag, old girl, I’m going -to marry you.”’ - -‘He had been drinking then, I suppose?’ - -‘He had, a good deal.’ - -‘And what did she reply?’ - -‘As near as I mind, she said, “All right, old man. We are just suited -to each other, and we’ll make a match of it.”’ - -‘I must now ask you one or two other questions, captain. There were -several men present, were there not?’ - -‘There were.’ - -‘They were all young men?’ - -‘Yes.’ - -‘And belonged to Edinburgh or its immediate neighbourhood?’ - -‘They did.’ - -‘Consequently they were all more or less well acquainted with Maggie?’ - -‘Yes. I don’t think there was a man there who didn’t ken her. You see, -in her way she was a kind of celebrity in Edinburgh. Certain folk said -hard things about her, and that made her mad sometimes, so that she -took a delight in just showing how she could lead the lads by the nose.’ - -‘Now, I want you to give me an answer to this question, captain. Is it -within your knowledge that out of her many admirers there was one who -had been emboldened by her to think that he had the best claim upon -her?’ - -‘I couldn’t say for certain; but it’s likely enough.’ - -‘Has it occurred to you to ask yourself if that favoured one was among -Raymond Balfour’s guests on New Year’s Eve?’ - -The question seemed to startle Captain Jarvis. He looked at me -searchingly and inquiringly, and it was some moments before he spoke, -while his expression gave every indication that he fully understood the -drift of my inquiry. At last he replied, hesitatingly and cautiously: - -‘You see, Mr. Brodie, I wasn’t the keeper of Maggie’s conscience. She -didn’t make me her confidant. Nor was I one of her favoured suitors. -I’m an old married man, and she preferred young fellows.’ - -‘You’ve avoided my question now,’ I remarked, a little sharply, as it -seemed to me he was prevaricating. - -‘I’m trying to think,’ he said, with a preoccupied air. Then, after -a pause, he added: ‘I can’t answer you, because I don’t know. What -your question suggests is that some chap who was madly jealous of her -murdered her.’ - -‘You are correct in your surmise,’ I answered. - -‘Then, all I’ve got to say is this: It was impossible for anyone to -have left the room and committed the crime without my being aware of -it. I say again, it would have been impossible. She couldn’t have -been out of the room two minutes before she was struck. You see, she -had even been unable to get up the stair. Her going out was quite -unpremeditated; and until she jumped up from her seat, and said she -would go and look for Balfour, nobody knew she was going out of the -room. No, Mr. Brodie, I’m convinced that no man of that company did the -deed.’ - -I had every reason to think that Captain Jarvis was perfectly right -in his conclusions. The logic of his argument was unanswerable. I -had already taken means to ascertain some particulars about every -person who had been present on the fateful night, including the extra -servants; and I saw nothing and heard nothing calculated in any way -to justify a suspicion being entertained against any particular -individual. Nevertheless, I had them under surveillance. - -What I had to deal with was the broad, plain, hard fact that Maggie -Stiven had been brutally and suddenly murdered, while Raymond Balfour -had disappeared as effectually as if the earth had suddenly opened and -swallowed him, leaving not a trace behind. If he went forth from the -house after quitting his guests, where had he gone to? - -The state of the country, owing to the snow, made it physically -impossible that he could have travelled far on that awful night; and -had he perished in the snow near the house, his body must have been -discovered, so thorough had been our search. - -Then, again, assuming that he had got away, there would surely have -been some indication of his mode of exit--an unfastened window, an -unlocked door. But the most exhaustive inquiry satisfied me there was -neither one nor the other. - -But if Balfour was not out of the house, he must be in the house; and -if he was in the house, it was as a dead man. And where was his body? - -It seemed unreasonable to suppose that a human body could be disposed -of so quickly and so effectually as to leave not a trace behind. - -Then, again, granting that he was murdered, who murdered him, and -why was he murdered? Who raised the unearthly cry, and was it raised -purposely to draw him from the room in order that he might be -immediately struck down? - -Such was the problem with which I was confronted, and I freely confess -that at this stage I felt absolutely baffled. I saw no clue, and -nothing likely to lead me to a clue; but though baffled, I was not -beaten. The mystery was profound, and the whole case so strange, so -startling, that I was not surprised at ignorant people attributing -it to supernatural agency. It had about it all the elements of some -wild, weird story of monkish superstition, lifted from the pages of a -mediæval romance. It was no romance, however, no legend, but a hard, -dry fact of the nineteenth century that had to be accounted for by -perfectly human means. - -There was one point, however, which made itself clear through the -darkness. It was that the author of the deed was a person of such -devilish cunning, such brutal ferocity, such crafty ingenuity, that -he would occupy a niche all to himself for evermore in the gallery of -criminals. - -As I have already said, though I was baffled, I was not beaten, and -I felt sure I should ultimately succeed in the task set me. I had in -my possession the broken blade of the stiletto, and I knew that might -prove of value as a clue; and having done all that it was practical -to do for the moment, I set to work to define a motive for the crime, -and to construct a theory that would aid me in my efforts to solve the -problem. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE DEAD HAND SMITES. - - -Peter Brodie stood very high in his profession. He had made his mark -as a detective, and had solved some very complicated problems. In -recalling him from Liverpool, whither he had been sent on important -business, the authorities felt that if the Corbie Hall mystery was to -be cleared up he was the man to do it. They saw from the first that it -was a very difficult case, when all the circumstances were considered, -but they were sure that Brodie was the one man likely to tackle it -successfully. - -It seemed as if the evil reputation of Corbie Hall was never to pass -away, and after this new tragedy people recalled how Peter Crease, -the drunken owner of it, and uncle of Balfour, had broken his neck -in a quarry; how, following that, the gloomy house had fallen into -dilapidation, until it was shunned as a haunted place. When the -rightful heir turned up, they thought he would put things right; but -instead of that he proved himself to be as big a reprobate as his -relative had been: and now his mysterious disappearance, and Maggie -Stiven’s murder, realized the croakings of the wiseacres, who had said -that a curse hung over the house, and that anyone who went to live in -the Hall would come to grief. - -Of course, the tradition that a favourite of Queen Mary’s who had once -lived there mysteriously disappeared, and was never heard of again, was -also recalled; and the sages predicted that as that mystery was never -cleared up, so would Balfour’s disappearance go down to posterity as an -unsolved mystery. Possibly it might have done if Peter Brodie had not -brought his intellect to bear upon it. - -On the fourth day after his arrival the thaw had been so thorough that -the land was quite clear of snow, and a second search was made for -Balfour, but it only ended in failure, as the first had done. - -Brodie was now convinced that the unfortunate man had never left the -house; and yet, having regard to the critical way in which it had been -examined from top to bottom, it was difficult to conceive where he -could be hidden. Nevertheless, Peter stuck to his guns; for as Balfour -had not gone out of the house, he must be in it, and if so, time and -patient search might reveal his hiding-place. - -With a view to learning as much as possible about Balfour’s habits, -Brodie had a long talk with Chunda, Captain Jarvis acting as -interpreter. The native stated that he had travelled with his master -extensively through India. He had found him rather a peculiar man. He -was very secretive, and given to fits of moodiness. Although Chunda was -exceedingly fond of him, he did not wish to accompany him to Scotland, -but yielded on the master pressing him. Now he bitterly regretted -having come, for not only did he feel crushed by his master’s strange -disappearance, but the cold and dampness of the climate made him very -ill, and he intended to leave immediately for Southampton, so as to get -a ship for India, as he yearned to return to his own warm, sunny land. -He was dying for the want of sun and warmth. - -Asked if his master was much given to flirtations, Chunda, with -flashing eyes and an angry expression in his dark face, said that he -was, and he had frequently got into trouble through it. - -After this interview, Brodie came to the conclusion that the motive of -the crime was undoubtedly jealousy. That is to say, someone had been -jealous of Balfour, someone who considered Maggie a rival. - -If this was correct, the someone must be a woman--no ordinary woman, -for no ordinary woman would have been capable of carrying out such a -terrible revenge. Besides Maggie Stiven, there had been four other -young women in the party. - -One was a married woman named MacLauchlan. Her husband kept a grocer’s -shop in the High Street, but he and his wife didn’t get on well -together. He had no idea, however, that she was in the habit of -visiting at Corbie Hall. - -Brodie dismissed her from suspicion. He felt sure she didn’t commit -the deed. She was rather good-looking, but a mild, lackadaisical, -phlegmatic, brainless creature, without the nerve necessary for such a -crime. - -Another of the ladies was Jean Smith. She was twenty years of age, and -Maggie Stiven’s bosom friend, and since the night of the crime had been -seriously ill in bed from the shock. - -A third was Mary Johnstone. Until New Year’s Eve she had never met -Balfour before in her life. She had gone to the Hall in company with -her sweetheart, James Macfarlane, the medical student. - -The fourth was Kate Thomson, cousin to Rab Thomson. She was a -woman about thirty years of age, strong and well knit, but was a -good-tempered, genial sort of creature. She, too, was almost a stranger -to Balfour, and was engaged to be married to a man named Robert -Murchison, who was factor to a Mr. Rennie of Perth. - -Brodie was absolutely certain, after studying them all, that not one of -these four women had done the deed. Nor was there the slightest reason -for harbouring a suspicion against the female servants. - -He was, therefore, puzzled, but not disconcerted, and he stuck to his -theory that a jealous woman had committed the crime. - -That, of course, only made the mystery more mysterious, so to speak. -For who was the woman? Where did she come from? How did she get into -the house? Where did she go to? - -These questions were inevitable if the theory was maintained. It did -not seem easy then to answer them. - -As Brodie revolved all these things in his mind, he remembered that, -though he had subjected the house to a very careful search, he had done -little more than look into Chunda’s room, the reason being that the -native was ill in bed at the time. - -The room adjoined Balfour’s, and at one time was connected by a -communicating door, but for some reason or other the door had been -nailed up and papered over. While less in size than Balfour’s, it was -still a fairly large room, also wainscoted, and with a carved wooden -ceiling. It was lighted by one window, which commanded a good view over -Blackford Hill. - -To this room Brodie went one evening when Chunda happened to be absent -from it. It reeked with the faint, sickly odour of some Indian perfume. - -On a sideboard stood a small gilt Indian idol, and various Indian -knick-knacks were scattered about. As in Balfour’s room, there was a -massive carved oak mantelpiece, with a very capacious fireplace; and on -each side of the fireplace was a deep recess. - -The floor was oak, polished, and dark in colour either by staining or -time. The only carpet on it was a square in the centre. A clothes-press -stood in a corner. It was the only place in which a man could be -concealed. Brodie opened the door, and found nothing but clothes there. -The mystery, therefore, was as far from solution as ever, apparently, -as now there wasn’t a corner of the house that had not been examined -thoroughly and exhaustively. - -As Brodie was in the act of leaving the room, his eye was attracted by -something glittering on the hearthstone, where the cold, white ashes of -a wood-fire still remained. He stooped down and picked from the hearth -a scrap, a mere morsel of cloth. It was all burnt round the edges, -and was dusty with the ash; but he found on examination that it was a -fragment of Indian cloth, into which gold threads had been worked; and -it was these gold threads which, in spite of the dust, had reflected -the light and attracted his notice. - -Taking out his pocket-book, he deposited that scrap of charred cloth -carefully between the leaves, then went down on his knees and subjected -the ashes to critical examination, with the result that he obtained -unmistakable evidence of a considerable amount of cloth having been -destroyed by fire. There were patches here and there of white, or -rather gray, carbonized, filmy fragments of cobweb-like texture. As -everyone knows, cloth burnt in a fire leaves a ghost-like wrack behind, -that, unless disturbed, will remain for some time. - -Brodie rose and fell into deep thought, and he mentally asked himself -why the cloth had been burnt. It was reasonable to presume it was -some portion of clothing, and if so, why should anyone have been at -the trouble to consume it in the flames unless it was to hide certain -evidences of guilt. - -‘What would those evidences of guilt be?’ Brodie muttered to himself, -as he reflected on the singular discovery he had made. And suddenly it -seemed to him--of course, it was purely fancy--that a voice whispered -in his ear: - -‘Blood! blood!’ - -Although but fancy, the voice seemed so real to him that he fairly -started, and at that instant the door opened and Chunda entered. -He seemed greatly surprised to find the detective in the room, and -muttered something in Hindustani. - -As Brodie did not understand him and could not converse with him, he -made no response, but passed out, and, hurrying to Edinburgh, called on -Professor Dunbar, the eminent microscopist, and asked that gentleman to -place the fragment of cloth found on the hearthstone under a powerful -microscope. - -The Professor did as requested, and, after a careful examination, he -said he could not detect anything suggestive of blood. The cloth was -evidently of Indian workmanship, and the bright threads running through -it were real gold. - -Brodie did not return to Corbie Hall until the following day. By that -time Maggie Stiven’s body had been removed by her friends for burial, -and he was informed by the servants that Chunda had gone out to attend -the funeral. He was rather surprised at that, and still more surprised -when he found, on going to Chunda’s room, that the door was locked. - -He hurried back to Edinburgh, and was in time to be present at Maggie’s -burial in the Greyfriars Churchyard, but he saw nothing of Chunda; -the native was not there, and nobody had seen him. Captain Jarvis was -amongst the mourners, and when the funeral was over he and Brodie left -together. - -‘Do you know how long Chunda has been in Balfour’s service?’ the -detective asked, as they strolled along. - -‘I believe a considerable time, but I don’t know from absolute -knowledge. As I have already told you, Balfour was a curious sort of -fellow, and particularly close in regard to his own affairs. He was one -of those sort of men it is difficult to get to the bottom of. You may -try to probe them as much as you like, but nothing comes of it.’ - -‘You possibly were as familiar with him as anyone,’ suggested Brodie. - -‘Yes, I should say I was.’ - -‘And if he had wanted a confidant, he would probably have chosen you?’ - -‘I think it is very likely he would. So far as such a man would make a -confidant of anyone, he made one of me.’ - -‘Do you know why he brought Chunda from India with him?’ - -‘No. What I do know is this: Chunda had been with him for some time, -and when Balfour returned to Scotland, he thought he was only going to -make a temporary stay here.’ - -‘Was he fond of Chunda?’ - -‘I cannot tell you whether he was or was not.’ - -‘Can you tell me this: Has Chunda been in the habit of always wearing -European clothes since he came to Edinburgh?’ - -‘I don’t know that. You see, I only came into port with my vessel four -weeks ago. When I first called at Corbie Hall, the fellow was wearing -European clothes.’ - -‘Did you see much of Chunda on New Year’s Eve?’ - -‘He came into the room now and again. In fact, I think he was in and -out pretty often. Balfour used occasionally to smoke an opium pipe, and -Chunda always filled it for him.’ - -‘How was the native dressed that night?’ - -‘He had trousers and vest, and wore a sort of fancy Indian jacket.’ - -‘Was there gold embroidery on it?’ - -‘I believe there was a sort of gold thread, or something of that kind. -But, really, I didn’t take much notice. We were all pretty jolly, and I -didn’t look to see how anyone was dressed.’ - -‘But, still, you have no doubt that Chunda did wear a jacket or robe -similar to that you describe?’ - -‘Oh yes, I’m sure about that part of the business. It was conspicuous -enough.’ - -When Brodie parted from the skipper, he felt that he had struck a -trail, although he could not make much of it just then. But it will -readily be gathered that he had begun to suspect Chunda of having -committed the crime. - -It was difficult to understand why Chunda should have burnt his gown or -jacket unless it was to destroy traces of guilt. If there was blood on -his jacket, and it was the blood of one of the victims, he would know -that it might prove a ghastly piece of evidence if detected; and so he -had committed it to the flames as the most effectual means of getting -rid of it. - -Now, assuming this surmise of Brodie’s was correct, it was obvious -that it was not Maggie Stiven’s blood, because the nature of the wound -that brought about her death was such that there was only very little -outward bleeding. But if Balfour, when he went upstairs to ascertain -the cause of the scream, was suddenly attacked and stabbed to death by -the native, was it not reasonable to suppose that he bled so profusely -as to dye the garments of his murderer? - -This chain of reasoning threw a new light on the affair, and Brodie, -who had made up his mind that he would read the riddle if it could -be read, returned once more to Corbie Hall. He learnt that Chunda -had been back about half an hour, and had given the other servants -to understand that he was ill and half frozen, and was going to bed. -Whereupon the detective furnished himself with a lamp, and proceeded -to carefully examine the stair carpet and the landings for suggestive -stains, but saw nothing that aroused his suspicions. As he could not -talk to Chunda, he did not disturb him, but the next morning, quite -early, he went down to the Hall again in company with Jarvis. - -Chunda told the skipper, in answer to questions put to him, that he -had not gone out on the previous day to attend the funeral, as stated, -but to make arrangements for taking his departure from the country. -He could not endure the climate; it made him very ill. Besides that, -he felt that he would go mad if he stayed there, for there wasn’t a -soul he could talk to, and his loneliness was terrible. He therefore -intended to start on the following day for Southampton, and two days -later would sail in a P. and O. steamer for India. - -All that he had said seemed very feasible, and that he was ill and did -suffer from the cold was evident. - -Nevertheless, Brodie’s suspicions were not allayed. It was not easy -to allay them when once they were thoroughly aroused; and having -reasoned the case out from every possible point of view, he had come -to the conclusion that Chunda was in a position to let in light where -there was now darkness if he chose to speak. That is to say, he knew -something of the crime, though, of course, at this stage there wasn’t -a scrap of evidence against the native that would have justified -his arrest. Moreover, Brodie found himself confronted with a huge -difficulty in the way of making his theory fit in. If Chunda had really -murdered Balfour, how had he managed to dispose of the body? That -question was certainly a poser, and no reasonable answer could be given -to it. - -It must not be forgotten that, from the moment of the scream being -first heard to the discovery of Maggie Stiven’s body on the mat at the -foot of the stairs, not more than half an hour at the outside had -elapsed. In that brief space of time Balfour had been so effectually -got rid of that there was not a trace of him. It was bewildering to try -and understand how that disappearance had been accomplished, unless it -was with the aid of some devilish art and unholy magic. But as Brodie -had no belief in that kind of thing, he was convinced that, sooner or -later, what was then an impenetrable mystery would be explained by -perfectly rational, though probably startling, causes. Be that as it -might, having got his fangs fixed, to use a figure of speech, he held -on with bulldog tenacity, and he was not disposed to exonerate Chunda -until he felt convinced that his suspicions were unfounded. - -‘Do you know, captain, if there are any balls of any kind in the -house?’ he asked abruptly of Jarvis, who looked at him with some -astonishment, for the question seemed so irrelevant and out of place. - -‘What sort of balls?’ said Jarvis, expressing his surprise by his -manner and voice. - -‘Oh, any sort--billiard-balls, golf-balls, balls of any kind.’ - -‘There are plenty of golf-balls. But why do you ask?’ - -‘I want you to get two or three of the balls,’ said Brodie for answer. -‘Put them into your pocket, ask Chunda to accompany you into the -dining-room, and make him sit down in a chair opposite to you. Engage -him in conversation for a few minutes; then, suddenly taking the balls -from your pocket, tell him to catch them, and pitch them to him. Do you -understand me?’ - -Captain Jarvis stared at the detective as though he could hardly -believe the evidence of his ears. Then, as he broke into a laugh, he -asked: - -‘Do you mean that seriously?’ - -‘Of course I mean it.’ - -‘And what’s the object?’ - -‘Never mind the object. Do what I ask you.’ - -‘And where will you be?’ - -‘In the dining-room, too. But take no notice whatever of me.’ - -‘Well, it’s a daft-like sort of proceeding, any way; but I’ll do it.’ - -Then, having procured some golf-balls, he addressed himself to Chunda -in Hindustani, and in a few moments they went together into the -dining-room. - -Brodie followed shortly after, and, taking a book from a little shelf -that hung on the wall, he threw himself on to a lounge and appeared to -be reading. - -In a short while Jarvis took the balls from his pocket, and, saying -something to Chunda, who sat on a chair by the window, he threw one -ball after another at him, and the native held forth his hands to catch -them; but, not being in a playful humour, he did not cast the balls -back, but very soon got up and went out, looking very much annoyed. - -‘Well, what does that tomfoolery mean?’ asked Jarvis. - -‘A good deal to me. I’ve learnt a startling fact by it.’ - -The skipper would have been glad to have had an explanation, for -naturally his curiosity was greatly aroused, and he couldn’t conceive -what the ball-throwing could possibly have indicated. But Brodie -resolutely refused to satisfy him. - -‘You have rendered me a service,’ he said. ‘Now, that’s enough for -the present. If I succeed in fitting the pieces of this strange -puzzle together, you shall know what my motive was. Rest assured I do -nothing without a motive. But I am going to exact a further service -from you now. I want you to stay here all night, as I myself intend to -stay. Chunda talked of leaving to-morrow. He must not leave, and, if -necessary, you must find some means of detaining him.’ - -‘Do you mean to say you suspect Chunda of having committed the -crime?’--his amazement growing. - -‘Frankly, I do.’ - -‘Well, all I’ve got to say, Brodie, is this,’ answered the skipper -decisively: ‘you are on the wrong tack.’ - -‘How do you know I am?’ - -‘I am sure of it.’ - -‘Give me your reasons for being sure.’ - -‘Why, I tell you, man,’ exclaimed the skipper warmly, ‘the nigger is as -harmless as a kitten, and no more likely to commit a crime of this kind -than a new-born baby.’ - -‘That is simply your opinion, Captain Jarvis.’ - -‘It is my opinion, and it’s a common-sense one. You are doing the -fellow a wrong. I never saw a native servant so attached to Balfour -as Chunda was to his master. I tell you, Brodie, you are on the wrong -scent.’ - -‘All right, we shall see,’ he said carelessly. - -‘But in the name of common-sense,’ cried Jarvis, who was -argumentatively inclined, ‘if there’s any reason in your suspicions, -how on earth do you suppose this nigger chap got rid of Balfour? Where -has he stowed him, do you think? Do you suppose he swallowed him?’ - -‘Ah! an answer to that question is not easily framed. Perhaps before -many hours have passed I may be able to tell you.’ - -‘Do you think because he’s black he’s the devil, and has spirited -Balfour away?’ pursued the skipper, with a defiant air, for he honestly -considered that Chunda was being wronged, and he was ready to champion -him. - -‘No, I don’t think so,’ answered Brodie, with a smile, ‘because if he -had been the devil he wouldn’t have committed such a clumsy crime as -this.’ - -‘Well, clumsy as it is, it’s defied you,’ said Jarvis, by no means -satisfied or convinced. - -‘For the time being it has. But it won’t continue to do so much longer, -unless I’m very much mistaken. But it’s no use continuing the argument. -A man is judged by his acts, not by his words. If I am wrong, I must -abide by the penalty which attaches to failure. If I am right, I shall -take credit for some amount of cleverness. You will stay here to-night, -won’t you?’ - -The skipper scratched his head, and looked as though he wasn’t -comfortable. - -‘Well, upon my word! I don’t know what to say. I’m not a coward, but -I’m blowed if I like the idea of passing another night in this uncanny -place.’ - -‘Why?’ Brodie asked with a smile. - -‘I should be afraid of seeing Maggie Stiven’s ghost.’ - -‘And what if you did? A ghost couldn’t do you any harm.’ - -‘Perhaps not, but I’d rather not see one.’ - -‘Nor are you likely to, except as a product of your own heated -imagination. However, to cut the matter short, you’ll stay, won’t you? -You’ve got your pipe and tobacco, and I’ve no doubt the cook will be -able to provide us with some creature comforts. We’ll have another log -put on the fire, and make ourselves comfortable; and, if you like, I’ll -give you a hand at cribbage.’ - -The skipper yielded, and the matter was settled. - -‘Before we settle down, I want you to entertain Chunda here for half an -hour during my absence,’ continued Brodie. - -‘You are not going out, are you?’ asked Jarvis quickly, and with some -nervousness displaying itself in his manner, indicating evidently that -he did not wish to be left alone. - -‘Well, no, not out of the house. But you understand, Captain Jarvis, -I am doing my best to unravel this mystery; you must let me act in my -own way, and take such steps as I think are necessary to the end I have -in view. You can aid me, and I want you to aid me; but you can best do -that by refraining from questioning, and in doing exactly as I request -you to do.’ - -‘All right,’ said Jarvis. ‘I’ve nothing more to say. You must sail your -own ship, whether you come to grief or whether you don’t.’ - -‘Precisely. Now, I’ll send one of the servants up for Chunda, and -you’ll keep him engaged in talk for half an hour, or until I come back -into the room. Don’t talk about the crime, and don’t say a word that -would lead him to think I suspect him. Do you understand me?’ - -‘Yes, of course I do.’ - -‘And will carry out my wishes? It is most important that you should.’ - -‘To the letter.’ - -The business being thus arranged, Brodie left the room, and ten minutes -later Chunda entered it. Brodie was absent nearly three-quarters of -an hour before he returned. There was a look of peculiar satisfaction -on his face. Chunda was dismissed; and the two men, having, through -the cook, secured something in the way of eatables and drinkables, -satisfied their wants in that respect, and then engaged in cribbage, -and continued their game until a late hour. - -At last Jarvis retired. It was arranged he was to sleep in Balfour’s -bedroom, but Brodie said he would stow himself on a couch in the -dining-room, which was warm and comfortable. - -He dozed for three or four hours, and exactly at five rose, and made -his way to the stable-yard, where, according to prearrangement, the -groom was ready with a horse and trap, and Brodie drove rapidly into -Edinburgh. He was back again soon after eight, with two constables in -plain clothes, who were for the time confined to the kitchen, until -their services might be required. - -Jarvis did not rise until after nine. He was a good and sound sleeper, -and neither ghosts nor anything else had disturbed him. He was kept in -ignorance of Brodie’s journey into Edinburgh. - -A few minutes before ten Chunda made his appearance. He was ready to -start, and he enlisted the aid of the other servants to bring his -luggage down into the hall. Again Brodie requested the skipper to -detain the native in conversation, while he himself went upstairs to -Chunda’s room, where he shut himself in and locked the door. Then he -began to tap with his knuckles the wainscoted walls, going from panel -to panel. - -When he reached the deep recess near the fireplace, already described, -he started, as his taps produced a hollow sound. He tapped again and -again, putting his ear to the woodwork. There was no mistake about it. -The wall there was hollow. He tried to move the hollow panel, but only -after many trials and much examination did he succeed. The panel slid -on one side, revealing a dark abyss, from which came a strange, cold, -earthy, clammy smell. - -He closed the panel, went downstairs, and told the constables the time -for action had come. They filed into the dining-room, and Jarvis was -asked to tell Chunda that he would be arrested on a charge of having -murdered Raymond Balfour and Maggie Stiven. - -If it is possible for a black person to turn pale, then Chunda did -so. Any way, the announcement was like an electric shock to him. He -staggered; then clapped his hands to his face, and moaned and whined. - -Brodie went upstairs once more--this time in company with one of the -constables. They were provided with lanterns, and when the panel in -Chunda’s room was opened again, the light revealed a narrow flight of -stone steps descending between the walls; and at the bottom of the -steps lay something huddled up. It was unmistakably a human body, the -body of Raymond Balfour. - -Chunda was at once conveyed to Edinburgh, and other men were sent out -from the town to the house. Then the decomposed body was got up. It was -Balfour, sure enough. He had been stabbed in the chest, and the heart -had been pierced through. - -At the bottom of the stone steps there was also found the other portion -of the long stiletto. - -All this, however, was not proof that Chunda had done the deed. But -there was something else that was. - -The dead man’s right hand was tightly clenched, and when it was opened -by the doctor who was called in to examine the remains, a piece of -cloth was released from the death grip. It was a piece of Indian cloth, -interwoven with gold threads, and identical with the scrap that Brodie -had found in the ashes. - -The dead hand afforded the necessary clue; it forged the last link. The -dead hand smote the destroyer. It proved beyond doubt that Chunda was -the murderer. He had by some means discovered the secret panel. He had -inveigled Balfour into the room. There he had stabbed him. In his dying -agony the wretched man had clutched at his murderer, and had torn -out a piece of the gold-threaded jacket he was wearing. That jacket -must have been deeply stained with blood, and Chunda had cast it upon -the fire. But murder will out, and the unconsumed fragment gave the -sharp-eyed Brodie the FIRST clue. The dead hand itself of the murdered -man afforded the LAST. - -Chunda was the murderer, or, rather, the murderess; for Chunda was a -woman. Brodie had begun to suspect this from a peculiarity of voice, -from the formation of her neck and shoulders, and from other signs, and -his suspicions were confirmed when he resorted to the ball test. - -When the balls were thrown, Chunda did not, as a man would have done, -close his knees, but spread them open. A woman invariably does this -when she is in a sitting posture and anything is thrown at her lap. - -Chunda subsequently proved to be a woman, sure enough, and the murder -was the result--as Brodie had also correctly divined--of jealousy. - -The wretched creature succeeded in strangling herself before she was -brought to trial, and she left behind her a paper written in excellent -English, in which she confessed the crime. She declared that she was -the wife of Balfour, who had espoused her in India. She represented a -very old and high-caste family. Her father was a Rajah, and Balfour had -been in his employ. He succeeded in winning her affections, and when he -returned to his own country she determined to accompany him. He treated -her very badly, and twice he attempted to poison her. His flirtation -with Maggie Stiven excited her to madness, but it was, nevertheless, -a very cunning madness. She had previously discovered by chance the -sliding panel and the secret stairs. - -On New Year’s Eve she opened the panel, went to the top of the stairs, -and uttered that eerie screech or scream that had so alarmed the -company. She felt sure it would bring her husband to her. She told -him that she had received a horrible fright in her room; that part -of the wall had opened, revealing a dark abyss, from which strange -noises issued. As soon as he was in the room she stabbed him with a -long Indian stiletto. It then suddenly struck her that, when he didn’t -return, it was very likely Maggie Stiven would go in search of him. So -she hurried down the stairs and hid underneath them, and as soon as -Maggie appeared she sprang upon her and stabbed her with such fury that -the blade of the dagger broke. - -Although her husband had treated her so badly, she had yielded to his -earnest entreaties to conceal her identity and continue to pass as a -man. She spoke and wrote English fluently, although he had made her -promise not to let this fact be known. - -Such was the story she told, and there was no doubt it was -substantially correct. She considered that she had managed the crime -so well that suspicion would never rest upon her, and, having carried -out her deed of awful vengeance, she would be able to return to her own -sun-scorched land. - -That she would have succeeded in this was likely enough had Peter -Brodie not been brought upon the scene. He had worked out the problem -line by line, and at last, when it struck him that if Balfour was -murdered he must have been murdered in Chunda’s room, he proceeded to -examine the floor carefully on the night when he asked Jarvis to keep -Chunda in conversation for half an hour. That examination revealed -unmistakable traces of blood on the boards. Then it occurred to him -that, as the house was an old one, it was more than likely there was -some secret closet or recess in which the body had been hidden. - -Chunda had evidently been well educated. In a postscript to her -confession she said that, out of the great love she bore the man who -had so cruelly deceived her, she had, at his suggestion, consented to -pass herself off as his servant. He had assured her that it would only -be for a short time, and that when he had his affairs settled, and sold -his property, he would go back with her to India, and they would live -in regal splendour to the end of their days. - -That she loved him was pretty certain. That he shamefully deceived -her was no less certain; and that love of hers, and that deception, -afforded some palliation for her bloodthirsty deed of vengeance. - -For some time after the double crime Corbie Hall remained desolate -and lonely. It was now looked upon as a doubly-accursed place, and -nobody could be found who would take it, so at last it was razed to the -ground, and is known no more. - -In pulling it down it was discovered that in Balfour’s room was a -secret panel corresponding to the one in the next room, and that the -stone stairs had at one time led to a subterraneous passage, which had -an opening somewhere in Blackford Glen. It had no doubt originally been -constructed to afford the inmates of the house means of escape in the -stormy times when the building was first reared. - - -THE END. - - -BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - - -[A] This name is a fictitious one, for obvious reasons, but the -incidents related in the story are well authenticated. - -[B] This was quite true. The contingency of war was even less remote -than the Prince’s words suggested. As a matter of fact, it is now -well known that the treaty had been formed between Russia and another -country against Turkey, and had Turkey become aware of it, there is -little doubt she would have flown at Russia’s throat, with results -less disastrous to herself than those which befell her at a later -period, when the legions of Russia crossed the Pruth, and commenced -that sanguinary struggle which entailed such enormous loss of life, -the expenditure of thousands of millions of money, and human agony and -suffering beyond the power of words to describe. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL -DANEVITCH OF THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/68123-0.zip b/old/68123-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9029c11..0000000 --- a/old/68123-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68123-h.zip b/old/68123-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 01e04a6..0000000 --- a/old/68123-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68123-h/68123-h.htm b/old/68123-h/68123-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index f6ff570..0000000 --- a/old/68123-h/68123-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14501 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<head> - <meta charset="UTF-8" /> - <title> - The Chronicles of Michael Danevitch, by Dick Donovan—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - - - h3,h4 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; - font-size: 125%; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.tiny {width: 20%; margin-left: 40%; margin-right: 40%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} -h3.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - padding: 2px; -} - -.tdl {text-align: left; padding-left: 2em;} -.tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; -} - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -.x-ebookmaker .blockquot { - margin-left: 7.5%; - margin-right: 7.5%; -} - -.gap {padding-left: 10em;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} - -.ph3 {text-align: center; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;} - - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - -.xxlarge {font-size: 175%;} -.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} -.large {font-size: 125%;} - - -.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - - -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {display: inline-block; text-align: left;} - -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - padding: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The chronicles of Michael Danevitch of the Russian Secret Service, by Dick Donovan</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The chronicles of Michael Danevitch of the Russian Secret Service</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Dick Donovan</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 19, 2022 [eBook #68123]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Sonya Schermann, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH OF THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="ph3">DICK DONOVAN’S DETECTIVE STORIES.</p> -<p> </p> -<p class="center">Post 8vo., illustrated boards, 2s. each; cloth, 2s. 6d. each.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p> -THE MAN-HUNTER.<br /> -CAUGHT AT LAST!<br /> -TRACKED AND TAKEN.<br /> -A DETECTIVE’S TRIUMPHS.<br /> -WHO POISONED HETTY DUNCAN?<br /> -IN THE GRIP OF THE LAW.<br /> -WANTED!<br /> -LINK BY LINK.<br /> -FROM INFORMATION RECEIVED.<br /> -SUSPICION AROUSED.<br /> -DARK DEEDS.<br /> -RIDDLES READ.</p> - -<p> </p> -<p class="center">Crown 8vo., cloth extra, 3s. 6d. each; post 8vo., illustrated<br /> -boards, 2s. each; cloth limp, 2s. 6d. each.</p> - - -<p>TRACKED TO DOOM. With 6 illustrations by<br /> -    <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>.</p> - -<p>THE MAN FROM MANCHESTER. With 23<br /> -    illustrations by <span class="smcap">J. H. Russell</span>.</p> - -<p>THE MYSTERY OF JAMAICA TERRACE.</p> - - -<p> </p> -<p class="center">Crown 8vo., cloth, 3s. 6d.</p> - -<p>CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH.</p> - -<p> </p> -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">London</span>: CHATTO & WINDUS, <span class="smcap">111 St. Martin’s Lane, W.C.</span></p> -</div></div></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1> -THE CHRONICLES<br /> - -<small>OF</small><br /> - -MICHAEL DANEVITCH</h1> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/title.jpg" alt="" /></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<p><span class="xlarge">THE CHRONICLES</span><br /> - -OF<br /> - -<span class="xxlarge">MICHAEL DANEVITCH</span><br /> - -OF THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE</p> - -<p>BY<br /> -<span class="large">DICK DONOVAN</span><br /> - -AUTHOR OF<br /> -‘THE MAN-HUNTER,’ ‘TRACKED AND TAKEN,’ ‘CAUGHT AT LAST,’<br /> -‘A DETECTIVE’S TRIUMPHS,’ ‘VIDOCQ,’ ETC.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/titlelogo.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>LONDON<br /> -<span class="large">CHATTO & WINDUS</span><br /> -1897</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table> - -<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2">THE CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH:</td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">INTRODUCTION</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1"> 1</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A MILLION ROUBLES</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7"> 7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">A MODERN BORGIA</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33"> 33</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE STRANGE STORY OF AN ATTACHÉ</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_60"> 60</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE FATE OF VASSILO IVANOFF</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_91"> 91</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE MERCHANT OF RIGA </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_116"> 116</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE GREAT CONSPIRACY </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_143"> 143</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE CROWN JEWELS</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_166"> 166</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">THE STRANGE STORY OF A SECRET TREATY</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_193"> 193</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">HOW PETER TRESKIN WAS LURED TO DOOM </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_227"> 227</a></td></tr> - - -<tr><td colspan="2">THE CLUE OF THE DEAD HAND:</td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">  I. NEW YEAR’S EVE: THE MYSTERY BEGINS</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_262"> 262</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl"> II. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS—THE NARRATIVE CONTINUED     <br /> -           BY PETER BRODIE, OF THE DETECTIVE SERVICE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_276"> 276</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdl">III. THE DEAD HAND SMITES</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_288"> 288</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> -<h2 class="nobreak">MICHAEL DANEVITCH</h2> - -<h3 class="nobreak">INTRODUCTION.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">A year</span> or two before the outbreak of the Franco Prussian -War a daring attempt was made upon the life of the -Emperor of Russia. He had been out shooting in the -neighbourhood of St. Petersburg, and was returning at -dusk in company with numerous friends and a large suite. -As the Royal carriage passed an isolated house on a -country road, which was bordered on each side by a dense -pine forest, a bomb was hurled from an upper window of -the house. Fortunately it did not strike the carriage, as -was intended, but, going over it, fell between the horses -of two of the Royal Guard. The horses were blown to -pieces, the riders were killed on the spot, and several other -men were more or less injured. For some minutes a panic -ensued. The Emperor’s driver whipped his horses into a -gallop, and everybody seemed at a loss what to do. The -house, however, was soon surrounded, and a man and -woman were seized as they were in the very act of escaping. -It was soon made evident that this man and woman were -mere tools, and the arch-conspirators had availed themselves -of the confusion caused by the bursting bomb to get -off. Darkness favoured the fugitives, and though the -forest was scoured they were not captured. Subsequent -investigation brought to light that the plot for the -Emperor’s taking off had been the work chiefly of a daring<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> -and notorious Nihilist, whose capture the Russian Government -had long been trying to effect. His connection with -this dastardly attempt caused a heavy price to be set upon -his head, and every effort was made to arrest him. But, -extraordinary as it seems, he succeeded in evading his -pursuers, and, after travelling many hundreds of miles -through the country in various disguises, he managed to -get on board of a vessel bound to Constantinople—so much -of his flight was subsequently learnt when it was too late; -but at Constantinople all trace of him was lost, though -there was reason to believe that he had escaped to either -France or England, and a large staff of the most able -Russian and Polish detectives were sent out to scour -Europe.</p> - -<p>One winter night of that memorable year, I was on my -way from Paris to London viâ Calais. It had been a wild -and stormy day; a high wind, bitter cold, snow, sleet, -hail, rain—such were the atmospheric conditions. We -had had an assortment of the worst samples of weather, -and as night approached it was only too evident we were -in for ‘a buster.’ There were very few passengers by the -night train from Paris. It was not a night when anyone -was likely to be travelling for pleasure. On our reaching -Calais Station the wind had attained the force of a heavy -gale, causing a tremendous sea to run in the Channel, and -we who were pressed for time heard with dismay that the -boat was not likely to attempt the crossing before the -morning.</p> - -<p>The cramped and starved passengers made a rush for the -buffet, but I had to see the guard of the train, owing to a -hand-bag of mine having gone astray. This bit of business -occupied me for quite twenty minutes, and then, almost -frozen to the marrow, I made my way to the buffet. The -large stove in the centre of the room was surrounded by -the passengers, so I seated myself at one of the long -tables and called for hot soup. It was not until I had -finished the steaming bouillon, and had begun to thaw, -that I became conscious I had a <i>vis-à-vis</i>. On the opposite -side of the table, on the carpeted settee in a corner next<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> -the wall, sat a man with his legs upon the settee, his arms -folded on his breast. The place was lighted by lamps. -The light was dim, and the man was in partial shadow; -but I noted that he wore a heavy fur coat, he had a peakless -fur cap on his head, and was puffing away at a long -and strong cigar. At his elbow on the table was a large -basin of tea, and floating in the tea were three or four -slices of lemon.</p> - -<p>I really don’t know how it was that I was suddenly -attracted to this stranger. Some people may try to explain -it by saying it was animal magnetism, odic force, or -something of the kind. I shall offer no explanation myself; -I merely state the bare fact. My eyes having got accustomed -to the semi-gloom, I was enabled to observe that he -had a clean-shaven face, with a rather prominent nose, a -clean-cut mouth, which, taken in connection with the -formation of the chin and jaw generally, indicated an -iron will, a dogged determination. It was altogether -a very striking face, full of character, and with points -that removed it far from the category of the commonplace.</p> - -<p>Having partaken of the rest of my supper, and feeling -more comfortable and cheerful, I lit a cigar, called for -coffee and a <i>petit verre</i>, assumed an easier position at the -end of the seat, so that I was enabled to lean my back -against the wall, my shoulders being thus parallel with the -stranger’s, the table separating us; then I spoke to him in -French—made some ordinary remarks about the weather, -and expressed a fear that we were doomed to pass the -night there in the buffet. He answered me very affably, and -in a rich, well-modulated voice. Fancying that I detected -a foreign accent in his French, I politely asked him if he -was a Frenchman. He smiled pleasantly, and expressed a -wish to know why I doubted his being French. I told him -frankly, whereupon he laughed again, and in perfect -English, except that it betrayed a foreign tongue in its -pronunciation, he said:</p> - -<p>‘I guess <i>you</i> are an Englishman.’</p> - -<p>I admitted that I was, and we chatted away first in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> -French and then in English for a long time; we exchanged -cigars; he drank with me, I with him. Now, throughout -the conversation there was one thing I was conscious of—the -whole drift of his talk was to elicit information. -This was done so delicately and skilfully that the majority -of people would not have been aware of it. But I was. -It was part of my business to know when I was being -pumped, to use a vulgar but expressive phrase; I was also, -even as he was, a seeker after knowledge, and I fancy I -framed my questions perhaps not much less skilfully than -he. At any rate, we seemed to become <i>en rapport</i>, and it -is safe to say we interested each other. There was a -reciprocal attraction between us. After a time the conversation -flagged; tired nature was overcome, and we slept -where we sat. At about seven in the morning a porter -with stentorian lungs came in and aroused us from our -uneasy slumber by bawling out that we were all to get on -board the boat, as she was about to start. Confusion at -once reigned; there was a hasty gathering up of bags, -wraps, rugs, and other impedimenta, and a stampede was -made for the steamer, each man trying to be first, in order -that he might secure the best place in view of the stormy -passage we were likely to have. For myself, I went leisurely; -I was too case-hardened a traveller by land and sea to -concern myself even about the Channel in its anger. I -had, in the confusion, lost sight of my acquaintance of the -night, and for the moment had forgotten him, when -suddenly I heard his voice behind me. He had caught -me up.</p> - -<p>‘You, like me, don’t give yourself much concern,’ he -remarked. ‘We shall have a rough crossing, no doubt, -but it doesn’t alarm me; I have been sodden with salt -water too often.’</p> - -<p>This struck a keynote again; we passed on board. As -we reached the deck, he asked me if I was going below; I -said no, I preferred to remain on deck. So did he. We -therefore secured two camp-stools, placed them so that we -sat with our backs to the funnel for the sake of the warmth, -enveloped our knees in rugs, buttoned up our coats, battened<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> -our caps down, and made ourselves as snug as it was -possible to do under the circumstances.</p> - -<p>It was a wild and wicked morning, and still very dark, -though in the far east there was an angry gleam of glary -light. The crossing was a rough one—as rough a one as I -ever remember to have experienced. When we reached -Dover we were all bedraggled and weary-looking, and -thankful indeed for the hot coffee that was served out to -us at the refreshment-bar. It was now broad daylight, -and for the first time I was enabled to distinctly see my -companion’s face. It was altogether a remarkable face. A -more pliable and mobile one I never saw. It never seemed -to be quite alike for five minutes at a time. His eyes were -small, but with, as it seemed, an almost unnatural brilliancy; -and there was a suggestiveness about them that they were -looking you through and through. His complexion was -olive; his eyes were black. In stature he was about the -middle height, with a well-knit frame. I noted that his -hands and wrists indicated great muscular strength. He -trod with a firm step; he walked upright; he was a man -whose presence asserted itself. None but a fool would be -likely to overlook him even in a crowd. There is one -other thing I must mention: his manner was that of an -exceedingly well-bred man; he was the pink of politeness.</p> - -<p>The ‘something’—call it by what name you will—that -had drawn us together, kept us together, and we became -the sole occupants of a first-class compartment, in which -we journeyed to London. Long before our destination -was reached, I had made up my mind that my <i>compagnon -de voyage</i> was no ordinary man, and from certain things I -made a guess at his profession, and wishing to put my -opinion to the test, I alluded to the attempt that had been -made some time before on the Czar’s life. At this his -eyes transfixed me, as it were. Question and answer -followed, and at last, when I was sure that I should not -make any mistake, I led him to understand that my visit -to France had indirectly been in connection with the crime -in Russia. When we reached London, I found he was -going to stay at a hotel close to Trafalgar Square. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> -gave him my card. He gave me his, which simply bore -the name</p> - - - -<p class="center">MICHAEL DANEVITCH.</p> - -<p>I knew then from the name that I had formed the acquaintance -of one of the foremost detectives in the world—a -man who had had more to do with unravelling political -crimes than any living being; and there was hardly a -civilized Government that had not, at some time or other, -availed itself of his services. He was endowed with wonderful -gifts, and having once got on to the track of a -criminal the criminal was to a certainty doomed. Danevitch’s -visit to England on this occasion was in connection -with the attempt on the Czar’s life. He ultimately succeeded -in unearthing one of the criminals in London, and -though the English Government would not give the rascal -up, Danevitch lured him to France by a wonderfully clever -ruse. There he was arrested; in due course the French -handed him over to Russia, and he expiated his wickedness -on the scaffold. The story of this thrilling capture will -be told in the course of this series. The acquaintance -which I struck up with Danevitch on that ever-to-be-remembered -night ripened into a very warm friendship, -which continued for many years. The result was he -promised me that if he predeceased me he would leave me -all his notes and papers that had any reference to his -professional career, and give me full permission to do what -I liked with them. Subsequently he was in a terrible -railway accident in Russia: the train by which he was -travelling came into collision with another train, and there -was an awful smash. Poor Danevitch was so injured that -both his legs had to be amputated. For several weeks he -seemed to be doing well, but a change took place, and he -realized that his fate was sealed. He sent for me, and -during the fortnight that passed after my arrival he told -me his history to a large extent, and handed me the -promised records of the extraordinary cases in which he -had played so important a part. It is from these records -that I now compile this series of stories.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF -A MILLION ROUBLES.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">One</span> evening, towards the end of summer, four Government -officials left Moscow for St. Petersburg in charge of an -enormous amount of money, partly in specie, but for the -most part in Russian rouble notes. The money was consigned -to the Treasury in St. Petersburg. All the officials -had been in the Government service for a long time, and -were selected for this special duty on account of their -trustworthiness and the confidence reposed in them by the -heads of the department to which they belonged. The -oldest man, and the one in command of the little party, -was upwards of seventy years of age. He had been in -the Government service for forty years, and was greatly -trusted and respected. His name was Popoff. The next -in seniority was Ivan Basilovitch, who had been thirty-three -years in the service. Then came Strogonoff, with -twenty-eight years’ service, and lastly a young man named -Briazga, with ten years and a half to his credit in the -service of the Government. In addition to these four -Government officers, four gendarmes, fully armed, accompanied -the treasure as a guard of safety. The party -travelled by the ordinary train, but had a special saloon -carriage, the packages of money being placed at one end. -The only doors to the carriage were at the opposite end, -one on each side, the off-side door being locked by means -of a secret lock, which could not be opened except with -the proper key.</p> - -<p>The bullion was carried in oak boxes fastened with iron<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> -bands. The notes were in small square boxes, sewn up in -strong canvas. In addition they were securely corded with -fine but extraordinarily tough cord, which was made -especially for the Government, and could not be used -except for Government purposes. Every package bore -the State seal. Anyone unlawfully breaking the seal was -guilty, according to the law of Russia, of treason, and -liable to death or banishment to Siberia. In due course -the train reached St. Petersburg, where the packages of -money were examined, counted in the train, and found -correct. They were then loaded into a covered Government -waggon, counted and examined again, and also found -correct; and all being ready, the waggon drove off, accompanied -by the four officials and the gendarmes. At the -Treasury the packages were once again counted, examined, -and found correct, and the deputy of the Minister of Finance -himself gave the necessary receipt to the head-officer. The -important duty being thus completed, the gendarmes were -dismissed to their quarters, and the officers went to their -respective homes. In the course of the next day Danevitch -received a sudden command to attend without a moment’s -delay at the bureau of the chief of the police. He found -that important functionary looking very grave and serious, -and it was obvious he was disturbed by something of more -than ordinary importance. With official brevity he told -Danevitch about the money having been removed from -Moscow to St. Petersburg the previous night, and added:</p> - -<p>‘This morning, in the presence of the Minister of -Finance himself and the official staff, the various packages -were opened. Two of the note boxes, although intact as -regards seals and cords, and which ought to have contained -five hundred thousand rouble notes each, were found to be -stuffed with blank paper. There has been some clever -hanky-panky business, and you are wanted at the Treasury -immediately. Now, it strikes me, Danevitch, that though -you’ve cracked some very hard nuts in your time, this one -will prove too much for you.’</p> - -<p>‘Why do you think so?’</p> - -<p>‘Why do I think so! Well, because the whole business<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> -has been managed so cleverly that the thieves have calculated -every chance, and are not likely to have left any -trail behind them that can be followed up. However, see -what you can do. You may succeed, but I’m afraid you -won’t.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch made no comment on his chief’s remark, but -at once betook himself to the Treasury, where he found -everybody in a state of great excitement. He was at -once conducted into the presence of the Minister of -Finance, with whom he had a long interview, and from -whom he learnt all the details of the transit of the money. -Necessarily the detective sifted these details, examined -them one by one, and took such measures as occurred to -him to prove that they were absolutely correct. In the -end he was satisfied that they were. The Minister then -showed him a long telegram he had received from the -Treasury Office in Moscow, in which it was stated that the -money was packed in the usual way in the presence of the -cashier-in-chief, six of his subordinates, and a large staff, -all of them proved and tried servants. Every box was -numbered, registered, and sealed, and there was not the -shadow of a doubt that when the boxes left Moscow each -contained the full sum marked against it in the books of -the department. Danevitch saw at once that if that was -correct it proved that the robbery must have occurred in -transit, which obviously necessitated a prearranged plan -of a very ingenious nature; moreover, it pointed to the -confederacy of every man, including the gendarmes, -engaged in safe-guarding the treasure. It was difficult to -believe in such a conspiracy; but on the first blush it -seemed the only rational conclusion that one could come -to, otherwise the officers and the police must have been -culpably negligent of their duty to have allowed a stranger -to have walked off the boxes, leaving dummy facsimiles in -their place. However, Danevitch would express no opinion -then, although the Minister was anxious that he should do -so; but it was the detective’s invariable rule to keep his -opinions to himself until he was in a position to speak -with something like certainty. As he himself was in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> -habit of saying, he never prophesied until he knew. It -was a safe rule, and it saved him from many an error.</p> - -<p>Having completed his investigations in St. Petersburg -so far as he could at that stage, he proceeded without loss -of time to Moscow, where he satisfied himself, from the evidence -laid before him, that the money really left the Moscow -Treasury all right; and it was impossible the boxes could -have been exchanged between the Treasury and the station. -The treasure was conveyed in a closed waggon, which was -locked and barred, and in its passage through the city it -was guarded by twelve mounted soldiers specially told off -for the duty. At the station the waggon was backed right -up to the railway-carriage, and was unpacked in the presence -of quite a little army of officials. Again, unless -there had been a huge conspiracy, the boxes could not -have been abstracted there. This narrowed the inquiry -somewhat, because it made it clear that the exchange must -have been effected while the train was on its journey -between the two cities. But admitting that to be the case, -it at once suggested that the eight men, that is, the four -officers and four gendarmes, were in league together. To -that, however, was opposed the fact that the gendarmes -were only told off for the duty an hour before they started, -and up to that time had had no intimation they were -going. Therefore, assuming the four clerks had prearranged -the matter, they must have corrupted the gendarmes -<i>en route</i>. That, however, was such a far-fetched -theory that Danevitch would not entertain it.</p> - -<p>The next phase of inquiry upon which Danevitch -entered was that of ascertaining as much as possible about -the four Government officials who travelled in charge of -the treasure. These inquiries elicited the fact that they -bore irreproachable characters, and were held in high -esteem in the department. Popoff was a married man -with a family. He was in receipt of a good salary, and -appeared to be free from financial worries of any kind. -The same remarks applied to Basilovitch and Strogonoff. -They were both married and family men, and to all -appearances in comfortable circumstances. Briazga was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> -unmarried, but he was regarded as a very steady, well-to-do -young fellow, and was known to be the main support of -his father, mother, and an only sister, whose name was -Olga. She was younger than her brother, and, owing to -an injury to the spine when she was a child, she had been -more or less an invalid all her life.</p> - -<p>Danevitch realized at this stage, even as the chief of the -police predicted he would, that he was called upon to -crack a very hard nut indeed, and he did not feel confident -about being able to crack it at all. The minutest -investigation had failed so far to elicit anything that -would have justified a suspicion of a conspiracy amongst -the eight men. And yet without the connivance of them -all it seemed impossible that the boxes could have been -changed. But there was the indisputable fact that they -had been changed; nevertheless, there was not a single item -in the list of circumstances that supported the hypothesis -of a conspiracy. How, then, had the robbery been worked? -Of course the Treasury people, as well as everyone connected -with the Finance Department, to say nothing of -the higher authorities themselves, were in a very perturbed -state of mind, for apart from the largeness of the -sum carried off, the robbery proved that, in spite of the -safeguards employed when money was being conveyed from -one town to another, there was a risk which up to that -time had not been suspected. It was decided at last by -the head officials to offer a reward of ten thousand roubles -for any information that would lead to the capture of the -thieves and the recovery of the stolen money. Danevitch -was opposed to the offering of a reward, and pointed out the -absurdity of it; as he said, even supposing the whole of -the eight men of the escort had been concerned, they were -not likely to betray each other for the sake of ten thousand -roubles, when they had a million to divide amongst themselves. -And if anyone else had come to know who the -thieves were, he would not be blind to the fact that he -could blackmail them to the tune of a much greater sum -than ten thousand roubles to induce him to hold his -tongue. Therefore, as Danevitch anticipated, the reward<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> -brought forth no informer. In the meantime he had been -working on his own lines, and had satisfied himself the -money had been put into the train all right at Moscow, -and that, unless with the connivance of ever so many -people, the boxes could not have been changed between -the St. Petersburg station and the Treasury Office; consequently, -the business must have been done while the -money was in transit between the two towns. Further than -that, it was as clear as daylight that the robbery had been -prearranged, because the facsimile boxes had been prepared -beforehand; the cord used to bind the false boxes was -Government cord, and the Government seal was so cleverly -imitated that the forgery could only be detected after -close inspection. All this proved unmistakably that there -was a traitor in the camp.</p> - -<p>In one of many interviews that Danevitch had with the -Minister of Finance, that gentleman said:</p> - -<p>‘Danevitch, you must bring the thief to light. It is -absolutely necessary that an example should be made of -him as a deterrent. Although the loss of the money -would be a serious one, we would rather lose it than let -the thief escape.’</p> - -<p>‘I think, sir, that the thief will not escape; and it is -possible, even probable, that the money may be recovered.’</p> - -<p>‘Have you any clue?’ asked the Minister quickly.</p> - -<p>‘None whatever.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, why do you speak so hopefully?’</p> - -<p>‘Because it seems to me that sooner or later I am sure -to find a clue, and then—well, then I shall succeed in -bringing the criminal to justice.’</p> - -<p>His belief that sooner or later he was sure to find a clue -was quite justified, although he had been doubtful at first. -It was pretty clear now, however, that the thief had an -accomplice, otherwise it would have been impossible for -him to have carried out the robbery. Now, Danevitch -knew too much of human nature to suppose that two or -three men and more than likely a woman, as he shrewdly -suspected, would be able for all time to conceal the fact -that they had suddenly acquired wealth. A something<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> -would leak out—a something that would betray them to -the keen eyes that were watching for the sign. Danevitch -had learnt the great lesson of patience. He did not aim -at accomplishing the impossible, but he knew where it was -a case of human ingenuity he had the best chance, inasmuch -as he was an expert in the ways of criminals. From -the moment that he had gathered up all the details of the -robbery, he had set a watch upon the movements of every -one of the eight men who had travelled with the treasure -from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The gendarmes belonged -to Moscow, and had returned, but they were watched, -nevertheless; though not a movement of theirs was calculated -to arouse suspicion. The four Government officials -were also watched, but no sign came from them. But of -course they knew they were being watched; they would -have been dolts indeed if they had remained in ignorance -of what everyone else knew; for Government treasure to -the tune of one million roubles could not be abstracted -without causing a sensation and setting the populace on -the tip-toe of expectation and the tenter-hooks of -curiosity. The theory by which Danevitch was guided -was this, that one or more of the eight men who travelled -that night when the money was stolen between Moscow -and St. Petersburg must certainly be in a position to -throw some light on the robbery. On the other hand, -every one of the eight knew for a fact, or by instinct, -that he was suspected of some complicity, consequently he -would take particular care not to do anything calculated -to give emphasis to that suspicion, and justify active legal -measures being taken against him.</p> - -<p>Although Danevitch, by reason of the eminence he had -attained in his calling and the originality of mind he had -displayed in dealing with some of the most notorious -crimes of his day, was allowed more latitude than his -confrères, he was nevertheless subordinate at this time to -the chief of the police, and that functionary, having an -eye to a decoration or promotion if the mystery should be -cleared up, strongly advocated the wholesale arrest of the -eight men, and flinging them into a dungeon in the infamous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> -fortress of Peter and Paul, or the still more infamous -Schlusselburgh in Lake Ladoga, there to remain -until misery and madness loosened their tongues. Against -this inartistic and brutal measure Danevitch set his face, -and he asked to be allowed to work out the problem in his -own way. The Minister of Finance, and it was said even -the Czar himself, supported Danevitch, so that he was not -hampered with the red-tapeism of the bureau.</p> - -<p>A month passed; no arrest had been made, and apparently -not a trace of the criminal discovered. The -Treasury officers were in despair, and the chief of the -police showed a tendency to lower Danevitch from the -high standard of estimation to which he had previously -elevated him. It is true that Danevitch had many big -successes credited to his score, but even a successful man -cannot afford to make a big failure. The chief told him -this, and Danevitch replied quietly:</p> - -<p>‘I have not yet made a failure.’</p> - -<p>‘But you have not recovered the money; you’ve brought -nobody to book.’</p> - -<p>‘No, not yet.’</p> - -<p>‘Not yet! Are you still sanguine, then?’</p> - -<p>‘Certainly.’</p> - -<p>The chief laughed a little bitterly as he replied:</p> - -<p>‘Well, perhaps it is good to be sanguine, even in a hopeless -cause. It keeps a man’s spirits up, doesn’t it?’</p> - -<p>The chief was comparatively new to his office; that is, he -had only held it two years. He had received very rapid -promotion owing to strong influence at Court, and influence -in Russia often counts a good deal more than merit; indeed, -it does in most countries. It was said that the chief -had certain friends of his own he was anxious to move into -the front rank, hence he was not averse to see Danevitch -go down a bit.</p> - -<p>About a week after this conversation between the chief -and Danevitch, an old peasant woman left St. Petersburg -by the Moscow train. She did not book to Moscow, however, -but to a place called Vishni Volotchok, about midway -between the two cities. She was an uncouth, clumsy, burly-looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -woman, wearing the big mob frilled cap, the heavy -woollen wrap crossed over the breast, the short homespun -linsey-woolsey gray skirt, coarse gray stockings, and big -shoes of her class. She bore with her a ponderous basket, -containing a stock of slippers, boots, shoes and sabots, and, -being a travelling pedlar, she was furnished with an official -license, a formidable-looking document, stamped and viséd. -In due course she reached her destination. Vishni Volotchok -is a small town of some importance. The station is the -principal refreshment place between St. Petersburg and -Moscow, and a long wait is generally made by the trains -going and coming. The old woman’s license having been -duly examined and viséd, she was allowed to go her ways, -and soon after she proceeded to a fairly large house -situated close to the railway, and facing a road that -crossed the track. It was a detached house, built for the -most part of wood. There were numerous outbuildings—a -large barn, stables, cowsheds, and similar places. It was -the residence of a landed proprietor named Ivan Golovnin. -It was almost dark when the old woman reached the house; -she tried to sell some of her wares to the servants, but was -not successful. Then she pleaded illness, and begged, as -she was a stranger in the town, to be allowed to pass the -night in the barn. With true Russian hospitality, the -servants took her into the great kitchen, and made her up -a bed by the stove. As she had not recovered her health -the next day, she was allowed to remain, and, in fact, finding -herself in comfortable quarters, she stayed for three -days; then she took her departure, before doing so presenting -the three principal servants with a pair of shoes each. -Being market-day, she went into the market, disposed of -the rest of her stock-in-trade, and returned at once to -St. Petersburg.</p> - -<p>It chanced that a couple of days after the old woman’s -return to the capital, Danevitch was at the Bureau of -Police, having some business to transact with the chief, -who was excessively busy and excessively bad-tempered.</p> - -<p>‘By the way,’ said Danevitch, as he was on the point of -leaving, when he had transacted his affairs, ‘concerning the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> -robbery of the Treasury notes, I shall <i>succeed</i> in bringing -the criminals to justice.’</p> - -<p>The chief glanced at the detective and smiled. It was -not a smile of satisfaction, but of doubt; and yet he knew -that Danevitch had the reputation of never speaking with -anything like certainty unless he felt absolutely sure. But -the chief was somewhat sceptical; it was even possible he -was not altogether free from jealousy, knowing as he did -that Danevitch was looked upon with great favour in high -quarters.</p> - -<p>‘There’s a cocksureness in your statement,’ said the -chief brusquely. ‘I suppose you’ve discovered something?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘What?’</p> - -<p>‘You must pardon me, but I am not justified in disclosing -even to you at present what I know.’</p> - -<p>The chief’s face darkened. He was aware that, though -Danevitch was nominally his subordinate, he had but little -control over him. Nevertheless, it galled him to think -that he, the chief of his department—in Russia it is a very -influential and important position—should not be considered -worthy of the confidence of Danevitch the detective, -high as he was in his calling. He was weak enough to -display his chagrin, and remarked with some warmth:</p> - -<p>‘Well, you have your own way of working, of course; -and perhaps you are right, though on the other hand you -may be wrong. But since you do not choose to take me -into your confidence, and as the authorities expect that my -department will unravel the mystery, I must now inform -you that unless you produce evidence within the next -twenty-four hours that you really are on the track of the -criminal or criminals, I shall take the business out of your -hands, and put it into the hands of others.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch was not the man to be affected by any such -empty threat as this. Conscious of his own strength, and -firm in the resolve to pursue his own undeviating course, as -he had done for years, uninfluenced by jealousy, criticism, -or the opinions of others, he bowed to the chief and merely -remarked:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>‘If in the course of the next twenty-four hours I am in -a position to reveal anything, I will do so. If I am not -you are at liberty to act according to your own views. -Permit me also to remark that, though you are pleased to -doubt my abilities, people in high quarters do not.’</p> - -<p>This galled the chief, though he had sufficient tact to -refrain from provoking further argument, which would not -only be profitless, but beget ill-feeling, so he allowed -Danevitch to withdraw.</p> - -<p>A fortnight later a wedding was celebrated at the Church -of St. Sophia. It was rather a stylish wedding, and a good -many minor Government officials were present, principally -from the Treasury office. During that intervening fortnight -Danevitch had not given any sign to the chief that -he was making progress; nor had the chief taken any steps -to put his threat into execution. Nevertheless, he had -displayed some impatience, and one day, during an interview -with the Minister of Finance, he said:</p> - -<p>‘I am sorry, your Excellency, that we have made no -progress in the Treasury robbery business; but the fact is, -Danevitch’s self-assurance and enthusiasm somewhat misled -him. He speaks confidently where he ought to doubt, -and is hopeful where other men would despair.’</p> - -<p>‘Hopefulness is rather a good trait in his character, -isn’t it? You know the old saying, “He who despairs -never succeeds.”’</p> - -<p>‘True, your Excellency,’ answered the chief, somewhat -crestfallen. ‘But light-heartedness does not always command -success.’</p> - -<p>‘No, perhaps not; but it deserves it.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, the fact is this, your Excellency, I am of opinion -myself that more active steps should be taken to bring the -culprits to justice. Now, we have to deal with facts, not -fancies. A very ingenious robbery has been committed, -and the Treasury of the State is a heavy loser. The -thieves must still be in existence, and, being in existence, it -ought not to be beyond the ingenuity of a trained mind -used to working out criminal problems to discover where -they are.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>‘I admit the force of your argument,’ answered the -Minister sedately.</p> - -<p>The chief bowed. He was pleased with himself. He -believed he had made an impression.</p> - -<p>‘Of course,’ he went on, ‘it is most desirable that the -culprits should be brought to book, and punished in such -an exemplary manner that it would stand out as a warning -for all time, and deter others who might feel tempted to -tamper with the coffers of the State. But desirable as -this is, it is even more desirable that the whole of the -stolen money should be recovered. Your Excellency, however, -will readily see that every day that passes lessens the -chances of that, because the rascals will be revelling in their -ill-gotten gains, and squandering them with the recklessness -peculiar to criminals who enrich themselves dishonestly.’</p> - -<p>‘That is not Danevitch’s opinion,’ answered the Minister.</p> - -<p>‘Possibly; but presumably he has no warrant for his -opinion. It is a mere expression of opinion, after all—nothing -more.’</p> - -<p>‘Let us grant that. Now, what do you suggest?’</p> - -<p>What the chief wanted was to have all the credit for -unravelling the mystery. It meant to him promotion, and -strengthening his influence in high quarters. As matters -then stood, there was no confidence between him and -Danevitch, who had so consolidated his position as to be -independent. The chief therefore suggested that Danevitch -should be put upon a case of secondary importance -then occupying the attention of the authorities, and another -man of the chief’s choosing should be selected for Danevitch’s -work. This other man was a creature of the chief, -though he kept that little fact strictly to himself.</p> - -<p>The Minister was not deceived by the specious arguments -of his visitor; nor was he so obtuse as to fail to see the -jealousy and ill-will underlying those arguments.</p> - -<p>‘Personally, I should object to anyone else taking up -the matter at this stage,’ he said, ‘and as far as my -influence goes I should use it to prevent any change being -made. For myself, I have confidence in Danevitch. He is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> -an able man, and until I find that my confidence is misplaced -I shall continue to believe in him.’</p> - -<p>The chief was nonplussed, and he felt that it would be -imprudent to pursue the subject any further. He therefore -took his leave. But just as he was in the act of -bowing himself out, the Minister exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘Oh, by the way, on Thursday next there is to be a -marriage in the Church of St. Sophia. A daughter of one -of my subordinates is to wed one Peter Golovnin, the son, -as I understand, of a wealthy landed proprietor. Curiously -enough, I met Danevitch last night by chance, and he -asked me if I was going to the wedding. I told him no, -I had had no invitation; whereupon he expressed surprise -that my subordinate had not paid me the compliment of -inviting me. At the moment there did not seem to me -anything out of the way in the remark, but subsequently, -on pondering over it, I could not help feeling that it was -full of significance. Danevitch had a deep motive in what -he said. Have you any idea what the motive was?’</p> - -<p>The chief was not only utterly amazed, but deeply -annoyed. He tried, however, to conceal his annoyance, -though it was very hard to do so. In his own mind he -was perfectly sure that Danevitch had a motive, though -what that motive was he could not possibly guess, and -his annoyance was occasioned by having to confess his -ignorance.</p> - -<p>‘And does your Excellency intend to go?’ he asked.</p> - -<p>‘Well, yes, I think I shall. I fancy developments may -take place.’</p> - -<p>As the chief went away, he resolved that he, too, would -be present at St. Sophia, for he knew Danevitch too well to -suppose for a moment that his remark to the Minister of -Finance was a meaningless one.</p> - -<p>The marriage was rather a grand affair. The bridegroom -was a good-looking young man, about six or seven -and twenty; but he had the appearance of one who had -led a reckless and dissipated life. There were incipient -lines in his face, and a want of brightness about the eyes -that was not good in one so young. The bride was, perhaps,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> -two years younger, with rather pretty features and -an abundance of dark hair. Some affection of the spine, -however, had cruelly distorted her figure, and she was -twisted out of shape. Her name was Olga, and she was -the only sister of Briazga, the Government clerk in the -Finance Department, who was present during the ceremony. -The Minister of Finance was also present, thinking -from Danevitch’s remark that something was to happen. -The wedding went off all right, however, and the whole -party seemed very jolly and happy, until Briazga, suddenly -espying the Minister, went up to him and, looking very -confused and a little excited, said:</p> - -<p>‘You do us an honour, sir, by gracing the ceremony -with your delightful presence. I scarcely expected you -would have been here.’</p> - -<p>‘I suppose not,’ answered the Minister dryly; ‘but as -you did not honour me with an invitation, nor even condescend -to mention that your sister was to be married, I -thought I would be a witness on my own account.’</p> - -<p>Briazga grew more confused, and stammered out a lame -apology, adding:</p> - -<p>‘The fact is, sir, I have endeavoured to keep the matter -secret from all except my most intimate friends, for the -simple reason that, as we are comparatively poor people, -we could not afford to have much ceremony, and I felt it -was too humble an affair to ask you to come to it. But -since you have come, may I venture to hope that you will -now do us the supreme honour of joining the luncheon-party -at my house?’</p> - -<p>The Minister excused himself on the score of business -engagements; but five minutes later, when Briazga had -left him, and he was going out of the church, Danevitch -came up to him.</p> - -<p>‘I saw you talking to Briazga,’ the detective remarked.</p> - -<p>‘Did you? Where were you? I didn’t notice you in -the church.’</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps not; but I haven’t been far off. Briazga has -invited you to the luncheon?’</p> - -<p>‘How do you know?’ asked the Minister, in surprise.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>‘I guess it.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, you must have the power of a seer.’</p> - -<p>‘Not at all, your Excellency. Nothing could be simpler. -You being here, your subordinate would have been guilty -of an unpardonable rudeness and affront if he had not -paid you the compliment to invite you. But, of course, it -was a mere formality. He doesn’t wish and does not -intend you to go if he can prevent it.’</p> - -<p>‘I suppose not; nor do I wish to go.’</p> - -<p>‘But I should like you to go,’ answered Danevitch. -‘Indeed, I consider it of some importance that you should -go. A little drama may be enacted in which you can play -a part.’</p> - -<p>The Minister looked hard at Danevitch, as if trying to -read his thoughts, and asked pointedly:</p> - -<p>‘Do you suspect Briazga of having stolen the Treasury -notes?’</p> - -<p>‘Will you pardon me for simply saying at this moment -that it would be imprudent for me to answer your -question?’</p> - -<p>‘Will you be there?’</p> - -<p>‘Again I must respectfully decline to answer the -question.’</p> - -<p>‘But you have an object in wishing me to be present.’</p> - -<p>‘Undoubtedly.’</p> - -<p>‘Then I will go.’</p> - -<p>Whereupon the Minister hastily pencilled a note on a -slip of paper torn from his note-book, and sent it by one -of the church attendants to Briazga. In the note he simply -said he had changed his mind, and would do himself the -pleasure of being present at the wedding-feast, as he found -he had a couple of spare hours on his hands. Danevitch -moved off, and had not got far away, when he was accosted -by the chief of the police, who remarked sarcastically:</p> - -<p>‘I understood there were to be some developments at -this wedding.’</p> - -<p>‘From whom did you understand that?’ asked Danevitch, -without any attempt to conceal the annoyance he -felt.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>‘It is not necessary to mention names. I heard that -you were to be here, and the Minister of Finance was to -be here. The information was significant, so I came too. -You suspect somebody amongst this marriage-party?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Who is it?’</p> - -<p>‘Pardon me, I decline to state at the present moment.’</p> - -<p>‘Why?’</p> - -<p>‘Because I have no proof.’</p> - -<p>‘You are seeking a proof, then?’</p> - -<p>‘I am.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you expect to find it?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Where and when?’</p> - -<p>‘I cannot say. It’s problematical. A few hours will -decide. As soon as I am sure of my ground I will report -to you.’</p> - -<p>The chief recognised the uselessness of further questioning, -and left, while Danevitch withdrew into the background -as the wedding-party left the church and drove to -Briazga’s house. He lived in what was known as the -English quarter, near the English quay. There were no -English living there then. Bad times and oppressive -restrictions had ruined most of them, and they had gone -away. The house inhabited by Briazga had been formerly -occupied by an English merchant; it had many conveniences -and improvements not usually found in the average -Russian house. Here the Government clerk had lived -very comfortably with his father, mother, and sister Olga. -The father and mother were well advanced in years. They -had a small income of their own to live upon.</p> - -<p>Soon after the wedding-party had arrived at the house, an -old woman, a professional fortune-teller, presented herself -and begged to be admitted. There was nothing unusual -in this. Vagrants of both sexes make a good living in -Russia by attending wedding-parties and forecasting the -future of the bride and bridegroom. As the Russians are -a superstitious people, they encourage these fortune-tellers, -who are feasted, and generally add to the entertainment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> -by story and jest. Having been treated well in the -servants’ quarter, the woman was introduced to the company. -The bridegroom, who was hilarious and full of -vodka and wine, immediately presented himself to have -his fortune told; but when the woman had looked at his -hand and peered into his eyes, while the company waited -in breathless expectancy, she said:</p> - -<p>‘I cannot tell you your fortune.’</p> - -<p>At this there was considerable laughing and jeering, -and on all sides arose the question, ‘Why, why?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, ladies and gentlemen,’ exclaimed the seer, ‘pray -don’t laugh. I can read all your fortunes—better, perhaps, -than you would like me to do.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, why don’t you begin with the bridegroom?’ was -asked by several. ‘He is anxious to know what is before -him.’</p> - -<p>‘Good; it shall be told,’ answered the woman sharply. -‘Give me a pack of cards.’</p> - -<p>The pack of cards was brought. She spread the cards on -the table in several rows. Next she shifted them about, -and placed them in squares and circles, and all the time -the company gathered round and waited in eager expectancy -for what was coming. Presently the woman -jumbled the cards up together, then repacked them and -told the bridegroom to cut them four times, and the bride -three. That done, the fortune-teller seemed absorbed in -some abstruse calculation as she slowly sorted the cards out -in four rows.</p> - -<p>‘You are a precious long time,’ exclaimed the bridegroom -irritably. ‘It strikes me you are a humbug.’</p> - -<p>‘Patience, patience,’ murmured the woman. ‘There is -something wrong about the cards. They won’t come right.’</p> - -<p>‘Because you don’t understand them,’ suggested somebody.</p> - -<p>‘Possibly; but patience, patience; I shall understand -them directly. Ah! I see something now. It’s strange, -very strange!’</p> - -<p>The curiosity and interest of the company were fully -aroused by the mysterious manner of the old woman, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> -seemed deeply absorbed in what she was doing; but -Briazga was annoyed, and he called out:</p> - -<p>‘Ladies and gentlemen, let us stop this nonsense. The -woman is an impostor, and is only wasting our time, which -can be more joyfully and pleasurably employed. It is an -auspicious occasion, this, and we don’t want it marred by -any unpleasant incident. Let us banish the woman to the -kitchen.’</p> - -<p>At these words the old fortune-teller drew herself up -with a certain dignity, and remarked:</p> - -<p>‘It is customary for my people to be kindly and hospitably -entertained at these festive gatherings; and I -myself have the reputation of being a most successful -fortune-teller; it is not my fault now that the cards will -not come right. But I read certain things about the -bridegroom which I am sure he would like to know. Say, -shall I proceed?’</p> - -<p>The bridegroom himself answered.</p> - -<p>‘Certainly,’ he exclaimed, and there was a curious look -on his wine-flushed face. ‘I want to know my future; let -the woman go on.’</p> - -<p>Briazga appeared to be very greatly irritated, but as -there arose a murmured assent from the assembly he -yielded to the evident desire of his guests, who now -crowded round the table and urged the fortune-teller to -rearrange the cards. This she did, and having laid them -out again in five rows, she uttered an ejaculatory ‘Ah!’ -and after a pause added:</p> - -<p>‘It is better; but still there is a block somewhere. Can -you, sir’—this to the bridegroom—‘place on the table five -thousand rouble notes? That will perhaps break the -spell.’</p> - -<p>It was a common thing for these fortune-tellers to -request that small sums of money might be produced; -but five thousand roubles was a large sum, and there was -a general murmur of surprise, while Briazga appeared to -be particularly uneasy and troubled. He was trying to -push his way through the crowd to get at his brother-in-law, -for there was such a hubbub and din of voices that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> -he could not make himself heard; but before he succeeded -in accomplishing his purpose, Peter Golovnin, with a -boastful air and a drunken leer on his red face, pulled -from his pocket a leather wallet, which, on opening, was -found to be stuffed full of notes. With an unsteady hand -he proceeded to count out five notes of the value of one -thousand roubles each. Having done so, he laid the notes -upon the table, and once more there was breathless silence -as the company craned their necks in their eagerness to see -what the old woman would now do. The bridegroom himself -seemed the least concerned of anyone, and, with a -coarse, drunken laugh, remarked:</p> - -<p>‘I suppose the old fool thought I did not possess so -much money. It shows what an impostor she is, otherwise -she would have been able to tell you exactly how much I -have in my wallet. However, let her go on, and if she -fails this time I will kick her out.’</p> - -<p>The fortune-teller seemed in no ways affected by the -threat, but busied herself in rearranging the cards. She -spread out the five bank-notes. On each of four she -placed a knave from the pack, and on the fifth she put a -queen. Suspicious eyes watched her every movement, as -more than one person present was of opinion that she -wanted to purloin the money by some hanky-panky -business.</p> - -<p>‘There is a lot of knavery here,’ she remarked thoughtfully. -‘The queen, as you will see, is the victim of knaves, -and I am afraid will come to grief.’</p> - -<p>‘Who does the queen represent?’ asked someone.</p> - -<p>‘The bride,’ answered the fortune-teller.</p> - -<p>At this there was a strong murmur of disapproval, and -the bridegroom, with an angry cry, put out his hand to -sweep up the notes, but the woman, quicker than he, -gathered them in a heap, and said sternly:</p> - -<p>‘Do not touch them for a moment, or you will break -the spell.’ Then suddenly she snatched them up, and -exclaimed: ‘These notes are forged ones. That accounts -for my difficulty.’</p> - -<p>This was the signal for a general uproar, and the company,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> -believing that the woman wished to steal the money, -seized her, and she would have been roughly handled had she -not shaken herself free, and energetically forced her way to -the Minister of Finance, who was present, and, thrusting -the notes into his hand, said:</p> - -<p>‘Sir, I know you; you are the Minister of Finance. -Look at those notes. They are forged! I give them into -your keeping. No man has a right to have false notes in -his possession. You, sir, as an officer of the State, have it -in your power to demand an explanation. Ask the bridegroom, -your Excellency, why he carries forged notes in his -purse.’</p> - -<p>The Minister took the notes, though he seemed distressed -and puzzled.</p> - -<p>‘The wretched hag lies!’ thundered the bridegroom. -‘The notes are perfectly good. My brother-in-law, if he -respects me and the good name of his family, and loves his -sister, my wife, will order his servants to whip this lying -fortune-teller, who has broken up our party and destroyed -our pleasure.’</p> - -<p>There was a disposition on the part of some of those -present to act on the suggestion made, and subject the old -woman to rough treatment; but the Minister, holding up -his hand in a deprecatory manner, said:</p> - -<p>‘Ladies and gentlemen, control yourselves, please. Keep -quiet. The woman is quite right. These notes are not -genuine ones. But no doubt Mr. Golovnin can offer some -explanation as to how they came into his possession.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ cried Golovnin excitedly. ‘They were given to -me by my father, and I cannot believe they are false. If -they are, then he himself has been cheated, and it will -break his heart.’</p> - -<p>‘That the notes are not genuine, there can be no possible -doubt,’ said the Minister gravely; ‘and that you or your -father should be in possession of forged notes representing -so large a sum is extraordinary.’</p> - -<p>‘I pray you return them to me,’ wailed the bridegroom, -looking very sorrowful and sad, while his trembling bride -stood beside him the picture of puzzled distress. She<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -seemed scarcely able to realize the situation, and her -tearful eyes wandered from her husband to her brother, -and from him to the Minister of Finance, as if in dumb -entreaty to clear the mystery up, and not mar the pleasure -of her wedding-day. But the Minister, although not there -in any judicial position, clearly recognised that, as a -servant of the State, he had a duty to perform, and, -despite the painfulness of the situation in which he thus -found himself, he felt forced to that duty.</p> - -<p>‘I cannot return the notes,’ he said gravely, ‘and I must -ask you to let me examine the other notes in your wallet.’</p> - -<p>At this request, Golovnin pulled out his pocket-book -without the slightest hesitation, and, producing a packet -of notes, handed them—with the air of a man conscious of -his own rectitude—to the Minister, who, having subjected -them to a close scrutiny, pronounced them to be forgeries -also.</p> - -<p>The company were startled by this into a united cry of -astonishment and alarm, while the unhappy bride, with a -low moan, fell to the floor in a swoon.</p> - -<p>‘Surely, sir, there is some mistake,’ suggested Briazga, -pallid and pale as a corpse.</p> - -<p>‘Of course it’s a mistake,’ shouted the bridegroom; -‘his Excellency is wrong—entirely wrong. It is impossible -the notes can be forged. I am sure they are genuine.’</p> - -<p>‘Briazga,’ said the Minister sternly, ‘you have been -handling notes long enough in the Treasury to be able to -tell a genuine one from a false one. Look at these, and -give me your honest opinion.’</p> - -<p>The Minister placed the notes on the table. Briazga -took them up with a trembling hand one by one, and -examined them, holding them to the light, and subjecting -them to other tests, while the amazed guests held their -breath in anxious suspense, as they waited for his verdict. -Slowly and deliberately, notwithstanding that he was -suffering from intense nervous emotion, Briazga went -through the notes one by one, while his superior watched -him intently and curiously. At last, when he had finished -his task, he said:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>‘Sir, I am forced to confess that every note there is -nothing more than a clever imitation. But my brother-in-law -must surely be the dupe of a knavish trick. The -matter is capable of explanation.’</p> - -<p>‘It must certainly be investigated,’ answered the Minister. -‘It is far too serious to be lightly passed over. I shall have -to carry the notes away, and consult with the authorities -as to the steps to be taken.’</p> - -<p>‘Stay,’ exclaimed the bridegroom, with a pitiful wail of -despair; ‘this may mean for me utter and irretrievable -ruin. Remember, sir, it is my wedding-day, and my ruin -involves also the ruin, and perhaps the death, of my wife, -who has been my wife not yet a day; to say nothing of -the ruin, dishonour, disgrace of those near and dear to me. -Let me beseech of you, therefore, to delay taking any -action until I myself have made inquiries. I am convinced—absolutely -convinced—there is some hideous mistake -somewhere. I am the victim of a cowardly trick. I will -swear on oath that when I left home the notes I put into -my pocket were good ones. Is it not possible that the -hag of a fortune-teller has brought this about by her -devilish art?’</p> - -<p>At this everybody looked to see where the ‘hag’ was, -but she had made herself invisible. In the hubbub and -confusion consequent on the discovery that the notes were -forged, she had managed to slip away unperceived, and had -left the house.</p> - -<p>‘I regret very much indeed,’ answered the Minister, -‘that such an unhappy affair as this should have occurred -on your wedding-day; but it is far too grave a circumstance -for me to adopt the course you suggest. In fact, I -should not be justified in doing so. I repeat, I have a duty -to perform, and I must do it, however unpleasant the consequences -may be. Of course, as you say, the matter is -capable of explanation, and any explanation you may offer -will receive due attention; but a very serious official inquiry -will have to be made, and the origin of these notes must -be traced.’</p> - -<p>With a dignified bow to the dumfounded company, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> -Minister passed out of the room and left the house, carrying -the notes with him. On reaching his official residence, -he found a letter waiting for him. It was from Danevitch, -and read as follows:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p>‘<span class="smcap">Your Excellency</span>,</p> - -<p>‘I am suddenly called away from St. Petersburg, -but shall be back in three days’ time. I am happy to say -I can restore the whole of the stolen notes to the Treasury. -I hope your Excellency enjoyed yourself at the house of -Briazga on the occasion of the wedding-feast.’</p> -</div> - -<p>The Minister was a little mystified by this letter; and -though he knew that Danevitch was not the man to make -a rash statement, he sent for the chief of the police and -questioned him. But that worthy had to confess that he -himself was no less mystified. He said some harsh things -about Danevitch, and even went so far as to express some -doubt whether Danevitch was capable of fulfilling his -undertaking to restore the whole of the stolen money.</p> - -<p>‘I’ve faith in Danevitch,’ said the Minister. ‘What he -says he means; and though he puzzles me very much, I -feel certain that all will come right in the end.’</p> - -<p>The chief had no answer to this, so he simply bowed -and took his leave.</p> - -<p>True to his promise, Danevitch returned to St. Petersburg -in three days’ time, and, to the amazement of the -officials and all concerned, he duly delivered to the -Treasury the whole of the missing million roubles, and -was enabled to lay such information before the authorities -that Briazga and Ivan and Peter Golovnin were immediately -arrested.</p> - -<p>Ivan Golovnin lived at Vishni Volotchok, where he owned -some property. He was an old man, and had been married -twice. By his first wife he had had a large family, and -they were nearly all scattered. By his second wife he had -one son, Peter. This young fellow had been a managing -clerk in a fur store in St. Petersburg, and had known -Briazga’s family some years. Olga Briazga had fallen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -desperately in love with him, but her deformity prevented -him reciprocating her passion. Between Olga and her -brother an extraordinary affection existed—an affection -unusual even between brother and sister. He idolized her; -and when he saw she was breaking her heart about Peter, -and that her life was in danger, he told Peter he would -enrich him if he would marry her. From this a conspiracy -was hatched, in which Briazga, Peter and Peter’s father -joined interests. The old man was induced to enter into -it for his son’s sake. It was prearranged that when -Briazga was next engaged in the duty of conveying -treasure from Moscow to St. Petersburg, an attempt -should be made to purloin some of it; but from the first he -gave his co-conspirators distinctly to understand that, while -he would do all he possibly could to assist them, he would -not keep a single rouble himself. The opportunity came -at last with the removal of treasure from Moscow. Briazga -knew a week beforehand that he would be employed upon -the duty, and he also knew what money would be removed. -Everything, therefore, seemed to favour him, and he lost -no time in communicating the intelligence to the Golovnins. -Peter at once set to work to prepare two facsimile boxes, -and to fill them with paper, the whole being the exact -weight of the Government boxes when filled with a million’s -worth of rouble notes. The Government cord and the -forged seal were supplied by Briazga. The train conveying -the treasure stopped for a long time at Vishni Volotchok, -that being a buffet station where passengers usually dined -or supped. The night of the robbery happened to be very -dark and very hot. On arriving at Vishni Volotchok, the -treasure escort went four at a time to the buffet to eat and -drink. Briazga was included in the first four. When they -had finished they relieved the other four; but the night -being sultry, Briazga’s party sauntered about the platform -smoking, the door of the treasure waggon being locked. -On the plea of getting some tobacco, Briazga returned to -the waggon; he was not absent more than ten minutes—indeed, -not so long; but during the time he was enabled -to open the off-side door with a secret key, and to hand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> -out the two boxes to Peter, who was lying in wait with the -dummies. Thus was the robbery cleverly committed, as -proved by the evidence twisted and wormed out of the -culprits themselves by the inquisitorial nature of the -Russian law.</p> - -<p>The sequel of the remarkable story has yet to be told. -When Danevitch took the matter up, he came to the conclusion -after a time that the robbery had taken place at Vishni -Volotchok. There were numerous and obvious reasons for -that conclusion. It was no less obvious that one or more -of the eight persons composing the escort must have had -some hand in the robbery. He soon determined in his own -mind that the gendarmes were guiltless. This reduced the -suspects to the four Government officials. Now, assuming -that the deduction was a correct one, it was no less clear -that there must have been a confederate at Vishni Volotchok; -so Danevitch set to work to find out which of the officials -had any connection with that place, and he soon ascertained -that the Briazgas and the Golovnins were acquainted. -That stage of the inquiry reached, he began to feel that he -would ultimately succeed in unravelling the mystery. The -means that he employed to track down his quarry Danevitch -was careful never to make public, for very obvious -reasons, but he had a habit of setting them forth fully -in his diary, and from that source I am able to give them -here.</p> - -<p>It was known almost throughout Russia that this remarkable -man had a protean-like faculty for changing his -appearance. He could so alter his voice and features that, -in combination with change of dress, he could defy detection -even by those who were well acquainted with him. -His most favourite disguise was that of an old woman, -whom he could imitate to the life. In the character of a -female, therefore, he penetrated into the Golovnins’ home. -He found, by close watching, that Peter made frequent -journeys backwards and forwards between the house and a -small plantation of firs, about a quarter of a mile away. -As there was no apparent reason why the young man -should go to the plantation so often, Danevitch was induced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -to search it, with the result that he found the two -stolen boxes artfully concealed in an old quarry, which was -almost entirely hidden by creepers and brambles. The -boxes had been opened, but the contents were intact. -This find was a great triumph for Danevitch, but his work -was far from complete. It was necessary that he should -spread a net that would capture all the culprits, and he -carried this out with singular ingenuity. That one or -both of the Golovnins had had a hand in the robbery was -pretty evident, but others must also have been concerned, -and they might escape if caution was not observed. When -he ascertained that Peter Golovnin and Olga Briazga were -on the eve of marriage, the plot seemed to make itself -clear to him, and when he gained entrance to the marriage-feast -in the rôle of fortune-teller, his triumph was complete. -In the boxes hidden in the wood at Vishni -Volotchok he had placed a large number of cleverly imitated -notes, taking the genuine ones away. The imitations had -been lying at one of the police bureaus for a very long -time. They had been seized on the premises of a notorious -note-forger. Danevitch was sure that Peter Golovnin, the -bridegroom, would liberally supply himself with money -from the boxes for his marriage, and if the forged notes -were found in his possession, the evidence would be overwhelming.</p> - -<p>It remains to say that the guilt was brought home to all -concerned. They were condemned to death, as they had -committed a crime against the State, but the sentence was -commuted to banishment for life to Siberia. Poor Olga -Briazga, whose love for Peter Golovnin had been the cause -of the crime, accompanied her unhappy husband to -Northern Siberia, where he was doomed to pass the first -ten years of his sentence.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">A MODERN BORGIA.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">During</span> his long and remarkable career, Danevitch was -called upon to solve problems of a very varied nature, and, -while his efforts were not always crowned with success—and -he never hesitates in his journals to confess his failures—the -percentage of his triumphs was very large. Necessarily, -of course, his work lay amongst the by-ways and -alleys of life, so to speak; for so long as there are crimes -and criminals—and that will be as long as the world lasts—men -must be found who will endeavour to lessen the one -and bring the other to book. In his own particular way, -Danevitch was a genius; and it almost seemed sometimes -as if Nature had endowed him with an eighth sense, for he -saw and grasped points which no one else could see. -Although a born detective, there are many other callings -in which he might have risen to eminence, notably that of -the stage. He was a perfect actor, and his powers of -mimicry and of changing his expression and personal -appearance were little short of marvellous. He could with -ease assume the rôle of an ambassador or a peasant market -woman, and he possessed to a remarkable degree the faculty -of patience, which is indispensable to anyone who wishes to -distinguish himself in the detective’s art. Moreover, he -was well educated, and a fluent linguist, and these accomplishments -helped him immensely. In referring to the -case which I am now about to relate, he himself speaks of -it as ‘a remarkable and complicated one,’ which all but -baffled him; and he cites it as an example of the depths of -depravity to which human nature is capable of descending.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>It appeared that one summer night Colonel Ignatof, -who was in command of an infantry regiment of the line, -temporarily stationed in Moscow, returned to his barracks -after being out all the evening, and, complaining of being -very ill, ordered that the regimental doctor should be -immediately sent for. From the time that the order was -given to the arrival of the doctor in the commanding -officer’s room not more than ten minutes elapsed. But -during that short space the Colonel had vomited violently, -and the doctor found him lying on the bed, cold, pallid, -and collapsed. The soldier-servant who was with him -said that his master had suffered awfully, and had described -his feelings as if a fire was raging in his inside. The -doctor administered remedies, which so far had a good -effect that the patient rallied, and on being asked if he -could account for his sudden illness—he had always been -an exceedingly robust and healthy man—he faintly murmured -that he believed it was attributable to some iced -fish soup (a favourite Russian dish), of which he had -partaken freely. He thought it probable that the fish -from which the soup had been concocted were not quite -fresh. It seemed a natural supposition, for the intense -heat of the short Russian summer makes it very difficult to -keep meat and fish fresh for many hours.</p> - -<p>He was next asked where he had partaken of the soup, -but before he could give an answer he was again seized -with violent retching. When the spasm had passed, he -collapsed once more, and all the remedies that were tried -failed to restore him. He continued, however, to breathe -for two hours, and then died. As the symptoms from -which the unfortunate man had suffered were identical -with those set up by irritant poison, an order was received -that a post-mortem examination was to be made. In due -course this order was carried out, and resulted in the discovery -that death was due to an irritant poison that had -set up violent inflammation of the stomach. This seemed -to be quite consistent with the unfortunate man’s own -theory that his illness was due to unwholesome soup.</p> - -<p>The fish soup is a very common dish in Russia. It is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> -made from various kinds of fish boiled to a pulp. It -is then highly seasoned, thickened with rich, luscious cream; -a quantity of olive-oil is next added, and the mess is iced -until it is nearly frozen. It is a singularly seductive dish, -but only those who have strong stomachs can stand it. As -it is only partaken of in the summer, great care has to be -exercised that the fish is quite fresh. Any carelessness in -this respect is apt to produce serious illness. The peasantry, -who cannot afford cream, and enrich the soup with large -quantities of inferior oil, often suffer severely, and not -infrequently die, after a hearty meal of this national soup, -for as often as not the fish used is stale, and, as most -people know, decaying fish is a virulent poison.</p> - -<p>It was a knowledge of these facts which no doubt led -the medical men to jump to the conclusion that the -Colonel’s death was entirely due to the soup, a conclusion -that seemed quite justified by what the dying man himself -had said. Some attempt was made to discover where he -had dined, but as this was not successful, the doctors -certified that the deceased had died from internal inflammation -after partaking of soup which was probably -not fresh. Here the matter ended. The dead man was -buried with military pomp and ceremony, and many -eulogies were uttered over his grave. It was known -amongst his intimate friends that he was a married man, -but owing to ‘incompatibility’ he and his wife had long -lived apart. All his effects he left by will to a nephew -named Peter Baranoff, who was a Captain in an artillery -regiment, which was also stationed in Moscow.</p> - -<p>It was generally supposed that Colonel Ignatof was well -off, if not wealthy, but it became known after his death -that he died worth very little. This gave rise to much -gossip, and it was more than hinted that he had squandered -his means and substance on a certain lady to whom -he had been greatly attached. However, these little -incidents were not so rare as to cause any great surprise, -and the Colonel and his affairs were soon forgotten, and -the world went on as usual. Colonel Ignatof had been in -his grave about twelve months, when Moscow was furnished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> -with another sensation. Although he had died poor, -relatively, his nephew had got something like three -thousand pounds, besides a fair amount of jewellery, some -plate, books, and other odds and ends. The young fellow -had never been very steady, and after his uncle’s death -launched out into excesses which brought him under the -notice of his superiors; and he was warned that he would -have to regulate his conduct a little better or he might be -called upon to resign his commission, as his name was -mixed up with a good many scandals, and there had been -much talk about certain gambling debts he had incurred -and was unable to meet. However, an unexpected and -effective stop was put to his ‘goings on,’ and set everybody -talking again.</p> - -<p>Late one night a man was picked up near one of the -gates of the Kremlin wall in a state of unconsciousness, -and was conveyed by a police patrol to the nearest station-house, -as the natural inference was that he was intoxicated. -He was speedily identified as Captain Peter Baranoff, from -cards and letters found in his pockets. Within half an -hour of his admission his symptoms had become so serious -as to cause alarm, and it was deemed advisable to communicate -with the military authorities. No time was lost -in doing this, but before any instructions could be received -Baranoff collapsed, and within an hour of his admission he -was dead, in spite of all the efforts made to restore him to -consciousness and prolong his life.</p> - -<p>The case, as may be supposed, surrounded with mystery -as it was, caused an immense sensation. The deceased -man’s social position, his connection with the army, and -the financial difficulties in which it was thought he was -involved, removed the matter out of the sphere of an -ordinary affair, and it was the ‘talk of the town.’ As no -reason could be assigned for his premature decease, an -autopsy was made, and it was then found that, as in his -uncle’s case, there was violent inflammation of the coats of -the stomach and the intestinal track. In the stomach -itself were the remains of some half-digested morsels of -fish; and it was also made evident that a little while before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -his death the deceased had partaken freely of vodka. This -led to the supposition—which was probably correct—that -intoxication was accountable for the unconscious condition -in which he was found; but intoxication would not account -for his death. He was a young fellow of splendid physique, -and none of the organs were diseased. His death, therefore, -was not due to any natural cause; and after some -discussion amongst the medical men, it was decided to -certify that he had died from eating impure food, which, -by its poisonous action, had set up inflammation, which had -been much aggravated by the vodka. Of course, there was -a good deal of curiosity to know where he had spent the -evening, and how it was he should have been wandering -alone outside of the Kremlin until he fell unconscious. -The inference was that he had been revelling with friends -at one or other of the numerous haunts which abound in -Moscow, and which often lure young men to their destruction. -Some attempt was made to trace his movements on -the evening of his death; but all the attempt resulted in -was that it was proved he left his quarters between six and -seven. He was in private clothes, and he incidentally -mentioned to a friend that he was going to the opera, -and afterwards intended to sup with a lady acquaintance. -He did go to the opera, but left early—that is, before -ten o’clock. From that time until he was picked up -unconscious later there was a blank that could not be -filled in.</p> - -<p>Strangely enough, at this time there was no suspicion of -foul play. That he should die in a similar manner to his -uncle was considered rather remarkable, but there the -surprise ended. But within a week of the burial a sharp-eyed -and thoughtful medical student, who was pursuing -his studies in the great college at Moscow, addressed a few -lines to the <i>Moscow Gazette</i>, in which he ventured to -suggest that the doctors who examined Baranoff’s body -had failed in their duty in not causing a chemical analysis -to be made of the contents of the deceased man’s stomach; -and he advanced the opinion that both Baranoff and his -uncle had been wilfully done to death.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span>At first this idea was laughed at. It was spoken of as -being ‘ridiculous,’ and the suspicion of foul play utterly -unjustified. In a few hours, however, public opinion -changed. It would be difficult to tell why, unless on the -hypothesis that a new sensation was wanted. A clamour -arose, and grave doubts were thrown upon the doctors’ -judgment. Now, in Russia public opinion has not the -weight that it has in England, and the popular voice is -often stifled whenever it begins to grow a little too loud. -But in this case there were certain details which lent a -good deal of weight to the suspicion of foul play; and in -official quarters, after much discussion, it was considered -advisable that some notice should be taken of it. Probably -it would have been otherwise but for the seeming fact that -the medical men had done their duty in a very perfunctory -way, and had not been at sufficient pains to establish the -accuracy of the conclusion they came to from what they -saw during their scientific investigations. It was pointed -out that all the symptoms exhibited by the two men were -quite compatible with the suggestions of drug-poisoning; -that the theory that both met their end through inadvertently -partaking of stale fish was so remarkable -a coincidence that it could not be regarded as a commonplace -matter; and that in the interest of justice, no less -than of science, some further investigation should be permitted.</p> - -<p>In the end an official order was issued that Baranoff’s -body should be exhumed, and the usual means taken to -test, by the aid of chemical knowledge, whether or not the -deceased man came by death through an accident, through -natural causes, or as the victim of foul play. In order -to leave nothing to be desired in the way of research, a -Professor of Chemistry, who stood at the very top of the -profession, was instructed to make the analysis. This he -did, with the result that he came to the conclusion that the -deceased had met his death from a strong dose of black -hellebore. As soon as the authorities were informed of -the result of the analysis, they had Colonel Ignatof’s body -taken up and subjected to chemical examination. And in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> -this instance also the Professor declared that death had -been brought about by black hellebore.</p> - -<p>At this period black hellebore was by no means a well-known -poison outside the medical profession, and the -average doctor was perhaps quite ignorant of the morbid -symptoms it set up in the human subject when a fatal dose -was administered. It is classed amongst what is known as -the true narcotico-acrids, and bears the botanical name of -<i>Helleborus niger</i>, and is familiar to the general public as -the Christmas rose. Few people, however, who admire the -beautiful rose-tinted flowers of the Christmas rose, which -serve to enliven the house in the gloomy winter months, -have any idea how deadly a poison can be extracted from -its roots and leaves. Its active principle, according to -chemists, is an oily matter containing an acid. Its effects -on the human being are violent retching and vomiting, -delirium, convulsions, and intense internal pains. These -symptoms generally appear in from an hour to two hours -after the fatal dose is swallowed, and death usually results -in about six hours. If administered in alcohol or food of -any kind, no suspicion is aroused on the part of the person -who takes it, as the taste is quite disguised. The morbid -appearances produced in the human body are inflammation -of the stomach, the digestive canal, and particularly the -great intestines. Poisonous fish or food of any kind -almost will produce these symptoms. Therefore the medical -men who certified that Colonel Ignatof and his nephew, -Captain Baranoff, both died from the effects of impure fish -used for soup were misled, and jumped to too hasty a conclusion. -Some excuse would be found for them, however, -in the fact that the effects of hellebore were not as well -known then as now; at any rate, not in Russia. And as -the Colonel’s own dying opinion was that his illness was -due to the iced fish soup he had partaken of, it was perhaps -pardonable, all the other circumstances considered, -that the doctors should have been put upon a false scent, -and it is pretty certain that but for the medical student’s -letter to the <i>Moscow Gazette</i>, which sounded the alarm, no -suspicion of foul play would have been aroused.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>Like most vegetable poisons, hellebore is difficult to -detect, and it can only be discovered in the dead body by -means of the most delicate tests. The chemical Professor -who was charged with the important duty of examining -the remains of Ignatof and Baranoff had made toxicology -an especial study, and he had given particular attention to -the very large class of vegetable poisons, having travelled -for this purpose in various countries. He stood at the -head of his profession in Russia, and it was owing to his -skill and care, and the technical knowledge he brought to -bear, that he was enabled, beyond all doubt, to establish -the fact that the two subjects he was charged to examine -were the victims of poison.</p> - -<p>So much having been determined, the question was -mooted whether or not the poison had been administered -wilfully or accidentally. The theory of accident was at -once negatived. It was like an outrage on common-sense -to ask anyone to believe that two men, related to each -other, should each die within a year from precisely the -same cause. The coincidence was too remarkable to be -admitted as probable; therefore the matter resolved itself -into murder—it was an ugly word, and all the incidents -suggested a tragedy of no ordinary kind. The case was -placed in the hands of the chief of police, who was -instructed to use every means possible to unravel the -mystery. An attempt was at once made to trace the -movements of the two men for some hours before their -death. In the Colonel’s case this was not an easy matter, -as he had been dead for a year; but it was discovered that -Captain Baranoff called on a friend of his—a civilian -named Alexander Vlassovsky, who lived in a villa just on -the fringe of the town—and they went together to a café-restaurant, -where they dined. After dinner they played -billiards for a short time, when they separated, as Vlassovsky -had an assignation with a lady. He did not know -where Baranoff was going to. He did not ask him, and -the Captain volunteered no information. It was proved, -however, that he went to the opera, and left about ten. -It was stated most positively that when Baranoff quitted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> -the café he was in the pink of health, and in most excellent -spirits. Some hours later he was found in a state of unconsciousness -outside of the Kremlin walls. It followed, -therefore, if the story about the café was correct—and -there was no reason to doubt it—that Baranoff must have -partaken of the fatal dose a short time before he was -discovered, for the action of the poison is very rapid. -From the time, however, of his leaving to the time he was -discovered unconscious all remained a blank. Nothing -could be ascertained of his movements. It was obvious -that wherever he had been to, or whoever were the people -he had been with, somebody had an interest in keeping his -movements dark, as the efforts of the police quite failed to -elicit any information. It was the same in the Colonel’s -case, and no one could discover where he had been to on -the fatal night. Moscow is a large city, honeycombed -with evil haunts; crime flourishes there to a greater extent -than in any other town or city in the whole of Russia. It -has been the scene of very many deeds of violence, for -blackguardism is rampant, and numerous are the traps for -the unwary. Its population is perhaps more varied than -that of any other city of the world. Here may be seen -cut-throats from the Levant; fishermen and sailors from -the Baltic; Circassians, Cossacks, Tartars, Persians, Bokharians, -Georgians, Greeks, and Jews of almost every -nationality. It may be imagined that in such a place, -and amongst such a heterogeneous collection of humanity, -wickedness of every description finds a congenial soil. -Notwithstanding that, Moscow is known to all Russians -as ‘The Holy City,’ and a devout Russian, who pins his -faith to the Russo-Greek Church, regards Moscow with the -same veneration that a Mohammedan looks upon Mecca.</p> - -<p>After several weeks of fruitless effort to solve the -mystery in which the deaths of Colonel Ignatof and his -nephew was involved, the police had to confess themselves -baffled. It seemed pretty evident that both men had been -cruelly done to death by the hand of an assassin. But -whose was the hand that committed the deed, and the -motive for it, could not be ascertained.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>It was at this stage of the proceedings that a request -was made to Michael Danevitch—who was then in St. -Petersburg—to come through to Moscow, and endeavour -to solve the mystery. He complied with the request, and -at once waited upon General Govemykin, the military -governor of the city, by the General’s special desire.</p> - -<p>‘I want you,’ said the General, ‘to use every means -that your skill can suggest to clear up the mystery surrounding -the deaths of Colonel Ignatof and Captain -Baranoff. Both these gentlemen were murdered; of that -there seems to be no doubt; and the murderers must be -brought to book. During the last few years a good many -soldiers have lost their lives in this city by foul play, and -in several instances justice has gone unsatisfied. Now two -officers, men of unblemished reputation and good social -position, are killed by the same means, and yet the police -are unable to bring the crime home to anyone. It seems -to me that it is little short of disgraceful that the police -supervision of a city like this is so deficient.’</p> - -<p>‘Is it deficient?’ asked Danevitch.</p> - -<p>‘Yes; otherwise, how is it officers and gentlemen can be -brutally done to death and the murderers escape?’</p> - -<p>‘As far as I gather, this is no ordinary crime,’ remarked -Danevitch.</p> - -<p>‘Well, perhaps not; but it shows a weakness in the -organization when our police fail to get the slightest clue -to the perpetrator of the crime. Now, what are you -going to do?’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know,’ Danevitch answered, as brusquely as the -General asked the question.</p> - -<p>‘If you don’t know, what is the use of your taking the -matter in hand?’</p> - -<p>‘Pardon me, General, but I am not a prophet, therefore -I cannot foretell what I am going to do.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, no, perhaps not; but you must have some idea -of the lines you intend to proceed upon.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall simply try to succeed where the police have failed.’</p> - -<p>‘And you may fail, too,’ exclaimed the General, who -was a little piqued by Danevitch’s brusqueness.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>‘Oh, that is very likely,’ was the answer.</p> - -<p>‘If you do, I’ll take some other and more drastic means -to solve the problem. Officers and men under my control -shall not be done to death with impunity.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch was not affected by this display of temper, -and when the subject had been exhausted he withdrew. -He recognised that the case was a difficult one, and, in -view of the fact that the police had exhausted all their -efforts, he was by no means sanguine, although he was of -the opinion that the ordinary methods of the Russian -police were very clumsy, and, in their eagerness to lay their -hands on somebody, and their fossilized belief that the -whole populace was ever engaged in some deep and dark -conspiracy against constituted authority, they often committed -the most ludicrous errors. He never hesitated to -condemn the police methods of his country. He described -them as inartistic, unscientific, and brutal. His outspokenness -on this score made him very unpopular with -the police, and they did not like him to have anything to -do with cases in which they had failed. It is needless to -say this did not disturb him. He had an independent -mind; he worked by his own methods, and he never -allowed himself to be influenced by jealousy or ill-will.</p> - -<p>His first step in connection with Colonel Ignatof’s death -was to try and get hold of his private letters and papers, -as he was of opinion that they might furnish him with a -keynote; but he was informed that private documents of -all kinds belonging to the Colonel had passed into the -possession of his nephew, and when the nephew died all his -papers were secured by his executor, who declined to allow -them to be seen by anyone until he himself had gone -through them; for, though he did not give it as his reason, -he was afraid of anything becoming known that might -cause a family scandal. Danevitch next sought an interview -with Alexander Vlassovsky, with whom Captain -Baranoff had dined on the night he met his death.</p> - -<p>Vlassovsky was a fashionable young man, and lived in -what was known as the Slobodi quarter, where most of the -wealthy merchants had their villas. The business he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -carried on in the city was that of a stockbroker, and, judging -from his surroundings and the style he kept up, he -was in a flourishing way. He was a bachelor, and made -no secret about it that he was fond of gaiety.</p> - -<p>According to the account he gave, he had been acquainted -with Baranoff for a long time, and had lent him -considerable sums of money to enable him to keep up his -extravagances; for though Baranoff’s people were people -of note, and exceedingly proud, they were not rich. At -any rate, the young man was not able to get much from -them, and his pay as a Captain was too small to enable him -to uphold the position he aspired to. Of course, his -financial transactions with Vlassovsky had been kept very -secret, for had they become known to the military authorities, -he would have got into serious trouble.</p> - -<p>It will thus be seen that the relations between the -young men were those of borrower and lender. They -were not friends in the ordinary sense. Indeed, Vlassovsky -remarked to Danevitch with some bitterness:</p> - -<p>‘You know, like most young officers, he was as proud as -Lucifer, and seemed to think I was not his equal; though -he was never averse to dine with me and drink wine at my -expense.’</p> - -<p>‘Why did he come to you on the night of his death?’</p> - -<p>‘To borrow money.’</p> - -<p>‘Did you lend him any?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘How much?’</p> - -<p>‘Two hundred roubles.’</p> - -<p>‘What security did he give you for the various sums -you lent him?’</p> - -<p>‘Nothing beyond his acknowledgment.’</p> - -<p>‘And you were satisfied with that?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Why?’</p> - -<p>‘Because, if he had failed me at any time, I could have -reported him to the military authorities, and that would -have been his ruin.’</p> - -<p>‘But you never had occasion to do that?’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span>‘No, certainly not.’</p> - -<p>‘Did he ever pay you back any of the money he -borrowed?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Where did he get the money from to pay his debts?’</p> - -<p>‘How can I tell you that? He did not make me his -confidant.’</p> - -<p>‘Did he owe you much at the time of his death?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘How much?’</p> - -<p>‘Nearly ten thousand roubles.’</p> - -<p>‘That is a large sum! I suppose you will lose it?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh dear no!’</p> - -<p>‘Why? Did he die worth money?’</p> - -<p>‘His life was insured for ten thousand. I hold the -policy and a letter from him to the effect that, should he -die before paying me my due, I was to receive the policy -money.’</p> - -<p>‘Have you any idea where he spent his last evening, -after leaving you?’</p> - -<p>‘It is known that he went to the opera, because some -acquaintances saw him there.’</p> - -<p>‘But after that?’</p> - -<p>‘I haven’t the remotest idea.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you know nothing of his affairs of gallantry?’</p> - -<p>‘Absolutely nothing.’</p> - -<p>‘You think, however, that he had lady acquaintances?’</p> - -<p>‘I should say there isn’t a doubt about it. He was -wild.’</p> - -<p>‘And possibly his death was due to jealousy on the part -of a rival?’</p> - -<p>‘Very possibly.’</p> - -<p>‘Did you know his uncle?’</p> - -<p>‘I did.’</p> - -<p>‘Did you accommodate him with money?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, occasionally.’</p> - -<p>‘Was he in your debt when he died?’</p> - -<p>‘No; he paid me all he owed me a little while before -his death.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>‘Have you any theory to suggest with reference to the -deaths of these two gentlemen?’</p> - -<p>‘None whatever.’</p> - -<p>‘Were you very much surprised when you heard of the -strange way in which they both died?’</p> - -<p>‘I can’t say that I was.’</p> - -<p>‘Why were you not?’ asked Danevitch quickly.</p> - -<p>‘In the first place, I didn’t know they had been -murdered.’</p> - -<p>‘But when you did?’</p> - -<p>‘Then I thought they had made themselves obnoxious to -somebody, and the somebody had put them out of the way.’</p> - -<p>‘And yet you have no idea who that somebody is?’</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch stopped his questioning at this point. As -he left the house of Alexander Vlassovsky he was of -opinion he had ‘struck a trail’—to quote his own words—and -he began to think out the ways and means of proving -whether he was right or wrong.</p> - -<p>In a semi-fashionable quarter of St. Petersburg lived a -lady known generally as Madame Julie St. Joseph. She -was of French origin, but had been a great many years in -Russia. Her husband had carried on business in Moscow -as an engraver and chromo-lithographer. He had been -dead, however, a very long time, and seemed to have passed -from the public mind; but it was vaguely remembered that -he was almost old enough at the time of his death to have -been his wife’s grandfather.</p> - -<p>Julie St. Joseph was exceedingly handsome, and at this -period was about forty years of age. She might have -passed, however, for being even younger, as she was remarkably -well preserved, fresh-looking, bright of eye, and -with an abundance of animal spirits, which seemed rather -to indicate the girl than the matured woman. Much -wonder was very naturally expressed that the pretty widow -had remained a widow so long, for, as was well known, she -had had offers of marriage innumerable, and might, had -she been so disposed, have made an excellent match. But -the pretty Julie was fond of gaiety and freedom. As a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -wealthy widow—it was universally believed that she was -wealthy—she could do as she liked, and attract around her -men of all sorts and conditions, and of all ages. They -paid her homage. She held them, so to speak, in her hand; -she could twist them round her fingers. Quarrels about -her were innumerable, and more than one jealous and hot-blooded -fellow had lost his life in a duel of which the -bewitching Julie was the cause.</p> - -<p>The style she elected to live in was compatible with the -possession of riches. She kept up a splendid establishment; -her house was sumptuously furnished; she had numerous -servants, many horses. Her winter sledges were renowned -for their luxurious appointments; her summer carriages -were almost unique. She was a woman of the most -sybaritic tastes; and every taste was pandered to and -pampered. Among her servants was a Creole; he was a -man of medium height, though of powerful build, and -with a sullen, morose expression. He was always called -Roko, but of his origin and history nothing was known. -He seemed to be very strongly attached to his mistress, -and always attended her wherever she went; but no man -endowed with the faculty of speech could have been more -silent than he was. He rarely spoke, except when compelled -to answer some question; and it was rumoured that, -like a faithful hound, he slept at his mistress’s door, and -kept watch and ward over her during the hours of night, -while during the day he obeyed her slightest beck or call.</p> - -<p>It was the beginning of the Russian New Year, and -Madame Julie St. Joseph gave a ball. It was a very grand -ball; everything was done on a lavish scale, and the pomp -and magnificence was almost on a par with a State function. -The people, however, who attended the widow’s festive -gathering could not lay claim to any high social position—at -any rate, not so far as the ladies were concerned. The -ladies who were in the habit of frequenting the pretty -Julie’s salons were of questionable reputations. Julie was -not recognised as a person of social distinction, and in the -female world some rather cruel things were said about her. -The men, however, represented many grades of life: the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> -Army, Navy, Law; the Diplomatic Service; Art, Literature, -the Drama—intellectual Bohemia generally, though -not a few of these men were at considerable pains to conceal -the fact that they visited the charming widow, for, had it -been generally known, their own women-folk might have -protested in a way that would have been anything but -pleasant, and they would have found themselves ostracised -in those higher circles in which many of them moved. -Probably Madame St. Joseph was indifferent to the -opinions of her own sex, so long as she could exact homage -from men; and there could be no two opinions about the -power which she wielded over the sterner sex. It was, -therefore, scarcely matter for wonder that the ladies of -St. Petersburg should feel embittered against her. When -a man is jealous, he takes a rough-and-ready means of -showing his jealousy; if he has a rival, he generally ‘goes -for him,’ and the best man wins. A woman’s jealousy, on -the other hand, finds expression in a different way. In her -bitterness she would sully the reputation of a spotless angel, -and her mother-tongue has no words strong enough wherewith -to express her hatred. No wonder that the old -painters, in depicting jealousy, always took a female as a -model. Of course Madame Julie St. Joseph’s beauty, and -the power it enabled her to wield, made the women very -jealous indeed; but if her female guests lacked quality, the -deficiency was amply compensated for by the high standing -of many of the men. She knew, and was proud of the -fact, that there was hardly a man in Russia, no matter -how exalted his position, that she could not have brought -to her footstool had she desired to do so. Such a woman -was necessarily bound to become notorious and have -numberless enemies. But the widow was beautiful, she -was rich, she gave grand receptions, she spent money -liberally; therefore she had no difficulty in rallying around -her a powerful body of adherents; and, while half St. -Petersburg spoke ill of her, the other half lauded her.</p> - -<p>Amongst the guests who attended the ball in question -was a dark-skinned, somewhat peculiar-looking man, said -to be a Polish Count, named Prebenski. He had a heavy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> -moustache and beard, and wore spectacles. As he appeared -to be an entire stranger to the company, the hostess took -him for a time under her wing; but, as he could not or -would not dance, and seemed to find irresistible attraction -in the buffet, where there were unlimited supplies of vodka, -as well as wines of all kinds, she left him to his own devices, -and bestowed the favour of her smiles on more congenial -guests. At length the Count, from the effects, apparently, -of too great a consumption of strong drinks, sought a -quiet nook in an anteroom, and ensconcing himself in a -large chair, sank into a heavy sleep. Some time later, -when the night was growing very old and the grayness of -the winter dawn was beginning to assert itself, and the -guests had dwindled down to a mere handful, Roko, the -Creole, entered the room. Seeing the Count sleeping -there, he paused for a moment as if surprised; then he -shook the guest roughly, but getting no response, save a -grunt, he went away, returning in a few minutes with -another man. That man was Alexander Vlassovsky, who -approached the Count, shook him, called him, and being no -more successful in his efforts to arouse him than Roko had -been, he told Roko to carry him upstairs to a bedroom. -That was done, and the Count was tossed upon a bed and -left there; but before half an hour had passed Vlassovsky -came into the room carrying a small shaded lamp, for -though it was fully daylight heavy curtains were drawn at -the window.</p> - -<p>He passed the light of the lamp over the sleeping man’s -eyes, shook him, called him, but as the Count remained unconscious -of these efforts, the intruder placed the lamp on -a small table and, seating himself in a chair by the bedside, -began to search the pockets of the guest. The search -resulted in the production of a miscellaneous collection of -articles, which were duly returned; but at last a pocket-book -was drawn forth; it was opened, and found to contain -a considerable number of bank-notes, representing in the -aggregate a large sum of money. These notes Vlassovsky -took the liberty of transferring to his own pocket, and -replacing the lightened pocket-book, withdrew.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>Some hours later Count Prebenski rang the bell in his -room, and in response to the summons Roko appeared, -bearing a lamp. The Count eyed him for some moments -in apparent astonishment, and then asked:</p> - -<p>‘Where am I?’</p> - -<p>‘In the house of Madame Julie St. Joseph.’</p> - -<p>‘What is the hour?’</p> - -<p>‘It is three o’clock.’</p> - -<p>‘In the morning?’</p> - -<p>‘No. The afternoon.’ Roko drew the curtains, and -revealed the bright, steel-coloured winter sky, tinged a -little towards the horizon with a flush of red.</p> - -<p>The Count seemed puzzled. He stared first at the sky, -then at the Creole.</p> - -<p>‘How is it I am here?’ he asked.</p> - -<p>Roko revealed all his gleaming teeth as he grinned in reply.</p> - -<p>‘How is it I am here?’ repeated the Count, peremptorily -and hotly.</p> - -<p>‘Your Excellency indulged too freely in liquor, and we -had to put you to bed.’</p> - -<p>‘Umph!’ mused the Count; ‘it was kind; now, tell me, -did your mistress, Madame St. Joseph, know of my condition?’</p> - -<p>‘She did.’</p> - -<p>‘Was she angry?’</p> - -<p>‘Well, Excellency, she certainly wasn’t pleased.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! I fear I have made a bea—— a fool of myself. -Give me the wherewith to put myself in a presentable condition, -and I will see madam. By the way, has she risen yet?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Good; as soon as I have performed my toilet, return -here and conduct me to your mistress.’</p> - -<p>Roko bowed and withdrew. In half an hour he came -back again, and, followed by the Count, led the way to -Madame St. Joseph’s boudoir, a very comfortable little -retreat, daintily furnished, cosy and bright with knick-knacks, -cushions, curtains, luxurious rugs, and warmed to -the high temperature beloved of Russians by means of a -polished metal radiating stove. Dressed in a most elegant<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> -fur-trimmed dressing-gown, madame was stretched upon a -divan. Beside her was a Moorish table, on which stood -coffee and cigarettes. She was smoking as the Count -entered. Without rising, she extended her delicate white -hand to him, and, smiling sweetly, said:</p> - -<p>‘Pray be seated, Count. Roko, pour out some coffee. -Will you take vodka or cognac with it, Count?’</p> - -<p>The Count chose vodka, and his wants having been -supplied, the lady bade Roko retire.</p> - -<p>‘I owe you an apology, madame,’ began the Count. ‘I -forgot myself last night. It was good of you to take care -of me. I am deeply indebted to you for your hospitality.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, a mere trifle,’ smiled the lady. ‘My faithful slave -found you asleep in a chair, and as his efforts failed to -awaken you, he carried you upstairs by my orders.’</p> - -<p>At this point in the conversation the door opened, and -Vlassovsky appeared on the threshold; but seeing that -madame had a visitor, he quickly withdrew.</p> - -<p>‘I am sorry to say I am the victim of a strange weakness,’ -answered the Count. ‘I am a temperate man, but -should I be tempted to indulge beyond my ordinary allowance -it throws me into a sort of coma, from which I only -recover after many hours of death-like sleep.’</p> - -<p>‘You are to be pitied, Count.’</p> - -<p>‘Your pity is worth having,’ he answered. ‘Now, tell -me, madame, what penalty am I to pay for having so far -forgotten myself?’</p> - -<p>‘Penalty, Count!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes. I am wealthy. Money is no object to me. I -have notes. I am almost alone in the world.’</p> - -<p>‘Indeed!’ exclaimed the lady, with animation, and regarding -her guest with new-born interest; ‘you are fortunate. -I presume you are staying here temporarily?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes. I am travelling for my pleasure. When our -mutual friend Trepoff was good enough to ask you to -extend your courtesy to me, and sent me an invitation to -your ball, I accepted it with pleasure, and was glad to -leave the loneliness of my hotel; but it grieves me sorely -to think that I so forgot myself.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>‘Pray, Count, do not let the matter give you any concern,’ -said the charming widow, as she sat up and again -extended her soft hand to him to kiss. ‘Are you likely -to remain in St. Petersburg long?’</p> - -<p>‘My stay will be regulated by the amount of pleasure -I experience here. But a hotel is not the most comfortable -place in the winter, and I confess I feel dull and -lonely.’</p> - -<p>The lady fixed her keen eyes upon him as she remarked:</p> - -<p>‘Indeed, I can well understand that, Count. Now, if I -might venture to ask you to make my poor abode your -residence during your stay in the city, it would afford me -great pleasure to play the hostess. Will you accept of -my hospitality?’</p> - -<p>‘Really, Madame St. Joseph, I, I——’</p> - -<p>‘Pray, no thanks or excuses, Count; the pleasure is -mine, and I will endeavour at least to prevent your suffering -from ennui.’</p> - -<p>The Count rose, and warmly pressing her hand, said he -was overwhelmed by her goodness, and no less enchanted -with her beauty. He accepted her invitation in the spirit, -in which it was given, and without losing any time would -hasten to his hotel, pay his bill, and remove his things at -once to madame’s house. An hour later he drove up in a -drosky with his luggage, and was conducted to the handsomest -of the guest-chambers. That night he dined <i>tête-à-tête</i> -with madame, and in the course of the dinner he -told her that the previous night he managed to lose, or -had been relieved of, in some way, a large sum of money. -When she uttered exclamations of regret, and expressed -her sympathy with him, he laughed carelessly, made light -of his loss, and said that, large though the sum was, it -gave him no real concern, and he would regard it as a fine -he had paid for his rudeness.</p> - -<p>The widow sighed and told him he was a fortunate man -in being able to bear such a loss without feeling it.</p> - -<p>A fortnight passed, and the Count found himself in -comfortable quarters. As if desirous of monopolizing his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> -company, the widow invited nobody to the house, and -those who paid the ordinary courtesy calls she speedily -dismissed; while gentlemen who had been in the habit of -dropping in of an evening to play cards and sup with -pretty Julie were told by Roko that she was suffering so -much from the fatigues of the ball that she could see no -one. One caller, Peter Trepoff, who came specially to -inquire about the Count, was told that though he had -been there he had departed, without saying where he was -going to. All that fortnight she remained very secluded. -She would not accompany the Count when he invited her -to go out, and she so strongly persuaded him not to go -that he yielded and remained indoors. Every fascination, -every talent she possessed, she put forth and exerted to -amuse and entertain him, until he was as pliable as clay in -her hands. One night he had retired to rest, and had -been in his room about an hour, when he heard the handle -of his door move. The door was not locked; indeed, -there was no key wherewith to lock it, and he had not -concerned himself about it in any way. Very gently, and -almost without a sound, the latch was raised and the door -pushed open. Presently Roko entered on his hands and -knees. He paused and listened. Certain nasal sounds -seemed to indicate that the Count was sleeping very -soundly. Roko carried a tiny little lantern, and he flashed -a ray across the sleeper’s face. Having satisfied himself -that the Count was asleep, he drew from his pocket a -phial containing a colourless liquid, and, approaching a -night-table, on which stood a jug of barley-tea, which the -Count had in his room every night, as he said it had been -his custom for years always to drink barley-tea in the -night-time, the Creole poured the contents of the phial -into the jug, and having done that, he withdrew as -stealthily as he had entered. Soon afterwards the Count -rose, procured a light, and took from his portmanteau a -large flask, into which he emptied the barley-tea. Then -he addressed himself to sleep again, and slept the sleep of -the just.</p> - -<p>At the usual morning meal he did not put in an appearance;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> -but he sent a request to madame, asking her to -be good enough to come and see him. The request was -speedily complied with. When she appeared she looked as -charming and as radiant as ever. He was profuse in his -apologies for having troubled her to come to his room, but -pleaded as an excuse a feeling of extreme illness. She -displayed great anxiety and concern, and wanted to send -for a doctor; but he told her it was nothing. He thought -something had disagreed with him; that was all. It would -pass off. A doctor was not needed. She declared, however, -that if he felt no better in an hour’s time she would insist -on his seeing a doctor. An hour slipped by, and he was -still in the same condition, so a messenger was despatched -for a doctor, who speedily put in an appearance.</p> - -<p>To the doctor’s inquiries, the patient said he believed he -had eaten or drunk something which had upset him. The -doctor was of the same opinion, and prescribed accordingly. -In the course of the afternoon the Count said he felt somewhat -better, and though the hostess tried to dissuade him -from doing so, he announced his intention of going out to -get a breath of fresh air. He wanted her to accompany -him. That she stoutly refused to do; and when she saw -he was determined to go she withdrew her opposition, and -expressed a hope that he would speedily return. He -assured her that he would do so. He said he was going to -have a drive in a sledge on the Neva for two or three hours. -Having put on his Shuba, his fur gloves, fur-lined boots, -and fur cap, he took his departure.</p> - -<p>After an absence of about three hours, he returned, and -declared that he felt much better. He spent about an hour -with the lady in her boudoir, then retired. She was very -anxious that Roko should sit up with him, but he resolutely -set his face against that, saying that there was not the least -necessity for it. He was an exceedingly sound sleeper, and -he was sure he would sleep as soundly as usual. About -midnight his door was opened silently, as on the previous -night, and once again Roko crept stealthily to the bed-table, -and emptied the contents of a phial into the barley-tea. -Soon after he had withdrawn the Count jumped up,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -poured the tea into another flask, which he produced from -his portmanteau, and then lay down in the bed again until -a neighbouring church clock solemnly and slowly tolled -out two o’clock. Almost immediately the Count rose, and -dressed himself. That done, he took from his portmanteau -a revolver, and having examined it to ascertain if it was -properly loaded, he lighted a lantern provided with a -shutter, to shut off the light when required. Going to the -door, he opened it gently, and listened. All was silent. -There wasn’t a sound, save that made by the wind, which -whistled mournfully through the corridor. Having satisfied -himself that nothing human was stirring, the Count proceeded -cautiously along the corridor, descended a short -flight of stairs to another corridor, along which he passed, -and gained the main door that gave access to the street. -He opened this door, though not without some difficulty, -as there were bolts and chains to be undone, and he worked -cautiously for fear of making a noise.</p> - -<p>At last all obstacles were removed, and the heavy door -swung on its hinges, letting in a blast of icy air, and revealing -the brilliant stars that burned like jewels in the -cloudless black sky. In a few minutes eight men filed into -the house noiselessly, and the door was closed, but chains -and bolts were left undone. The men exchanged a few -sentences in whispers. Then, following the Count, they -proceeded to the sleeping apartment of Madame Julie St. -Joseph. In an anteroom, through which it was necessary -to pass to reach her room, Roko, enveloped in furs, lay on -a couch, locked in sleep. A shaded lamp stood on a bracket -against the wall.</p> - -<p>Four men remained in this room; the other four and -the Count entered the lady’s chamber. Here, again, a -shaded lamp burned on a bracket, and close to it an ikon—or -sacred picture—hung. The pretty widow was also -sleeping. By this time the Count had undergone a strange -transformation. His beard and moustache had disappeared, -revealing the smooth-shaved, mobile face of Michael Danevitch, -the detective. He shook the lady. With a start -she awoke. The four policemen had concealed themselves;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> -Danevitch alone was visible. It was some moments -before madame realized the situation; then, seeing a strange -man by her bedside, she uttered a cry, and called for Roko. -He sprang up, and instantly found himself in the grip of -two stalwart men, while the revolver under his pillow, -which he tried to get, was seized.</p> - -<p>‘Madame Julie St. Joseph,’ said Danevitch, ‘get up and -dress yourself.’</p> - -<p>‘What does this mean?’ she asked, with a look of alarm -on her pretty face, as she thrust her hand under the pillow, -where she likewise had a revolver concealed. But in an -instant Danevitch had seized her wrist in his powerful -grasp, and one of his colleagues removed the weapon.</p> - -<p>‘It means,’ he answered, ‘that your career of infamy has -come to an end. You are under arrest.’</p> - -<p>A look of terror and horror swept across her face as she -asked in a choked sort of voice:</p> - -<p>‘On what grounds am I arrested?’</p> - -<p>‘That you will learn later on. Sufficient for you to -know that you are a prisoner. Come, rise and dress -yourself.’</p> - -<p>She recognised the hopelessness of resistance, and, of -course, she understood that her faithful watch-hound -Roko had been rendered powerless. She was trapped; -that she knew. But it did not dawn upon her then that -the Count and Danevitch were one and the same. Consequently -she was puzzled to understand how her downfall -had been brought about.</p> - -<p>With a despairing sigh she rose and put on her clothes. -Half an hour later she was being conveyed to the gaol -with Roko, accompanied by Danevitch and three of his -colleagues. The other five had been left in charge of the -house. When madame had somewhat recovered her presence -of mind, she assumed a bravado which she was far from -feeling, and asked Danevitch airily if he knew how her -guest the Count was.</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes,’ answered Danevitch. ‘He is perfectly well, -as you may judge for yourself; for I it was who played -the part of the Count so effectively.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>With an absolute scream madame bit her lip with passion, -until the blood flowed, and dug her nails into the palms of -her hands.</p> - -<p>‘What a fool, a dolt, an idiot I’ve been! But tell -me, how was it Peter Trepoff asked me to invite you to -the ball?’</p> - -<p>‘Peter Trepoff is my agent, madame.’</p> - -<p>With a suppressed cry of maddening rage, the wretched -woman covered her face with her hands and groaned, as -she realized how thoroughly she had been outwitted.</p> - -<p>That same night, or, rather, some hours before the widow -and Roko were swept into the net which had been so -cleverly prepared for them, Alexander Vlassovsky was -arrested in Moscow. Danevitch learned that fact by -telegraph when he went out in the afternoon. He had -first begun to suspect Vlassovsky after that interview when -he was making inquiries about the death of Captain -Baranoff. The result was that he intercepted letters from -Madame Julie St. Joseph, who had returned to St. Petersburg. -She had a small house in Moscow, which she occasionally -visited in order to secure victims. In Moscow, -where he was well known, the wily Vlassovsky did not go -near her, but he helped her as far as he could in her -fiendish work. He had been very cleverly trapped by the -notes which he relieved the supposed Count of. Those -notes were not genuine, and when he attempted to pass -them he was arrested, for Danevitch had notified the -Moscow police.</p> - -<p>Subsequent revelations brought to light that the -wretched woman had been in the habit of luring men to -their doom by means of her fatal beauty. She bled them -of their money, her plan being to cajole them into giving -her a lien on any property they might possess. This was -most artfully worked by the aid of Vlassovsky, and when -the victim had been securely caught, he was poisoned. -The poisons were concocted by Madame St. Joseph herself, -and when she could not do it herself, Roko administered -the fatal dose or doses. She had picked up this man in -Spanish America, where she had been for some time, and,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> -weaving her spell about him, had made him absolutely her -slave.</p> - -<p>Vlassovsky, who, up to the time that he made her acquaintance, -had been an honest, industrious man, fell under -the magic of her influence, as most men did, and became -her all-too-willing tool. His nature once corrupted, all -scruples were thrown to the winds, and he hastened to try -and enrich himself. It seemed that the miserable woman -really loved him, and though he was fatally fascinated -with her, he was afraid of her; and, as he confessed, his -aim was to accumulate money as quickly as possible, and -then flee from her and the country for ever. But unfortunately -for himself, during that memorable interview following -Captain Baranoff’s death, he had aroused the suspicions -of Danevitch, whose marvellous perceptive faculties had -enabled him to detect something or another in Vlassovsky’s -manner, or answers to the questions put to him, which -made him suspicious. For Danevitch to become suspicious -meant that he would never rest until he had proved his -suspicions justified or unfounded.</p> - -<p>It need scarcely be said that with her arrest in St. -Petersburg Madame St. Joseph’s career came to an end. -From the moment that Danevitch entered her house her -doom was sealed. Believing him to be the person he -represented himself to be, she begged of him to help her -financially; and, seeming to yield to her entreaties, he -drew up a document which purported to make over to her -at his death certain estates in Poland. Of course, these -estates had no existence. Having secured him, as she -thought, her next step was to poison him by small doses of -black hellebore, so that he might gradually sicken and die. -Her devilish cunning was evidenced in every step she took. -She would not appear in public with him, nor did she -allow any of the visitors to her house to see him. Consequently -it would not be generally known that she had -associated with him. As his illness developed by means -of repeated doses, she would have had him removed to a -hotel, and she knew pretty well that, as in Colonel -Ignatof’s case, he would shrink from letting it be known<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> -that he had been intimate with her. Her cunning, however, -overreached itself; she was defeated with her own -weapons; Danevitch had been too much for her. The -poisoned barley-tea he submitted to analysis, and the evidence -against her was overwhelming. But when she found -that there was no hope, she was determined to defeat -justice, and one morning she was found dead in her cell: -she had poisoned herself with prussic acid. The acid was -conveyed to her by a warder, who was heavily bribed by -one of her friends to do it. It cost him his liberty, however, -for he was sent to Northern Siberia for the term of -his natural life.</p> - -<p>Roko died very soon afterwards from typhoid fever contracted -in the prison, but he was faithful to the last, for -never a word could be wrung from his lips calculated to -incriminate the strange woman who had thrown such a -spell around him. Vlassovsky was deported to Northern -Siberia in company with the treacherous warder. He -very soon succumbed, however, to the awful hardships he -was called upon to endure and the rigours of the Arctic -climate.</p> - -<p>The number of Madame St. Joseph’s victims was never -determined. That they were numerous there was not the -slightest doubt; and had it not been for the cleverness of -Danevitch she would probably have continued to pursue -her infamous career for years longer, and ultimately have -passed away in the odour of sanctity. Her downfall, it -need scarcely be said, caused great satisfaction in St. -Petersburg and Moscow, where she had destroyed so many -of her victims.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE STRANGE STORY OF AN ATTACHÉ.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> can readily be understood that Danevitch led not only -an active life, but a varied one; and the cases he was -called upon to deal with revealed many remarkable phases -of human nature. He never attempted to pose as a -moralist, but he frequently deplored the fact that wickedness -and evil should so largely predominate over goodness. -He was also apt to wax indignant against the vogue to -decry anything in the nature of sensation. He was in the -habit of saying that life from the cradle to the grave is -full of sensations, and that the inventions of the fictionist -are poor, flat, and stale, when compared with the realities -of existence. But this is undoubtedly the experience of -everyone who knows the world and his kind. It is only -the cheap critic, the bigot, or the fool, who has the boldness -to deny the existence of sensation in real life, and to -sneer at what he is pleased to term melodramatic improbabilities. -There is no such thing as a melodramatic improbability. -The only charge that can legitimately be -levelled at the so-called sensational writer is his tendency -to grotesque treatment of subjects which should simply be -faithful reproductions from life. The curious story of -young Count Dashkoff, the Russian attaché, with whom -this narrative is concerned, illustrates in a very forcible -way the views advanced in the foregoing lines. Indeed, -as Danevitch himself says, if anyone had invented the -story and put it into print, he would have raised the ire -of the army of critics—the self-constituted high-priests of -purity, who, being unable to improve or even equal that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> -which they condemn, are all the more violent in their condemnation.</p> - -<p>Count Dashkoff was a young man, a member of a very -old Russian family, who had in their day wielded great -power, and before the abolition of serfdom took place, -had held sway over more serfs than any other family in the -whole of the empire. The Count had distinguished himself -in many ways. His career, up to the time of the -extraordinary events about to be recorded, had been -marked by brilliancy and shade. As a student and a -scholar he had attracted the attention of many notable -men, more particularly by his well-known and remarkable -work, entitled ‘The Theory of Creation,’ which is conspicuous -for its erudition, its deep research, and its wide -grasp and clever treatment of a tremendous subject. The -book is, and will ever remain, a standard, and consequently -an enduring monument to the Count’s ability and industry. -On the other hand, he had made himself notorious by -certain excesses, and a recklessness of conduct which had -shocked the proprieties and outraged the feelings of those -who were interested in him and hoped that he would ultimately -rise to power and position. Of course, excuses -were forthcoming on the grounds of his youth, and, as if -trying to establish a right by two wrongs, it was urged -that he had simply done what most Russian youths do -who are born to high estate and have control of wealth. -As a stepping-stone to the future greatness predicted for -him by his friends, the Count, after a probationary course -in the diplomatic service at home, was sent as an attaché -to the Russian Embassy in Paris. As might be supposed, -he took kindly to Parisian life. He was what is usually -termed an elegant young man, with æsthetic tastes. When -he first went to Paris he was about eight-and-twenty, and, -apart from the advantages of youth, he had wealth, good -looks, sound health, and a cheerful disposition. He enjoyed -life, and showed no disposition to mortify the flesh -by an austere or monastic régime. His private residence -in the Champs Élysées was conspicuous for the magnificence -of its appointments, and was the rendezvous of the élite<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> -of Paris society—that frivolous section which lives for no -higher purpose than to live, and is attracted to wealth and -luxury as bees are attracted to sugar. It seemed that this -apparently fortunate young man, who could be serious -enough when occasion required, was fond of attention and -homage. He loved to be surrounded with a crowd of -admirers, who flattered him, praised his bric-à-brac, and -gorged themselves with the good things he invariably set -before them. He knew, no doubt, that they were all -fawners and sycophants, but, still, they made up a little -world over which he ruled, and wherever he led the noodles -would follow.</p> - -<p>Two years of this sort of life passed, and then Danevitch -was instructed to proceed with all haste from Russia to try -and discover what had become of the Count, for he had -suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, and all efforts of -the Paris police and the boasted skill of the Parisian -detectives had failed to reveal a trace of him. The facts -of the case were as follows: In the course of the month of -January the Count gave a grand ball and reception at his -elegant hotel, and the event drew together the gilded -youth of both sexes. These functions at the Count’s residence -were always marked by a magnificence of splendour -and a lavish expenditure which seemed hardly consonant -with his position as a mere attaché. But it must not be -forgotten that he was the heir to great wealth, and represented -a noble family who had ever been distinguished for -the almost regal style in which they lived.</p> - -<p>About two o’clock in the morning the Count drew an -intimate friend of his—a Monsieur Eugène Peon—on one -side, and told him he wanted to slip away for an hour, but -he did not wish it to be known that he had gone out. He -would be sure to be back in about an hour, he added. A -few minutes later the concierge saw him leave the hall. -He was attired in a very handsome and costly fur coat, -with a cap to match; and though the weather was bitterly -cold and the ground covered with snow, he wore patent-leather -shoes. The concierge, who was much surprised at -the fact of his master leaving the house in the midst of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> -revels, asked him if he wanted a carriage. To this question -the Count answered curtly, and, according to the porter, -angrily, ‘No.’ The night wore itself out. The dancers -danced themselves into limpness and prostration, and -began to depart. Some surprise had been expressed at the -Count’s absence, and various inquiries had been made about -him; but it was suggested that the seductive influences of -the wine-cup had proved too much for him, and he had -retired. This hint or suggestion appeared to satisfy the -light-headed revellers, who gave no further thought to the -matter. His friend, Eugène Peon, considered it very -strange that the Count should go away and remain away -in such a manner, to the neglect of his guests, for he -was the most punctilious host. But Peon set it down to -an assignation, and thought that he had found the society -of some fair one more attractive than the glitter and glare -of the ballroom. The day had very well advanced before -there was anything like real surprise felt at the Count’s -prolonged absence.</p> - -<p>It appeared that Eugène Peon called at his friend’s hotel -soon after three o’clock in the afternoon, and, ascertaining -that he was not at home, went down to the Embassy to -inquire for him there, but to his astonishment was informed -that the Count had not been there for two days. Although -astonished, Peon was not uneasy. He stated that he saw -no cause to be uneasy, although he had never known his -friend do such a thing before, and was aware that he was -most attentive to his duties. When he called again on the -following morning, however, and was informed that the -Count was still absent, he began then to fear that something -was wrong, and he at once communicated his fears to -some of the Count’s close personal friends; he had no relations -in Paris at all. A consultation was held, but there -seem to have been divided counsels, and no steps were taken -to ascertain the Count’s whereabouts, though some inquiries -were made of the members of the household, but all that -could be elicited was that the concierge saw his master go -out about two o’clock, and that he was dressed in patent-leather -boots, a heavy fur coat, and a fur cap. From the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> -tone in which he said ‘No,’ when asked if he wanted a -carriage, he appeared to be angry; but there was no indication -in his gait or speech that he was under the influence -of wine. It was not until another whole day had -passed that anything like real alarm had set in. The -alarm by this time had reached the Embassy, and it was -decided that the police should be communicated with. -Strangely enough, the police did not at first attach any -serious importance to the matter. They made certain -inquiries in a perfunctory manner, and for some inscrutable -reason—unless it was sheer, downright pig-headedness, a -quality often enough conspicuous in the French police—they -came to the conclusion that ‘Monsieur le Comte’ had -been guilty of some little escapade, and would turn up very -shortly. As this prediction had not been fulfilled when -another twenty-four hours had elapsed, a much more -serious view was taken of the young man’s absence, and -dark hints were let drop that he had been inveigled into -one of the haunts of vice which abound in the gay city, -and had been murdered. The murder theory was at once -taken up; detectives were communicated with, and the -theory of murder found general acceptance.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, a gentleman, who by reason of his -position and his riches had cut a conspicuous figure in -society, disappearing suddenly in this way was bound to -cause a sensation, and as the Parisians dearly love a sensation -and a scandal, the matter was a fruitful topic of conversation -for several days, while much ink was expended -over it by the journalists. But notwithstanding the publicity -given to the matter, and the efforts of police and -detectives, another week passed, and not a trace or sign of -the missing man had been obtained.</p> - -<p>Up to this point the Count’s relatives in Russia had not -been communicated with, from a desire to avoid alarm, for -there were those who still hoped he would turn up again -all right; but now his Russian friends in Paris regarded -the affair as too serious to be longer withheld. As a preliminary, -a message was at once sent asking if the Count -had returned home, and almost simultaneously with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> -despatch of that message a courier set out for Russia with -the tidings and details.</p> - -<p>As the Count—as far as was known—had not returned -to Russia, great consternation was caused amongst his -friends by the report that reached them, and no time was -lost in securing the services of Danevitch, who was instructed -to leave for Paris without a moment’s delay, and -institute independent inquiries.</p> - -<p>‘I found, on arriving in the French capital,’ says Danevitch, -‘that by order of the Russian Ambassador all the -Count’s things had been sealed up and his house temporarily -closed. My preliminary investigations were directed to -trying to discover if there were any grounds for believing -that the missing man had committed suicide. This inquiry -was necessarily forced upon one—at any rate upon me, -although I learnt that the possibilities of suicide had never -entered the heads of the French police. And though at -first they had suggested murder, they soon abandoned that -idea, for no other reason, as it appeared, than that they -had not been able to find his body. And in consequence -of this they insisted that he had taken himself off to some -other country in order to avoid the results of conduct unbecoming -a gentleman and a member of the Embassy. -When they were asked to give a name to his conduct, they -declined, but darkly hinted at something very dreadful. I -myself could find no grounds for the theory of suicide, -while everyone at the Embassy, as well as all who knew -him, indignantly repudiated the slur which was sought to -be cast upon the young gentleman’s character. I could -find no one who had a word to say against his honour. -That he might have had <i>affaires d’amour</i>, as the French call -them, was readily admitted; but as all is considered fair in -love, as in war, these matters were not supposed to reflect -on the honour of a man.</p> - -<p>‘As Monsieur Eugène Peon had been very intimate with -the Count, I questioned that gentleman very closely concerning -his friend’s movements, and elicited that he had -been a pretty general lover, but, so far as he knew, the -Count had formed no serious attachment to anybody.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> -Peon could suggest no reason why the Count should have -left his guests so abruptly, unless it was to keep an assignation.</p> - -<p>‘Now, it must be remembered that when he left his -house it was about two o’clock on a winter morning, and, -according to the concierge, he seemed angry when he went -out. This seemed to me to point to two things as absolutely -certain. Firstly, the Count’s going out at such an -hour was not premeditated. Secondly, whatever appointment -he went to keep, it was not an agreeable one to him, -and, being annoyed, he displayed his irritation in the sharp -answer he gave the concierge. These points seemed to me -of great importance, and naturally led me to an inquiry -directed to finding out if one of his servants had delivered -any message to him, or conveyed any letter during the -evening.</p> - -<p>‘The servants had been dismissed, and it was not an easy -matter to reach them all; but by persevering I succeeded -in doing so, and found at last that the Count’s body-servant, -a Frenchman, named Auguste Chauzy, had been -out all the evening, after having dressed his master, and -knowing that he would not be wanted again until the -morning. He returned, however, soon after midnight, and -just as he was about to enter the house, a man stepped up -to him hurriedly, and, putting a sealed envelope into his -hand, said, “Give that immediately to your master, Count -Dashkoff. Fail not to do so, as it is a matter of life and -death.”</p> - -<p>‘When Chauzy got into the hall, he glanced at the -envelope, and saw that it simply bore the Count’s name—no -address; but in the left-hand corner was the French -word <i>Pressant</i> (Urgent) underlined. The valet could not -get near his master for some time after this, but as soon as -an opportunity occurred to do so, he handed him the note. -The moment the Count’s eye caught the superscription, a -frown settled on his face, and, with a gesture of annoyance, -he thrust the letter unopened in his pocket. About half -an hour later, however, the valet was informed by another -servant that the Count required his fur coat and cap.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> -They were to be placed in his dressing-room ready for -him.</p> - -<p>‘I questioned Chauzy about the man who had handed -him the letter in the street; but the only description he -could give of him was that he seemed to be well dressed, -was of medium height, and had a dark beard and -moustache.’</p> - -<p>Having brought to light the fact about the letter, -Danevitch struck a keynote, as it were—and one which -had not been touched upon by the French police. If that -letter could have been found, it might have revealed much; -but it was almost certain that if the Count did not destroy -it before leaving the house he had it in his pocket when he -went out. Danevitch’s deduction from the letter incident -was this: The Count went out owing to some communication -made to him in that letter. He did not go willingly; -consequently his errand was a disagreeable one, and could -hardly have been to keep a love tryst. Whoever the -writer of the letter was, he or she must have had some -powerful hold on the Count to induce him to leave his -friends and guests, and go out at two o’clock on a bitter -winter morning. This line of reasoning was one which -Danevitch could not avoid, for it was his wont to argue -his subject from a given set of premises, and a strict regard -for probabilities. He was led—and it was but natural -he should be—to the conclusion that the Count’s disappearance -was due to conduct which had brought him in -contact with unscrupulous people, into whose power he -had fallen. It was clear that if he was still living he was -forcibly detained somewhere or other, and was in such -a position that he could not communicate with those who -were so anxious about him. If this was not the case, it -was hard to understand why he should have remained -silent, knowing well enough the anxiety and distress his -prolonged absence would cause. The other hypothesis -was—the idea of suicide not being entertained—that he -had been murdered. If that was the case, the motive for -the murder was either revenge or robbery. It seemed -almost absurd to think of robbery, for this reason: it was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -hardly likely that anyone would have chosen such an -inopportune moment; for, at two o’clock in the morning, -and entertaining a house full of guests, he would scarcely -have much valuable property on his person. If he had -been murdered, the crime had been prompted by feelings -of revenge, and committed by someone who believed he -had a deadly grievance against the young man—a grievance -that could only be compensated for by the shedding of the -Count’s blood.</p> - -<p>It was impossible to ignore what, on the face of it, -seemed to be a fact—that the writer of the letter was -personally acquainted with the Count, and possessed knowledge -which placed a weapon in his hand. Of course, the -Count’s friends wouldn’t listen for a moment to any -suggestion that he had been guilty of conduct unbecoming -a gentleman, and, having discovered that, Danevitch -kept his views to himself; though he closely questioned -Eugène Peon, who, while admitting that he had had -numerous little adventures with the Count, declared that -these adventures were only those which a young, handsome, -and rich man would engage in, and while they might be -described as foolish and reckless, they were never of a -nature to reflect upon his honour. They were, in short, -simply the follies and venial sins of youth, such as were -common, in a greater or lesser degree, to all young men. -Nothing further than this could be elicited from Peon, -who appeared to be a reserved and reticent person, giving -Danevitch the impression that he always had something in -reserve—that he had an <i>arrière pensée</i>, and would not tell -more than it suited him to tell. At any rate, he declined -to suggest any theory that would account for his friend’s -sudden and mysterious disappearance.</p> - -<p>‘Do you not know if he had any serious love affair?’ -asked Danevitch with some sharpness, as he came to the -conclusion that Peon was not as candid as he ought to be.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t,’ answered Peon emphatically.</p> - -<p>‘But surely, intimate as you were with him, you must -know something of your friend’s little gallantries?’</p> - -<p>‘I do not, beyond what I have told you.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>Peon gave this answer with a sharpness and decisiveness -which made it clear that he would not submit to pumping, -and would not be drawn on the subject of his friend’s -amours.</p> - -<p>During the time that Danevitch was searching for a clue—without -avail up to this stage—the Count’s friends did -not remain inactive. Necessarily, they were impatient, and -grew more restless as the weeks sped by without bringing -any tidings of the missing man. The police confessed -themselves baffled, and seemed to be at a loss to suggest -a feasible theory, and they urged the friends to offer a -substantial reward for information that would lead to the -discovery of the Count if living, and a lesser reward for his -body if dead. The friends yielded, and intimated that -they would pay ten thousand francs for the Count’s -recovery living, or five thousand for his body. The police -quite believed this reward would have the desired effect, -and that they would be relieved from an embarrassing -situation. Of course, the human water-rats who haunt -the Seine kept a very sharp look-out indeed, and every -corpse that they dragged from the foul and reeking waters -of the sluggish river was eagerly scrutinized in the hope -that it would turn out to be the body of the missing -Count. But though it was reported several times that the -dead Count had been fished out of the river, the report, on -investigation, proved to be false. Nor did the offer of the -ten thousand francs prove more potent. Not a trace of -the missing man was discovered.</p> - -<p>This failure of the substantial reward to bring forth any -tidings confirmed Danevitch in the opinion he had formed -that the Count’s disappearance was the result of some plot, -and those engaged in it were in a position which rendered -them indifferent to the reward. This did not imply that -the detective considered it a certainty that the Count was -living. On the contrary, he inclined to the belief that he -had been murdered, but, necessarily, the murderers could -not produce his body for fear of betraying themselves. In -his own way, Danevitch worked away quietly and unostentatiously. -He was perfectly convinced that the clue to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> -the mystery would be found in the habits of the Count, or -among some of his possessions. But the friends in Paris -opposed strong objections to any exhaustive search of his -effects being made, influenced thereby, no doubt, by a fear -of anything being made public calculated to reflect on the -missing man’s honour. This supersensitiveness was annoying, -and at last Danevitch applied to the relatives in -Russia, and asked them to give a peremptory order for -him to be allowed to go through the Count’s papers. In -response to this application, the Count’s father came at -once to Paris, and took possession of everything belonging -to his son, and he and Danevitch went through the papers -together. There was a mass of official correspondence and -business letters, but very few private letters, except those -from his parents and his near relatives, and love letters -from a young lady residing in Russia. She was of high -family, and well known to the Count’s people, who hoped -that he would ultimately make her his wife, as in every -way the match was a desirable one. The letters evinced a -very strong attachment on the lady’s part, and were in -many instances couched in warm, even extravagant, phrases -of love. But there was nothing in them calculated to -throw light on the mystery. She knew of her lover’s disappearance, -and was prostrated with grief and anxiety, so -the Count’s father asserted.</p> - -<p>The result of the examination of the papers so far was -very disappointing, but a small diary was found in which -were some rather remarkable passages. It was not a diary -of doings and events from day to day, but seemed to be -the outpourings of the writer’s feelings and emotions, -written in a fitful and irregular manner. Those which -struck Danevitch the most were as follows:</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>‘I often wonder whether we are really free and responsible -beings; whether the evil we do is the result of -deliberate sinning, or whether it is due to some inward -promptings which we are absolutely powerless to resist. -If the latter, to what extent can we be held liable for our -sins? I am sorely troubled at times with this thought,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> -and yearn for someone to whom I could appeal with a -hope of receiving such an answer as would seem to me -satisfactory. The teachings of my Church do not satisfy -me. The Church says that to do evil is to incur the -wrath of Heaven; but if I cannot resist doing evil, is it -right that I should be held responsible? Of course, the -world would say that this is sophistry, but when I find -myself on the one hand trying with all my might to avoid -doing anything which, according to the laws of ethics and -the canons of the Church, could be construed into wrong-doing, -and, on the other, being drawn by some vaguely -defined power, which I am too weak to resist, into doing -that which I am conscious it is not right to do, I ask -myself if I can really be held responsible. It seems to -me that I have two distinct characters, clearly separated, -and entirely antagonistic to each other. The one leads -me into paths that I would fain avoid; the other causes -me to weep for my frailty. I wonder if all men are constituted -like this? Perhaps they are, but are less sensitive -than I am.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>‘If a man entangles himself in a net, he may exhaust -himself in his struggles to get free again, and it may even -be that the more he struggles the more tightly he may -enmesh himself, until he realizes the horror that he is -doomed to remain powerless until death itself releases him. -This is figurative language, but it is by such language that -we can best convey our true meaning. It is but speaking -in parables, and parables better than anything else often -enable us to understand and grasp what would otherwise -be obscure. Unhappily, I am entangled in a net, and I -have struggled in vain to free myself. If I could undo the -past, I might know true happiness once more; but that -which is done is done, and though we weep tears of blood, -we can never obliterate the record which is written on the -tablets of memory. I wonder what the pure being in -Russia, to whom I gave my heart, would say if she knew -how I had wronged her. Can I ever look into her clear -honest eyes again with the frank, unflinching gaze of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> -happy days past and gone? I fear not. Indeed, I feel that -I dare not meet her again. I have dug a gulf between us, -and that gulf can never be bridged. But I suffer agony -of mind when I think how she will suffer when she knows -my baseness, as know she must, sooner or later. It is hard -to have to live two lives, as I am doing. To my friends I -appear all they would believe me to be; but in the solitude -of my chamber my heart bleeds as I realize how false -I am.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>‘I have been weak, but am growing strong again. -Desperation is lending me strength, in fact; and I shall -burst these accursed bonds asunder. I have still youth -and energy, and must make an effort to climb to higher -heights. I have been walking blindly hitherto, and have -missed my way, but I see it clear enough now; and a -resolute and determined man, who finds himself surrounded -by obstacles, should sweep them away. He who hesitates -is lost; I have hesitated, but will do so no longer. Great -things are expected from me, and I must not disappoint -those who have placed their hopes upon me. Marie must -not be allowed to keep me bound down in the gutter. It -is not my place. I was destined to walk on higher heights; -and since it is impossible for me to raise her, she must be -cut adrift. It may seem cowardly; it may be cruel for -me to do this; but it must be done, for I cannot endure -the double life any longer. Is a man to suffer all his life -for one false step? Am I justified in breaking the hearts -of parents and betrothed? No. It must not be—shall -not be. In a few weeks I shall send in my resignation, -and quit Paris for ever. It will cause a nine days’ wonder, -but what of that? People will say I am a fool, but it -won’t affect me. I shall plead that I know my own affairs -best, and that circumstances of a private and pressing -nature necessitate my hasty return to Russia. This I am -determined to do, cost what it may. I have taken Eugène -Peon into my confidence. He will help me, and satisfy -the curious when I am gone.’</p> - - - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>There was a significance in the foregoing passages which -was not lost upon Danevitch. The Count gave himself -away, though, of course, he never expected that any eyes -but his own would read what he had written. It will be said, -of course, that it was foolish for him to have committed -his thoughts to paper; though it must be remembered -that there are some men who seem to derive a strange -pleasure in recording their evil deeds. It is a well-known -fact that some of the greatest criminals have kept diaries, -in which they have written the most damning evidence of -their guilt. The Count’s diary proved conclusively that -there were certain ugly passages in his life, and two points -were made clear—there was a woman in the case, and -Eugène Peon knew more of the Count’s affairs than he -cared to own to, and confirmed Danevitch in his belief -that Peon was a crafty man, and by no means carried his -heart upon his sleeve.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, the Count’s father was much cut -up, as he realized that his son had been guilty of evil which -was calculated to reflect upon the honour of the family, -that honour of which the old man was so proud, and which -he would gladly have died to shield.</p> - -<p>Of course it became necessary now to find out who the -‘Marie’ referred to in the diary was; for it was obvious -that she was directly or indirectly responsible for the -Count’s disappearance. No letters could be discovered -which were calculated to throw any light on the subject, -but in a small drawer of the Count’s desk there was found -the photograph of a young woman, and on the back, in a -scrawling hand, was the following:</p> - -<p class="center">‘For ever and ever thine.<br /> - -<span class="gap"><span class="smcap">Marie.</span>’</span></p> - -<p>The likeness was that of a singularly handsome girl of -about two-and-twenty; but the handwriting was so bad -it suggested that the writer was not educated.</p> - -<p>Danevitch felt now that he was in possession of a clue—a -vague one, it was true, but it was possible it might lead -to very important results. Marie must be found, though<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> -he did not know at the moment how he was going to find -her. Paris was a big place; Marie was a very common -name. Danevitch, however, having once got on the scent, -was not likely to go very far astray, and he generally -found some means of bringing down his quarry at last. -He was not indifferent to the self-evident fact that in this -case there were no ordinary difficulties to contend against; -this was proved by the large reward having failed to bring -forth any information. It showed that those who were -responsible for the Count’s disappearance had very powerful -motives for keeping their secret; and whether few or -many were interested in that secret, ten thousand francs -was not strong enough to tempt one of them; and it -seemed as if it was not the Count’s money that was -responsible for his disappearance. He kept a banking -account in Paris, but this had not been drawn upon since -the week before he went away, when he cashed a cheque -for three thousand francs. But at this stage a curious -incident was brought to light, which put a new complexion -on the matter altogether.</p> - -<p>The incident was this: It appeared that the Count also -kept a considerable account at the Moscow branch of the -Bank of Russia. He owned a good deal of property in -and about Moscow, part of it being a flourishing flax-mill, -which turned over a princely revenue. His Moscow -affairs were managed by an agent who had been connected -with the family for nearly half a century. It was his duty -to pay all money that he received into the bank without -delay. Consequently, there was generally a large balance -standing to the Count’s credit. One day a three months’ -bill of exchange, purporting to be drawn on the Count by -Paul Pavlovitch and Co., flax merchants, at Riga, for one -hundred thousand francs, and accepted by the Count and -payable at the bank in Moscow, was duly presented by an -individual, who stated that he was a member of the firm. -As all seemed right, the bill was paid, and a receipt given -in the name of Peter Pavlovitch, who represented himself -as the son of Paul. A week later the cancelled bill passed -into the hands of the Count’s agent, and he at once declared<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> -it to be a forgery. Pavlovitch and Co., of Riga, -were immediately communicated with, and they denied all -knowledge of the Count, had never had any business transactions -with him, had never drawn a bill upon him, and -knew nothing of Peter Pavlovitch. This was a revelation -indeed, and pointed conclusively to a conspiracy. It -seemed to Danevitch pretty evident that the person who -forged the bill knew a good deal about the Count, and if -that person could be laid hold of the plot might be unmasked. -There was another thing, too, that appeared to -be no less clear: the forger of the bill was acquainted with -the Count’s affairs, and also with Russia. The firm of -Paul Pavlovitch and Co., of Riga, was an old-established -firm, and there was nothing to strike a stranger as peculiar -in their holding a bill of the Count’s; for the Count was the -owner of a flax-mill, and did business with a good many flax -merchants. Nevertheless, the bank in Moscow was blamed -for having been somewhat lax in paying the bill without -having taken steps to satisfy themselves that the person -who presented it was the person he represented himself to -be. Moreover, in the business world bills of that nature -were usually collected by a bank. However, the Moscow -bank people defended themselves by saying that, though -a little out of course, there was nothing extraordinary in -a bill being presented by a member of a firm holding it.</p> - -<p>As soon as Danevitch heard of the incident of the -forged bill, he returned at once to Moscow, deeming it -probable that he might there pick up some thread which -would lead him to a clue. The man calling himself Peter -Pavlovitch, to whom the money was paid, was described as -of medium height, of muscular build, dark-complexioned, -black hair, beard, and moustache, in age about thirty. -He was well dressed, and the receipt he gave was written -in a bold, clerkly hand. Of course, there was nothing in -this description to distinguish him from thousands of -others, and Moscow was a large place; but Danevitch went -to work on the assumption that the man, whoever he -might be, was well acquainted with the Count, and he -knew a good deal of his business; that, to some extent,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> -narrowed the inquiry, which was necessarily directed to -trying to discover a person upon whom suspicion could -justifiably fasten.</p> - -<p>The Count’s agent was a Pole named Padrewski. He -was a man of high repute, and one in whom his employer -placed the greatest confidence. He could not even vaguely -identify the self-styled ‘Peter Pavlovitch’ from the description -given, and was of opinion that he was not a resident -in Moscow, though probably not a stranger. If he -was not a resident in the city, it was likely enough that -he sojourned there long enough to enable him to transact -his business, and having possessed himself of the money, he -would depart without delay. Danevitch ascertained that -the bill was presented for payment about half-past ten in -the morning. That argued that the person who drew the -money and gave the receipt had slept in the city, and -probably lodged at some café or hotel. So the detective -set to work at once to make inquiries at the various hotels -and lodging-houses. In Russia, as in France and Germany, -every lodging-house-keeper and hotel proprietor is compelled -by law to keep a register of his guests. It is therefore -far easier to discover anyone who occupies temporary -lodgings than it is in this country. Now, it struck Danevitch -that, if the presenter of the forged bill had come to -Moscow for the sole purpose of drawing the money, he -would in all probability select a place near the railway-station. -There were several hotels and cafés in the -vicinity of the station. At all of these inquiries were -made, and, at a third-rate café-restaurant, called in -Russian The Traveller’s Joy, it was found that a man -answering the description of the one required had stayed -in the house for four days, and had taken his departure by -train on the same day that the bill was presented; and on -that very day he had paid his account with a brand-new -five hundred rouble note, receiving the change in small -money. As the restaurant-keeper could not cash the note -himself, he got it done at a money-changer’s in the neighbourhood. -The money-changer made an entry of the -number of the note, and by that Danevitch was able to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> -prove that it was one of the notes paid by the bank to -‘Peter Pavlovitch.’ This, of course, was an important -discovery, as it conclusively proved that the man who -handed the note to the landlord was the one who got the -money for the forged bill. This was an important link, -and another was soon discovered.</p> - -<p>‘From information received,’ to quote the common -police-court expression, Danevitch learnt that during the -time the pseudo Peter Pavlovitch was staying at The -Traveller’s Joy he was visited daily by a pretty young -woman, who, from her manner, style of dress, and general -get-up, was supposed to be connected with the theatrical -profession. Every evening Peter went out with her, then -both returned together and supped, and after that went -out again, and some time later Peter returned alone. The -deduction from this was, assuming she belonged to the -theatrical profession, that Peter took her to the theatre at -night, brought her back to supper after she had done her -work, and then saw her home to her lodgings. Fortunately, -a very minute description of the woman was forthcoming, -and from this Danevitch ultimately identified her -as a Fräulein Holzstein, supposed to be of Austrian or -German nationality. She was a music-hall singer, and had -been fulfilling an engagement at a hall in Moscow, but had -then left and gone to a place of entertainment in St. -Petersburg, whither Danevitch journeyed without delay. -He soon discovered the lady he was seeking, but was very -cautious not to let her know that she was under surveillance. -He had no difficulty in making her acquaintance, -in the capacity of a man about town who enjoyed -the privilege of being allowed on the stage; and on one -or two occasions she deigned to accept an invitation to sup -with him. He learnt from her that when her engagement -terminated in St. Petersburg, as it would do in a few days, -she was going to Vienna for a week, thence to Berlin for a -fortnight, and after that to Paris to perform in a sensational -drama at the Châtelet. Danevitch was now instinctively -certain that he was on the trail, and he -resolved not to lose it. Therefore, when Fräulein Holzstein<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -took her departure from the Russian capital, he left by the -same train, though she was not aware of it. He followed -her to Vienna, from Vienna to Berlin, from Berlin to Paris. -When she arrived at Paris she was met by a man who was -at once identified from the description Danevitch had -received as the man who had presented the forged bill for -payment at the Moscow bank. The scent was now getting -warm, but at this stage it would have been premature to -have taken any steps calculated to frighten the quarry -which was being so patiently shadowed. This man and -woman were not the only actors in the drama, if, as was -thought probable, they were in any way connected with -the Count’s disappearance; and Danevitch had yet to -prove that there was any connection between that incident -and the forged bill.</p> - -<p>The man who had passed himself off as Peter Pavlovitch -in Moscow was known in Paris as Henri Charcot, and by -calling he was a theatrical and music-hall agent. He rented -a small office not very far from the Châtelet Theatre; but, -judging from appearances, he was not in a very flourishing -way of business, although Danevitch gathered that at one -time he had had an extensive connection. He had lost -it, however, by inattention and shady practices. Fräulein -Holzstein was, or at any rate represented herself to be, -the wife of Charcot.</p> - -<p>Another discovery was now made by the patient and -watchful Danevitch. A man was in the habit of visiting -the Charcots. He occupied a much higher social position -than they did; but it was made evident he did not care -for his visits being known to other people, for he always -went at night, and invariably wore a cloak of such ample -proportions that his figure was practically disguised, while -a broad-brimmed, soft hat served to conceal his features. -The Charcots lived in rather a poor quarter of Paris, not -far from the Gare de l’Est. In this region was a very -popular and much-frequented restaurant, largely patronized -by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The Charcots -invariably went there to dine. And when the strange man -visited them, he generally went with them to dine or sup,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> -as the case might be, on those occasions. They indulged -in the privacy of a <i>cabinet particulière</i>, as it is called in -France—that is to say, a private room.</p> - -<p>One night the three went to the restaurant for dinner, -and were shown into a snug cabinet, where a small stove -dispensed a comforting warmth, for the night was excessively -cold, and to protect the occupants from draught -a heavy screen was drawn between the table and the window. -When the coffee and cognac were placed on the table, -and Madame Charcot and the two men had lighted their -cigarettes, the waiter was dismissed and the door closed. -Then the lady and her two companions, feeling under no -restraint, freely indulged in conversation.</p> - -<p>‘Do you people intend to remain in Paris?’ asked the -stranger.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I think so,’ replied Charcot. ‘I don’t see that -there is much to fear. No one suspects us, and it is not -worth while giving up our business, such as it is.’</p> - -<p>‘You feel sure that your visit to Russia in connection -with the bill is not known?’</p> - -<p>‘Perfectly sure. My wife and I managed the business -too cleverly for suspicion to be directed against us.’</p> - -<p>‘But you mustn’t forget that Michael Danevitch has got -the matter in hand.’</p> - -<p>Madame Charcot broke into a mocking laugh, as she -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘Pooh! There is nothing to fear from Danevitch. He -is a very much overrated man. All the wonderful stories -that one hears about him are, I believe, invented by himself; -any way, I am not afraid of him. It seems to me -that it was impossible for anyone to get a clue in Russia. -No, mon frère; the business has been managed too cleverly, -and unless we give ourselves away we are perfectly safe.’</p> - -<p>‘I am not so sure of that,’ answered the stranger -musingly.</p> - -<p>‘But you’ve not heard or seen anything to cause you -alarm, have you?’ asked Charcot.</p> - -<p>‘No, no, not at all,’ said the stranger, pulling his moustache -and looking grave; ‘but one never knows.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span>‘You are surely in a despondent mood, cher frère. -The dinner must have disagreed with you,’ madame remarked -banteringly.</p> - -<p>‘The dinner was all right; but I haven’t been easy in -my mind for some time.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s the liver, the liver, my dear boy,’ Charcot remarked.</p> - -<p>‘What’s the use of troubling yourself about shadows?’ -put in the lady. ‘Haven’t the Paris police used some of -their best men, and yet failed to get a scent?’</p> - -<p>‘That’s true,’ said the stranger; ‘but the affair must -come to light sooner or later.’</p> - -<p>‘And what if it does?’ asked madame. ‘How are we -to be identified with the case?’</p> - -<p>‘Not easily, if he is dead,’ answered the stranger. ‘The -dead tell no tales.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, why in the name of common-sense should he -live?’ asked Madame Charcot, blowing a stream of smoke -from her nostrils, and speaking with energy.</p> - -<p>The stranger shuddered, and said:</p> - -<p>‘I’ll have nothing whatever to do with his death.’</p> - -<p>‘You are chicken-hearted, man,’ Charcot remarked. -‘One word and an extra hundred francs to old Pierre, and -every danger would be removed.’</p> - -<p>‘It might, or might not. Any way, I would rather not -speak the word. The business has been bungled as it is, -and instead of its proving a source of wealth to us, we -only made a miserable hundred thousand francs between -us, and it’s hopeless to expect that we can get any more.’</p> - -<p>‘You should have played your cards better,’ remarked -Charcot.</p> - -<p>‘But who in the name of Satan thought that he was -going to peg out as he has done.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, there is one thing we mustn’t forget,’ said -madame; ‘unless Pierre’s palms are kept well greased, he’ll -let the cat out of the bag.’</p> - -<p>‘No, I don’t think he will do that. He has already -been well paid; and before I gave him the last thousand -francs I made the old rascal sign a document, in which he -confesses his share in the business, so that if he turns<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> -traitor I’ve got him on the hip. But, any way, it strikes -me this is not a safe place, and I shall go abroad. No -living soul suspects me, but one never knows what may -happen; it’s best to be on the safe side.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, you are a soldier of fortune,’ said Charcot, ‘and -can march at an hour’s notice; but we’ve got interests here, -and unless danger really menaces, it would be folly for us -to sacrifice those interests. What do you say?’ turning to -his wife.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I think it’s all right. If we have reason to believe -there is any danger, we can clear out; but my own impression -is that there is not much chance of our being -suspected. Besides, we must have more money yet. Fate -has been against us in that respect. We bungled in the -beginning, and are paying the penalty of the error. By-and-by, -however, we may be rewarded.’</p> - -<p>‘If you think so, you are much more of an optimist than -I am,’ the stranger remarked.</p> - -<p>‘You’ve always been disposed to look on the gloomy side -of things,’ said madame sharply. ‘What is the use of -meeting trouble half-way? We’ve played our cards, and -must abide by the game. At any rate, you’ve done fairly -well, and fortune has favoured you throughout your life. -You’ve no just cause to grumble.’</p> - -<p>‘But suppose the game goes against us?’ now asked the -stranger.</p> - -<p>‘What is the use of supposing? It hasn’t done so up -to the present, and we’ve netted a fair stake.’</p> - -<p>‘But nothing nearly as much as we ought to have -done.’</p> - -<p>‘That can’t be helped. We’ve not lost, any way. But, -for goodness’ sake, don’t mope like that. You make me -miserable. We’ve bled our victim pretty freely, and though -he has plenty more blood in him, if we cannot get it, we -had better be satisfied.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s tantalizing, nevertheless. Don’t you think we -might risk another bill here?’</p> - -<p>‘No; it would be too dangerous,’ said madame.</p> - -<p>‘I would have nothing to do with it,’ added her husband,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> -‘Any attempt of that kind would betray us as sure as fate. -No, no, mon cher; it can’t be done.’</p> - -<p>The stranger sighed, and resigned himself to the situation, -for he was forced to admit that the arguments used -against him were unanswerable.</p> - -<p>In a little while the party broke up. The stranger -embraced the woman warmly, and, shaking hands with the -man, hurried away.</p> - -<p>Charcot and his wife lingered for a while to smoke -another cigarette, and for the man to consume an absinthe.</p> - -<p>‘Eugène is melancholy,’ the woman remarked; ‘but it’s -folly to weep over the milk that is lost. If matters hadn’t -turned out as they have done, we might all have raked in -a snug little fortune. But, as it is, we haven’t done so -badly, and we’re safe.’</p> - -<p>‘But not as safe as we should be if the Count were -dead,’ the husband remarked.</p> - -<p>‘That’s true,’ said the woman thoughtfully, while her -pretty face took on a very wicked expression. ‘But you -know Eugène is far too sentimental. It doesn’t do to be -sentimental in a case of this kind. We’ve got ourselves to -consider, and, having gone so far, it is downright folly to -hesitate to take the final step, which would complete the -work. What do you think?’</p> - -<p>‘I agree with you.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, you go and see Pierre, and give him a quiet hint.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ve a good mind to,’ mused the husband.</p> - -<p>‘Don’t spoil a good mind, dear.’</p> - -<p>‘But, you know, we should have to give the old rascal -two or three hundred francs more.’</p> - -<p>‘And it’s worth it; we can afford it. Better to pay -that than allow a risk to remain that we can remove.’</p> - -<p>‘You are right—you are right, dear,’ said the husband.</p> - -<p>‘And you will go and see Pierre?’</p> - -<p>‘I must consider the matter.’</p> - -<p>‘Tut, man! What does it want consideration for? We -are agreed on the subject. Vacillation shows weakness. -Hesitation may cost us dear. Make up your mind at -once.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>‘It’s made up,’ said the husband, after some reflection.</p> - -<p>‘And you will go?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘When?’</p> - -<p>‘To-morrow morning.’</p> - -<p>‘Good. That’s a point settled, and my mind is easier.’</p> - -<p>The man and woman now took their departure; but -little did they dream that every word of the conversation -which they and the stranger—who was none other than -Eugène Peon—had uttered had been most carefully taken -down in shorthand. Behind the screen a young man had -patiently sat the whole evening, with note-book and pencil -in hand. He was a trusted agent of Danevitch, who had -made arrangements with the landlord of the restaurant. -And thus the conspirators had been neatly trapped. -Nevertheless, the story was not all learnt yet, and Danevitch -considered it would have been premature to make -any move or show his hand until he found out where the -Count was concealed. Of course, a close watch was set on -Eugène Peon’s movements, so that no chance should be -afforded him of slipping through the meshes of the net -which was so cleverly being drawn around him and his -companions in guilt. Charcot was also closely shadowed, -and the next day was followed to an old house situated in -the western part of Paris, outside of the barrier. It was a -curious, ramshackle, tumble-down-looking building, mournful -and melancholy in its ruin, and mournful and melancholy -in its surroundings. At one time it had probably -been the country residence of some rich person, standing -in pleasant gardens, on the banks of a stream, and commanding -a fine panoramic view. But that was in the long -ago. The grounds were now a howling wilderness; the -stream was a foul and stagnant strip of slimy water, from -which protruded the decaying ribs of a half-sunk barge.</p> - -<p>Within twenty or thirty yards were the grim and -blackened ruins of a burnt-out mill that at one period had -been a flourishing concern. The stream communicated -with a canal a quarter of a mile away, and time was when -barges came and went. The house had been the private<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> -residence of the owner of the mill, and he lived there for -many years in contentment and comfort with his wife and -son and daughter. Then misfortune overtook him. His -daughter was accidentally drowned in the stream. Some -time afterwards the son died of consumption. Then the -unfortunate father gave way to dissipation, and neglected -his business, with the usual result. At length the mill was -destroyed by fire, and when the owner went to the insurance -offices to claim the amount for which he had -insured, the people refused to pay it, alleging that the fire -was due to incendiarism, and a charge was laid against the -unfortunate man; but he rendered it useless by drowning -himself in the stream. And his widow did not long survive -him; grief killed her. Then litigation ensued about the -property, and as a legal heir could not be found, it fell into -ruin and neglect. For many years a man named Pierre -Mousson had been allowed to occupy the place, subject to -the payment of a nominal rental. He was a rag-picker -by calling, and a reputed miser: a low-browed, villainous-looking -rascal, who had once served a term of imprisonment -for nearly beating a companion to death during a quarrel -about a franc, which he accused his companion of stealing -from him. With that exception, there had been no charge -against him. He was a big, muscular old fellow, with a -suggestiveness in his appearance that he could be very -dangerous in defence of himself or his belongings. His -mother lived with him. She was an old woman, upwards -of eighty years of age, and half imbecile.</p> - -<p>To this place Charcot was followed by Danevitch and -three French police officers, all heavily armed; and while -Charcot and old Pierre were conferring together, the -Russian and his companions entered, to the utter amazement -of the two rascals, who were made prisoners before -they could recover from their surprise. To both of them -this <i>coup</i> must have been like a thunderbolt, but perhaps -more particularly so to Charcot, who only the night before -seemed to think he was in little or no danger. In a cellar -or vault, below the level of the putrid stream, a man was -discovered in a state of idiocy. He was lying on a low<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> -truckle bed, close to the damp, slimy wall, to which he was -fastened by a chain and staple, and a broad leather belt -round his waist. The vault was fœtid, and inconceivably -horrible with filth and noisomeness, and the wretched man’s -feet and hands had been partly gnawed by rats. That -man was Count Dashkoff, the once brilliant and handsome -attaché, but now a pitiable and unrecognisable wreck. His -hair was matted with slime and dirt, his beard unkempt, -his eyes sunken, his face awful in its corpse-like appearance. -His body was so emaciated that he was simply an animated -skeleton, while the few rags that clung to his vermin-covered -body scarcely sufficed to hide his nakedness.</p> - -<p>As soon as possible, the poor fellow was removed in an -ambulance to a hospital, the imbecile old woman was -conveyed to an asylum, while Charcot and Pierre were -hurried to prison. An hour later Eugène Peon and -Madame Charcot were arrested, and before the day was -out—thanks to certain letters found in Madame Charcot’s -possession—another man was being searched for. His -name was Buhler, and he had recently acted as secretary -to the Count, replacing a young man who had died. -Buhler was a Russian, but had long resided in Paris. He -was recommended to the Count by Eugène Peon. As -was subsequently proved, Buhler had once before fulfilled -the position of a secretary, but been dismissed for dishonesty. -Since then he had got his living as a waiter, -until he became a creature of Peon’s. The strangest part -of the tale has now to be told.</p> - -<p>As most people know, the mode of procedure in France -in connection with criminal cases is very different to that -adopted in England. In a certain sense it partakes somewhat -of the nature of the Inquisition. A functionary, who -is known as a Judge of Instruction (<i>Juge d’Instruction</i>), -with his assistants and clerks, subjects a suspected person -to an ordeal of examination which few can pass through -unscathed, unless they be absolutely innocent. The Judge -is a legal man of wide experience, and generally with a very -intimate knowledge of human nature. He is an adept in -the art of cross-examination, and the ‘suspect’ must be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> -clever indeed if he can outwit this examining Judge. Where -several persons are under suspicion of complicity, they are -confronted with each other, and very rarely do they fail to -condemn themselves, and betray their guilt, if they are -guilty, under the pitiless fire of questioning to which they -are subjected. In this way the truth is brought to light, -and piece by piece a story is built up. The story that -was partly wrung from the prisoners in this case, and -partly learnt from other sources, was as follows:</p> - -<p>Years before the events already narrated, an Austrian -named Schumacher took up his residence in Paris, with -his wife and two daughters, named respectively Rosine and -Anna, and a son, Fritz. The girls were at that time quite -children. Schumacher, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, -and his family ultimately became naturalized French -subjects. As the girls grew up, they developed remarkable -beauty; but this was allied to vulgar tastes and loose -habits, well calculated to bring them to trouble sooner -or later. At quite an early age they showed talent for -the stage, and began life at a café-chantant. In the -course of time Anna married a theatrical and music-hall -agent named Charcot; and Rosine, who seems to have had -numerous lovers, joined a theatrical company, and travelled -for some time, but ultimately secured a permanent engagement -at a Paris theatre. Soon after that, when she was -only one-and-twenty years of age, and noted for her good -looks, she made the acquaintance of Count Dashkoff. The -Count was young, impressionable, foolish; the girl artful, -cunning, clever. And there is no doubt she resolved to -play her cards with a view to gaining a powerful influence -over the Count. In this matter she was aided and abetted -by her brother Fritz, though that gentleman was no longer -known as Fritz.</p> - -<p>At quite an early age Fritz had come under the notice -of an old and rather eccentric lady, who sent him to school, -fostered in him expensive tastes, luxurious habits, and led -him to dream of future greatness. He received a good -education, and spent four years—from sixteen to twenty—at -the Lyceum. Unfortunately for him, his patroness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> -died. It was then found that, though she had made a -will leaving a million and a half francs to the young -man, she was not worth a million sous. She had simply -enjoyed a life interest in a property which produced her a -handsome income, though she expended it to the last sou -every year. Fritz had also taken her name of Peon, and -had substituted Eugène for that of Fritz.</p> - -<p>To find himself penniless was a great blow to his hopes -and pride. His natural talents and the education he had -received should have enabled him to have done well, but -he hated work; he lacked energy, and so he set himself -to live by his wits. He was a fascinating young fellow, -with the power of attracting both men and women. When -he made the acquaintance of the Count, the Count at once -took to him, and Peon was far too clever to lose such an -opportunity of benefiting himself; for clever as the Count -was, he was rash and weak-minded in many respects, and -no match for an unscrupulous adventurer like Peon, who -arranged with his sister Rosine that they were to keep -their relationship secret, and use every endeavour to trap -the Count into a marriage. Rosine was quite equal to -playing her part in this nefarious little scheme. Her -fascinations proved too much for the Count, and when he -found that she was deaf to all his entreaties, and proof -against his costly presents, he came to the conclusion that -she was a model woman, a paragon of virtue, a credit to -her sex, and in an evil hour he married her. After that -it did not take him long to discover what a terrible error -he had made. The wife’s rapacity for money, jewellery, -dress, was insatiable, and her brother Eugène took good -care to share her purse.</p> - -<p>For a considerable time the Count yielded to the bleeding -process tamely; and his secretary, Buhler, working in -connection with Peon and Rosine, succeeded in drawing -from him large sums of money. Of course, all this time -the unhappy Count believed that his friend Eugène Peon -was true and reliable, that Buhler was the most faithful -of secretaries, and he began to yearn for some means of -breaking the matrimonial bond with which he had bound<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> -himself. He found that Rosine had developed a taste for -drink; he encouraged this in every possible way, and -induced her particularly to consume large quantities of -absinthe. The result was, she soon became a confirmed -dipsomaniac; and one night, to the horror of the band of -conspirators, she either threw herself into the Seine or -fell in accidentally; at any rate, she was drowned. That -was at a little village about twenty miles from Paris, where -the Count had installed her, and where, under an arrangement -with him, she lived as a single woman.</p> - -<p>Peon, Buhler, and Anna Charcot and her husband -managed to keep the news of his wife’s death from the -Count, and he was given to understand that she had taken -herself off somewhere. A few months passed, and the -conspirators felt the loss of their supplies severely. Then, -in their desperation, they concocted a scheme which, for -daring and wickedness, had not been surpassed for a long -time. The scheme was nothing more nor less than the -abduction of the Count, who was to be kept a prisoner -until he secured his release by the payment of a large -ransom.</p> - -<p>The night of the ball was chosen as a fitting opportunity -to put the plan into execution. Buhler wrote a -letter closely imitating Rosine’s handwriting. The letter -stated that she had been away from Paris, but had come -back seriously ill, and was then unable to leave her bed. -She craved him to go and see her immediately, and -promised that, if he would give her a sum of money down, -she would go away and he should never hear of her again. -If not, she would proclaim the following morning to all -Paris that she was his lawful wife, and would also send an -intimation to that effect to the Embassy. The note -wound up by saying that a carriage would be in waiting -not far from his house to convey him to her lodgings, and -that he could easily get back again in an hour or an hour -and a half.</p> - -<p>This letter was delivered to the Count in the way that -we have seen, and, unhappily for himself, he was influenced -by it. He found the carriage at the spot indicated, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> -was driven out to the barrier to Pierre’s house. Two -powerful ruffians, who were to be well paid for their part -of the work, had ridden on the box beside the coachman. -When the destination was reached, the Count alighted, -and then the lonely spot seems to have caused him to -suspect that he had been brought there for some villainous -purpose. He at once stepped into the carriage again, and -ordered the coachman to drive him back to Paris. The -two ruffians, however, seized him and dragged him out on -to the road, where a desperate struggle took place. To -put an end to it, one of the rascals struck the unhappy -Count a violent blow over the head with a heavy stick, -rendering him unconscious. He was then carried into -Pierre’s den.</p> - -<p>For two days he remained insensible, and when he -recovered it was found, to the horror of all the wretches -concerned, that he was imbecile, but it was hoped that he -would be all right in a few days. These hopes, however, were -doomed to disappointment, and, being pressed for money, -Buhler undertook to forge a bill, and Madame Charcot, -who was then fulfilling an engagement in Moscow, was -instructed to find out something of the Count’s business -transactions there; while Charcot went to Moscow, and, -representing himself as Peter Pavlovitch, presented the -forged bill at the bank and received payment for it. The -money was, of course, shared by all concerned. Buhler, -who seems to have been shrewder than the rest of them, -having got his share, and possessed himself of such portable -property of the Count’s as he could lay his hands upon, -took himself off somewhere, and managed to elude justice, -though every effort was made to capture him.</p> - -<p>As already stated, all this terrible story of fiendish -wickedness was gradually brought to light by the Juge -d’Instruction, and there was little doubt that, had Danevitch -not succeeded in unravelling the plot, the unfortunate -Count, who was becoming an expensive burden, and a -menace to the safety of the plotters, would have been -placed in a sack with a quantity of scrap iron, and deposited -at the bottom of the foul and stagnant water<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> -opposite Pierre’s hovel. Peon showed considerable reluctance -to resort to this extreme measure, but Madame Charcot, -who was less sentimental and more callous, had no scruples. -She saw clearly enough that as long as the poor Count -remained alive there was an ever-present danger, for if -Pierre should get into trouble or die a revelation was -certain. She influenced her husband to take her view of -the case, and had Danevitch not stepped in when he did, -murder would have been added to the other infamy. As -it was, the careers of the wretches were brought to a close, -and exemplary punishment was meted out to all of them. -The extradition of both Charcot and his wife was demanded -by the Russian Government, to answer in Russia -for the affair of the forged bill—the man for having presented -it and drawn the money, the woman for aiding and -abetting him. But, of course, this demand was not complied -with, as they had first of all to suffer punishment in -France for their deeds there. After that they would be -handed to the tender mercies of the Russian Government, -and were destined to end their days in exile in Siberia.</p> - -<p>For a long time Count Dashkoff remained in a pitiable -state, but under tender care and treatment his health was -gradually restored, though his mind was shattered beyond -repair. Of course, he could not be altogether exonerated -from blame for the part he had played with regard to his -unhappy wife. But if he had sinned, he had also suffered, -and everyone must admit that it was a terrible ending to a -brilliant and what seemed a most promising career. Unhappily, -neither his position, his wealth, nor his associations -could save him from yielding to the fatal fascinations -of vulgar beauty; and the disastrous results that followed -doomed him to social extinction and a living death.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE FATE OF VASSILO IVANOFF.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Possibly</span> very few readers of these chronicles know anything -of the peculiarity—I had almost said iniquity—of -the Russian law. The freeborn Briton, who in his own -country may spout and write treason as long as it pleases -him, and do anything that is not regarded as a legally -punishable offence—and the law is very tolerant in this -respect—is apt to open his eyes in astonishment when he -goes on the Continent and finds himself haled to a prison-house -simply because he has been jotting down some -memoranda in a note-book, or mayhap has taken a snap-shot -with a Kodak at a picturesque fortification which he -thinks will look well in his album when he gets home. -This arbitrary and high-handed proceeding is common to -all parts of Europe outside of Great Britain. But though -the liberty of the subject and of the foreigner is ever -menaced on the Continent, and a simple indiscreet act may -serve to bring the might of the law down on the luckless -offender, this state of things is nothing as compared with -that which prevails in Russia. It is a plain statement of -fact to say that, of all the countries which boast of their -civilization, Russia is the least civilized. The Russians -themselves are a most hospitable people, they are clever, -they make good friends and good neighbours; but their -laws are antiquated, the method of government is barbarous, -while the system of espionage which is in force all -over the country would irritate a Briton into madness. -And there is another aspect of the law, which, though it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> -has been denied, still obtains in Russia, and that is the -power of the law to keep an untried man whose guilt is -not proved in prison indefinitely, and to subject him to -such mental or physical torture that, to escape from it, the -victim either confesses to a crime of which he is innocent -or goes raving mad. To understand this, one must bear -in mind that, while in our country a man is considered -innocent until he is proved guilty, in Russia, as soon as -ever he falls under suspicion, he is regarded as a criminal. -He can then be thrown into a dungeon and kept there. -If he persists in asserting his innocence, the law, if it can -procure no proof one way or the other, will persist in regarding -him as guilty, and will exhaust every means to -overcome him, and if compelled to let him go will do so -with the greatest reluctance.</p> - -<p>This is really no exaggerated statement. A thousand -and one proofs can be furnished in support of it. Danevitch, -who was Russian to the backbone, was nevertheless -sufficiently broad-minded to frankly admit that the laws of -his native country left much to be desired. The case dealt -with in this story will illustrate very forcibly what I have -stated in the foregoing lines.</p> - -<p>Vassilo Ivanoff was by profession an architect, with, as -was supposed, a large and profitable connection. He was -also an artist of some repute, and two or three of his -pictures had found a place on the walls of the St. Petersburg -Salon. His friends sometimes rated him for devoting -too much time to painting pictures that did not pay, and -too little to his profession, which did pay. Ivanoff, however, -was young, ardent, enthusiastic; a dreamer somewhat. -He believed in himself, in his future. The world was -beautiful, life was good, all men were brothers. Such in -effect were his principles; but he forgot the maxim of -science, which insists that theory and practice should go -together. Ivanoff was a theorist, but he found it difficult -to be practical. He had long been engaged to Maria -Alexeyevina, who had the reputation of being one of the -most beautiful young women in St. Petersburg. She was -a member of an exceedingly good family, who, though<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> -poor, boasted of their noble descent. The marriage of -the young couple had been delayed from time to time on -the grounds that, until his financial position improved, he -could not afford to keep a wife. It was a great disappointment -to him, but he set to work with a will, and so -far increased his business that he felt justified at last in -appealing to Maria and her relatives that the marriage -should be no longer delayed.</p> - -<p>Among Ivanoff’s most intimate friends was one Riskoff -by name, who was said to be wealthy, and also exceedingly -practical. He and Ivanoff had been to school together, -and had studied at college together; but Riskoff, being -considerably older than his friend, completed his studies -some years before the other.</p> - -<p>Ivanoff was in the habit of consulting Riskoff about -many things, and he took him into his confidence with -regard to the marriage; but Riskoff, knowing that Ivan -was improvident, as well as impractical, strongly counselled -him to delay the marriage. Ivanoff, however, was head-strong, -Riskoff was persistent, with the result that the -lifelong friends virtually quarrelled, and in the circles -which they frequented it was a matter of comment that -these two men, who had been like brothers, now passed -each other by as if they were strangers.</p> - -<p>Unable at last to control his feelings, Ivanoff pleaded so -pathetically to Maria to consent to the marriage that she -yielded, and they became man and wife. The marriage -ceremony was one of those semi-grand affairs peculiar to -the middle classes in Russia, and the festivities that -followed were conspicuous by their magnificence and the -lavish expenditure incurred. It was noted with much surprise -at the time that Riskoff was not present at the -wedding or the feast. It was known that there had been -strained relations between the two men; nevertheless, -everyone expected that Riskoff would have been invited. -But, in spite of his friend’s absence, Ivanoff was supremely -happy; the beautiful woman for whom he would have -laid down his life willingly, had she desired it, was his at -last. What more could mortal man wish for? Life<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> -henceforth would know no pang. The doting couple -would exist on each other’s love, and not the tiniest of -clouds should ever obscure the matrimonial sky. It was -all very pretty. Others had thought the same thing over -and over again, only to find, when the first transports -of joy were past, that the married state is not quite the -Elysium they believed it to be when they hastened to exchange -single blessedness for wedded bliss. The blessedness -is at least a known quantity, but the bliss is as -often as not found to be little better than a delusive -mirage. Ivanoff, however, did not concern himself about -the future. With him, sufficient for the day was the evil -thereof. Why think of the morrow when the to-day was -so full of joy? That was his theory, and he lived up to it.</p> - -<p>The first year of his married life, so far as was known, -was a very happy one; the young couple revelled in each -other’s society. Their social functions were attended by -people from far and near, for Maria’s beauty was the talk -of the town, and her husband was very happy and very -proud. He believed that no such woman as his wife had -ever walked the fair earth before. Romance, however, -cannot last for ever, and joy must ever be evanescent in -this wicked world. Vassilo Ivanoff was soon to prove -the truth of this. Necessity compelled him at last to look -into his affairs, and he found to his horror that he was on -the verge of bankruptcy. Bills were pouring in upon him, -but there was nothing in the exchequer to meet them with. -It was a terrible state of matters, and to a sensitive man -with a poetical temperament little short of maddening. -From his ideal world he had suddenly to descend to the -vulgar commonplace one, where the butcher, the baker, and -candlestick-maker clamour for their little accounts; where -summonses and writs run; and where brokers’ men and -sheriffs’ officers have no bowels of compunction. It was a -revelation, and a very terrible one, to Vassilo, and he had -to face the fact that he was heavily in debt, with no means -to meet his engagements. He could not apply to his wife’s -relations for assistance, for they were poor and proud, and, -while unable to help him, they would not have hesitated to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> -rate him for the disgrace he would bring upon them if his -affairs should be made public, and there was every probability -that such would be the case.</p> - -<p>It was subsequently brought to light that in his distress -he applied to various friends for temporary assistance; but, -because they either could not or would not render it, his -appeals met with no response. There is no doubt that his -affairs at this stage of his career were in a very complicated -state, and he realized for the first time that he was practically -ruined; and to such an extent did it affect him, that -one night he was seen at one of the fashionable and best-known -cafés in a state of intoxication. Probably a good -deal was due to his mental excitement rather than to the -amount of stimulant he had imbibed, for he was a most -temperate man, and rarely went to excess. Some acquaintances -tried to persuade him to go home, but his -excitement only increased, and he was heard to exclaim: -‘It’s a burning shame that I should be poor when there -are thousands less worthy than I am rolling in wealth. I -feel as if I could do murder on those who hoard their gold -when so many are suffering for the want of common necessaries.’</p> - -<p>This little outburst of passion and ill-will was no doubt -due entirely to his condition; but it was a dangerous -sentiment to give expression to in a Russian café, though, -but for subsequent events, no importance would have been -attached to it.</p> - -<p>With some difficulty the unfortunate man was taken to -his home, and it would appear that on the following day, -when no doubt he, figuratively speaking, sat on the stool -of repentance, he resolved, in his extremity, to appeal to -his whilom friend Riskoff. With that intention he went -to Riskoff’s house, but found that he was out; and, as it -was uncertain when he would return, Vassilo asked for pen -and paper, and wrote a letter, in which he confessed -that he had been living in a fools’ paradise. But he had -come to his senses, and intended to be more business-like -in future. He wound up with begging Riskoff to lend -him two thousand roubles, promising faithfully to repay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -the loan in six months’ time. The following day he received -this reply:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p>‘<span class="smcap">Dear Ivanoff</span>,</p> - -<p>‘I confess to feeling some surprise, after the coolness -there has been between us of late, that you should apply -to me in your monetary difficulties for assistance. It is -true I have the reputation of being a rich man, and it is -highly probable that under different circumstances I would -have accommodated you with this loan. But I flatly refuse -to do so now. I do not consider you have treated me well. -I was your warm friend at one time, and would have done -anything for you; but you thought proper to trifle with -that friendship, so there’s an end of it. As you have made -your bed, so you must lie upon it. I don’t know that I am -an unkindly man—indeed, I am sure I am not; but I feel -angry now, and my heart hardens against you. I am truly -sorry for your beautiful wife, and consider that you have -done her a gross wrong in bringing her to this state of -poverty. It is no use your writing to me or calling here -again, as to-morrow morning I set off on my journey to -visit my estates, and shall not be back for a month. I -hope in the meantime you will pull through your difficulties, -and that the lesson which poverty teaches will not -be lost upon you.</p> - -<p class="right">‘<span class="smcap">Riskoff</span>.’</p> -</div> - -<p>It is easy to understand the effect a letter of this kind -would have upon a sensitive and proud man. The refusal -of his friend to help him must have been a stinging and -bitter blow to Ivanoff. It appeared that for a long time -he sat in moody and gloomy silence. Then he showed the -letter to his wife, and it was a shock to her. Up to that -moment she had not quite realized that things were as bad -as they were. Allowing her feelings to get the better of -her, she reproached her husband, and he made an angry -retort, with the inevitable result that other harsh things -were said on both sides, until the young wife, in a fit of -petulance and wounded pride, hastily put on her cloak and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> -bonnet and went off to her parents. Soon afterwards the -unhappy husband also went out, and was absent for some -hours. In the evening his wife returned, accompanied by -her brother. She had repented her hastiness, and her -people had told her that her place was at her husband’s -side. In the meantime he also had come back. He seemed -in a much happier frame of mind, and Maria’s brother -witnessed a very pleasant reunion. He spent the evening -with her. They had supper, and were happy. Before retiring, -Vassilo told his wife that he was in funds again, and -all would be well. He said the little cloud that had over-shadowed -them had passed, and that henceforth they would -live in clover. She asked him how he had managed to so -suddenly bring about the change, but he laughingly replied -that he couldn’t explain just then, but would do so later on.</p> - -<p>The next day Ivanoff rose betimes. He attended to -some business matters, paid several of the most pressing -claims against him, and at mid-day he and his wife lunched -at a café, and in the evening they dined at their own house -in company with some friends who had been invited. In -the midst of the dinner the company were suddenly startled -by the violent ringing of the large bell which hung at the -gate. It was by no means an ordinary ringing, but suggestive -of impatience and anger. The servant whose duty -it was to attend to the door had not time to get down -before the bell was rung a second time still more violently. -The servant hurried to the door, and, flinging it open, was -confronted by an important-looking official known as a -Judge of Instruction, accompanied by his two legal satellites -and two armed policemen.</p> - -<p>‘Is your master in?’ demanded the Judge angrily.</p> - -<p>‘Do you mean Mr. Vassilo Ivanoff?’</p> - -<p>‘Of course I do. Why have you kept me so long at the -door?’</p> - -<p>‘I came immediately, sir,’ answered the frightened -servant.</p> - -<p>‘Very well. Now, is your master in?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Take me to him, then.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span>‘He is dining with some friends.’</p> - -<p>‘Blazes and thunder!’ roared the official; ‘what do I -care whether he is dining with friends or whether he isn’t? -Conduct me to him. Men, follow me.’</p> - -<p>The now speechless servant led the way to the dining-room, -and close at her heels were the Judge and his men. -As the intruders thus unceremoniously entered, Vassilo -jumped to his feet, and his wife uttered a little cry of -alarm, while the visitors looked aghast, for the presence of -the Judge and the police with drawn swords was ominous.</p> - -<p>‘Sorry to disturb you,’ growled the Judge gruffly.</p> - -<p>‘What do you want here?’ asked Ivanoff sharply.</p> - -<p>‘I’ve come on business.’</p> - -<p>‘What business?’</p> - -<p>‘Very unpleasant business. I am empowered to search -your house. Here is my authority.’ He displayed a blue -document bearing the Government seal.</p> - -<p>Vassilo’s wife had recovered her presence of mind by this -time, and, going to her husband’s side, she remarked:</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I suppose this is some absurd denunciation on the -part of an enemy, for I am afraid that even I and my -husband have enemies. But, happily for us, we never -interfere in politics; we are content to lead peaceful lives.’</p> - -<p>‘It is not a question of politics,’ answered the Judge, -his gruff manner somewhat softening as he gazed upon the -beautiful young wife and felt sympathy for her.</p> - -<p>‘Not politics!’ she exclaimed, in new alarm, as she -glanced at her husband’s face, which had become very pale.</p> - -<p>‘No; my visit has nothing to do with politics.’</p> - -<p>‘Why are you here, then?’ demanded Mrs. Ivanoff -anxiously.</p> - -<p>‘I am here on very serious business indeed. Your husband -is accused of—well, that is, he is suspected of murder.’</p> - -<p>‘Murder!’ broke like an echo from the wife’s lips, and -all present started to their feet in deadly alarm, as if a -bombshell had been exploded in the room.</p> - -<p>‘I am accused of murder?’ gasped Ivanoff, looking -dazed, as if he had received a blow on the head that had -half stunned him.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span>‘Yes, murder,’ answered the Judge solemnly.</p> - -<p>‘The murder of whom?’ asked the wife, a half-incredulous -smile on her face.</p> - -<p>‘Mr. Riskoff.’</p> - -<p>‘Riskoff!’ echoed the poor lady, as the smile gave place -to a look of terror, and she fixed her eyes on her husband -as if every hope she had on earth hung on the words he -would next utter.</p> - -<p>‘Is he dead?’ Ivanoff gasped, the dazed expression -strengthening.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said the Judge, ‘and you are charged with having -murdered him.’</p> - -<p>Ivanoff broke into a strange laugh as he exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘This is positively absurd. Why, I was with him -yesterday.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, that fact is well known. You went to his house -to see him?’</p> - -<p>‘I did.’</p> - -<p>‘No one was with him after you left him?’</p> - -<p>‘That I have no knowledge of,’ moaned Ivanoff, as he -passed his hand distressfully over his head from his forehead -backward.</p> - -<p>‘Soon after you had taken your departure from his -house he was found dead in his library.’</p> - -<p>Poor Mrs. Ivanoff was now almost in a state of collapse, -and would have fallen had not one of the ladies present -caught and supported her.</p> - -<p>The Judge had become stern and hard again. His -assistants had out their note-books, and while one wrote -the questions and replies in shorthand, the other took -them down in longhand.</p> - -<p>‘You possessed a revolver?’ asked the Judge.</p> - -<p>‘I did,’ muttered Ivanoff.</p> - -<p>‘Where is it?’</p> - -<p>‘I—I lent it to—to my friend Riskoff.’</p> - -<p>‘You lent it to him!’ exclaimed the Judge ironically.</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Why did you lend it to him?’</p> - -<p>‘Because he asked for it.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>‘Ah! very likely,’ remarked the Judge, still more -ironically. ‘Why did he ask you for it?’</p> - -<p>‘He told me he was starting at once to visit his estates, -and as he was without a revolver mine would be useful to -him.’</p> - -<p>‘Why did you take your revolver to his house?’</p> - -<p>The Judge glanced at his assistants as he asked this -question, then fixed a searching glance on the suspected -man’s ghastly white face. Mrs. Ivanoff also gazed at her -husband with staring eyes, and waited breathlessly for -his answer. She had been led to a chair, and her friends -were crowding round her; but with outstretched arms -she kept them back, so that they might not obstruct her -view of her husband, who stood motionless as a statue, -save for the rapid rising and falling of his chest; and he -was white as a statue, while his hands were clenched firmly -together.</p> - -<p>‘Give me an answer, sir,’ exclaimed the Judge angrily, -as the suspected man remained dumb. ‘Why did you -take your revolver with you to your friend’s house?’</p> - -<p>Ivanoff was still silent. The assistants were busy writing. -The Judge became more peremptory.</p> - -<p>‘Again I ask you: Why did you take your revolver to -Riskoff’s house?’</p> - -<p>Ivanoff glanced nervously round the room now, and his -eyes fell upon his wife. The pitiable sight she presented -broke him down, and, covering his face with his hands, -he burst into tears, and stammered forth, in a broken, -emotional voice, the following reply:</p> - -<p>‘I went to my friend to ask him to lend me some money. -I took the revolver with me, determining to shoot myself if -he refused.’</p> - -<p>‘Or shoot him,’ said the Judge, with a sneer.</p> - -<p>‘No, no—on my soul and before my God, no!’ cried -Ivanoff, raising his hands to heaven.</p> - -<p>‘Well, your friend was killed with a bullet fired from -this revolver.’ He produced a revolver as he spoke. ‘Do -you recognise it?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>‘Your name is engraved upon it. It was picked up on -the floor of his room. Riskoff had been shot in the back -of the head. The murderer, therefore, was behind him.’</p> - -<p>A shudder ran through all present as this announcement -was made. There was an exception, however. It was -Mrs. Ivanoff; she sat motionless, as if she had been -petrified. Her eyes were still fixed on her husband.</p> - -<p>‘Have you any money?’ asked the Judge.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ answered the wretched man.</p> - -<p>‘In notes?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Let me see them.’</p> - -<p>Ivanoff put his hands into his pocket, and produced a -well-filled pocket-book. The Judge took it, opened it, and -disclosed a packet of new notes. He examined them carefully, -and consulted certain memoranda he had made in his -note-book.</p> - -<p>‘Ah, this is very damning evidence!’ he said at last. -‘Riskoff drew from his bankers yesterday a large sum -of money in notes. These notes are part of those he drew -from the bank.’</p> - -<p>Mrs. Ivanoff started to her feet now, and uttered a low -moan of agony. Somebody wanted to support her, but -she pushed them back, and, steadying herself with a -tremendous effort, she said:</p> - -<p>‘Vassilo, what does this mean?’</p> - -<p>‘Some hideous mistake,’ he murmured.</p> - -<p>‘I hope so. God grant it is so,’ sobbed the unhappy -lady. ‘But I remember Riskoff’s answer to your application -for a loan. And now Riskoff is dead, your revolver -is found in his house, and you are in possession of notes -which he drew from his bank. Oh, my God, it’s awful! -It’s too, too horrible! I am going mad!’</p> - -<p>She uttered a suppressed scream, pressed her hands to -her head, reeled and staggered, and fell fainting into the -arms of some of her friends.</p> - -<p>Apparently unmoved by this sad and pathetic scene, the -Judge preserved his sternness and stolidity.</p> - -<p>‘So Riskoff wrote to you?’ he asked.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>‘Yes,’ answered Ivanoff in a mechanical way.</p> - -<p>‘Where is the letter?’</p> - -<p>‘I will give it to you. Come with me.’</p> - -<p>The Judge motioned to the armed men, and they placed -themselves one on either side of the suspect, while the -Judge himself brought up the rear. In this order they -proceeded to Ivanoff’s studio, where, opening a bureau with -a key he took from his pocket, he produced the letter he -had received from Riskoff, wherein he point-blank refused -to lend the money, and handed it to the Judge, who, -having perused it, remarked:</p> - -<p>‘This is a fatal piece of evidence against you. You had -better make a clean breast of the whole affair.’</p> - -<p>By this time Ivanoff had somewhat recovered himself, -and said firmly:</p> - -<p>‘I have nothing to confess. I am innocent before God.’</p> - -<p>‘Most criminals declare themselves innocent at first,’ -answered the Judge coldly. ‘However, I have no doubt -you will tell another tale before we have done with you. -I charge you now with being the murderer of Mr. Riskoff, and -make you my prisoner. Secure him and bring him along.’</p> - -<p>The policemen seized the wretched man, and fastened -his wrists together with a pair of handcuffs. He begged -to be allowed to write two or three letters, but this request -was refused, and he was taken from the house, still protesting -his innocence, and without being able to take a final -leave of his wife, who remained unconscious. In accordance -with the mode of procedure peculiar to Russia, the suspected -man was conducted to the office of the criminal -prison, where he was subjected to another cross-examination, -and the Judge of Instruction handed in his procès-verbal, -as the French call it. The Judge, having finished -his part of the affair so far, received an official receipt for -his prisoner’s body and left, while the prisoner himself, -having been stripped of his clothing, and a prison suit -allotted to him, was consigned to a secret cell, which -meant that he would be kept isolated from everyone until -the police had worked up sufficient evidence to secure his -conviction. But in the event of their failing to do that,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> -the prisoner himself would in all probability ultimately -confess in order to be relieved from the awful horror of -solitary confinement in a secret dungeon.</p> - -<p>The case against Ivanoff seemed perfectly clear. The -public condemned him from the first, for the evidence was -so strong. There was the letter which Riskoff had written -declining to lend the money Ivanoff had applied to him -for. Yet within thirty-six hours of that letter being -received, Riskoff was discovered dead in his own house. -He had that very morning drawn from his bank a large -sum of money. A portion of the money was found in -Ivanoff’s possession. Riskoff had been shot from behind. -A bullet had entered the back part of the head, traversing -the brain and producing instant death. The deed was -done with a revolver, which was left in the room, no doubt -by an oversight on the part of the slayer. The revolver -was the property of Ivanoff, as proved by a little silver -plate let into the butt, on which his name was engraved. -On his own confession, Ivanoff had visited Riskoff. He -knew that he was about to set out on a journey. He -knew also that he would draw money from the bank for -the purposes of his journey. Therefore, having been -refused the loan he had asked for, he went to the house -with the deliberate intention of killing his erstwhile friend -and robbing him of his money.</p> - -<p>Such was the construction put upon the case, and it -seemed as if no one but an idiot could doubt for a moment -that Ivanoff had committed the crime. And as a piece of -strengthening evidence the words he had uttered in the -café were raked up against him. ‘It’s a burning shame,’ -he had said, ‘that I should be poor when there are -thousands less worthy than I am rolling in wealth. I feel -as if I could do murder on those who hoard their gold -when so many are suffering for the want of common -necessaries.’</p> - -<p>All these things taken into consideration left no room -to doubt that Ivanoff was a murderer. He had committed -a clumsy crime, and left such tracks behind him that in a -very short time the outraged law had him in its grip.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>The tragedy aroused more than the usual amount of -interest, as both Ivanoff and Riskoff were well known, -while the prisoner’s story was not without a certain -romance which added to the interest. His poetical tendencies; -his essays in art; his struggles; his wooing of -the beautiful Maria in opposition to the sage counsels and -earnest advice of his school-fellow and friend, Riskoff; his -marriage; his monetary difficulties; his appeal for help -to the man whose advice he had scouted—all these things -afforded the general public subject-matter for discussion; -they were so many chapters in an exciting tale, the end of -which was murder.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, Mrs. Ivanoff’s friends were furious, -for, though poor, they were as proud as Lucifer, and felt -strongly embittered against the man who had brought -such disgrace into the family. Poor Maria came in for a -fair amount of blame. She was told very bluntly that she -had no business ever to have married such a man. These -reproaches made her dreadful position still harder to bear; -but when the first shock of the disclosure and the arrest -had passed, she rose equal to the occasion, and startled -everyone she knew by declaring her unalterable belief in -her husband’s innocence. This seemed to most people like -flying in the very face of Providence. The accused man’s -guilt was so obvious that it was an outrage on intelligence -to argue otherwise. But Maria Ivanoff was a young and -newly-married woman. She had married for love. Her -husband had always treated her with the greatest tenderness -and consideration. Over and over again he had told -her he worshipped the very ground she walked upon, and -had done everything in his power to prove that he did not -speak mere words. She believed in him; she believed in -his assertion that he was innocent; and though all the -world condemned him she would not. She was his wife, -his loving wife, and she would try to save him. The poor -woman saw clearly enough that she stood alone, and that -she could expect neither sympathy nor help from anyone. -Nevertheless, she was not daunted, nor was she deterred, -and her first step was to seek an interview with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> -Minister of the Interior, or, as we should call him, the -Home Secretary. It was not easy to obtain this interview, -but thanks to the influence of a gentleman holding a high -official position, with whom she was acquainted, she succeeded -at last, and found herself face to face with the -proud and pompous personage who was invested with such -tremendous power that he could snatch a person from his -doom even at the eleventh hour. To the Minister she -pleaded, literally on her knees, for an order to visit her -husband. At first the official was obdurate; but her tears, -her eloquence, her distress, and perhaps, more than all, her -beauty, softened him; and she left his bureau with a -Government order which granted her a twenty minutes’ -interview with the prisoner. She flew to the gloomy prison, -presented the order, and in a little while, in the presence -of numerous officials, husband and wife met again; but it -was in a dismal corridor, and they were separated from -each other by an iron grill.</p> - -<p>Although only little more than a week had elapsed -since that cruel night when he was torn from her side, a -wonderful change had taken place in him. He looked -ten years older. He was haggard and ghastly, and no -wonder, for he had suddenly changed the sunshine and -brightness of the world for a pestiferous dungeon, far -below the ground, where every movement of the prisoner -was watched, where the walls were lined with felt to deaden -all sound; where miasma rose up from the ground, and -ooze and slime dropped from the roof; where no human -voice was heard, for the stern warders were prohibited -from opening their lips to a prisoner; where the food was -horrible, and even the common decencies of life were not -observed. No wonder that in such a place men went -mad; no wonder that even in a few weeks youth and -vigour were changed to tottering age.</p> - -<p>Maria was startled and horrified. She would have -thrown her arms about her wretched husband’s neck, but -cruel bars kept them asunder. Ivanoff iterated and reiterated -again and again that he was innocent. He swore -it by all that a Russian holds most sacred, and he begged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> -with streaming eyes that his wife would use every means -possible to prove his innocence and secure his release, -otherwise he would in a very short time be raving mad.</p> - -<p>When Maria Ivanoff left that awful place and got into -the light again, she felt like one who had come up out of -a tomb, where she had looked upon death. She knew that -there was but little hope for her husband unless his innocence -was made clear as day. She thoroughly believed his -assertions; and she made a mental resolve that she would -rest neither night nor day until she had exhausted every -possible means to release him. Her friends were angry -with her; everybody said it was an impossible task to -prove a guilty man innocent. Her distress of mind may -be imagined, not described; she told her friends she herself -would go mad if somebody did not come to her assistance. -Then it was that her brother, with what he intended to be -the most pointed irony, said:</p> - -<p>‘You are seeking to do that which is impossible. Now, -if there is a man in all Russia who can perform seemingly -impossible deeds, that man is Michael Danevitch, the -Government detective. Why don’t you go to him? He -might perform a miracle, who knows?’</p> - -<p>Maria Ivanoff jumped at the suggestion, though it was -never intended she should take it seriously. But she -sought out Danevitch. She laid all the facts of the case -before him. It was the first he had heard of the matter. -It was the first time he had ever set his eyes on Maria. -But her moving tale stirred him; her beauty won him; -her tears found their way to his heart. He consoled her -in a measure by a pledge that he would examine the case -from every possible point of view, and communicate with -her later on. Nearly a fortnight passed before she saw -him again.</p> - -<p>‘There is one point, and a very curious point it is,’ he -said, ‘that makes the evidence against the accused weak, -and yet nobody seems to have noticed it.’</p> - -<p>‘What is it?’ cried Maria, breathless with new hope.</p> - -<p>‘On the day that Riskoff was murdered, he drew from -the bank three thousand roubles. Your husband had one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> -thousand of this sum, according to his own statement, and -the most critical investigation has failed to prove this -statement false; not a rouble over and above the one -thousand has been traced to his possession.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, yes; go on,’ moaned Maria, as she clasped her -hands together with the emotion the detective’s words -begot. ‘What has become of the other two thousand?’</p> - -<p>‘Ah, that is what I want to know. If your husband -murdered Riskoff for the sake of the money, why did he -only take one thousand roubles and leave two thousand? -And if he left two thousand behind, what has become of -them?’</p> - -<p>Maria was holding her breath with that intensity of -nervous emotion which one experiences when it seems as -if some revelation is about to be made which means life -or death to the listener. Danevitch remained thoughtful -and silent. His eyes were fixed on vacancy; his lips were -closely compressed; he looked absorbed and dreamy, as -was his wont when he was unusually thoughtful. At last -Maria could endure her pent-up feelings no longer, and in -a husky voice she asked:</p> - -<p>‘What inference do you draw?’</p> - -<p>‘An inference which on the face of it seems to corroborate -your husband’s assertion of his innocence. Mark -you, I only say it seems to do so. I do not say it does.’</p> - -<p>Maria covered her face with her hands and wept -passionately, but her tears were rather the result of hope -than of despair. Her over-strained nerves were in that -state when they were as liable to give way under the effects -of joy as they were under the effects of sorrow. She fell -on her knees at Danevitch’s feet, and, clasping her hands in -passionate appeal, implored him to save her husband. He -raised her up, and said softly:</p> - -<p>‘I will do what I can.’</p> - -<p>It was really remarkable that it should have been left -for Danevitch to bring out that curious point about the -money. All the police officials had overlooked it. They -were cock-sure, for they believed that the case was so clear -against the prisoner that it would not admit of a doubt.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> -For some days after the interview with Maria, Danevitch -concerned himself with endeavouring to prove if Ivanoff -had had more than the one thousand roubles, but the most -exhaustive inquiries, and the most rigorous search of his -house, failed to get a trace of a single rouble beyond the -one thousand which he had declared Riskoff had lent him, -a portion of which he had paid away to his creditors. -When it became known that Danevitch was engaged on -the case, and that he was trying to find out what had -become of the two thousand roubles out of the three -thousand drawn from the bank, not only was public -curiosity aroused, but to some extent opinion swung round, -and sympathy was expressed for the prisoner. The police, -however, were not moved, unless it was to become still -more prejudiced against Ivanoff. They knew the power of -Danevitch, and the influence he had in high quarters, and -they were determined not to lose their prey. They therefore -resorted to all the forms and pressure allowed by the -Russian law to exact from the unhappy man a confession -of his guilt. Beyond the facts they had already got -together, they could obtain no other evidence. They knew -that it was just possible those facts might fail to secure a -conviction, whereas a confession wrung from the suspected -man, no matter under what torture it was obtained, would -be accepted without question. Such was the law in -Russia.</p> - -<p>Weeks passed, and it leaked out that the prisoner’s -obstinacy had at last been overcome. All that remained, -therefore, to be done was to bring him up for trial, which -would be a mere perfunctory business, and fix the date for -his transportation. At last he appeared before the judges. -The interest the case had aroused caused the court to be -crowded to suffocation. When the prisoner appeared at -the bar, those who had known Ivanoff previous to his arrest -were shocked. They saw now an old white-haired man, with -a haggard, hunted expression of face, and a wild stare in the -restless eyes, as if he had suffered some tremendous mental -shock. He seemed stunned, and as if he did not recognise -anyone, and could not realize his position. Truly it is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> -said of him who is sent to a Russian dungeon: ‘He shall -return no more to his house, neither shall his place know -him any more.’ The prisoner had been chained, tortured, -and punished until he had become imbecile. But what of -that? Was he not the slayer of a fellow-man—a scarlet-handed -murderer who for the sake of a comparatively small -sum of money had ruthlessly taken the life of his best -friend? He himself had confessed to it, so that no one -could raise up a doubt. The counsel for the prosecution -seemed to have an easy task of it. He went over all the -evidence that was known. Ivanoff had applied to his -friend for a loan; the loan was refused, and the letter of -refusal was read in court with a great flourish. Nevertheless, -the prisoner went to his friend’s house, taking a -revolver engraved with his own name with him. What -passed between them would never be known until the -secrets of all hearts were revealed; but a little later -Riskoff was found dead. Some distance from him was -Ivanoff’s revolver. The dead man had been shot with a -bullet from that revolver. The bullet had gone through -his brain. By an inconceivable act of folly, the prisoner -left his revolver behind. It must have fallen from his -hand when he was rifling the victim’s pockets for the -money, and he had forgotten to pick it up. Subsequently -the money was found in his possession. Was ever there -clearer circumstantial evidence in the world? But to make -assurance doubly sure, there was the prisoner’s confession, -taken down from his own lips in his cell, by the Judge of -Instruction; there it was for the jury to inspect, duly -witnessed and attested and legalized by the great seal of -the Minister of the Interior.</p> - -<p>The prosecuting counsel sat down with the air of one -who had performed a noble deed and scored a great -triumph. The prisoner was silent, motionless, his eyes -staring blankly into space, and his white face without any -expression. Amidst a hush that was painful, the counsel -for the defence—one of the ablest men in Russia—rose to -his feet, and, adjusting his gown with professional gravity, -said: ‘I claim one of two things: either an immediate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> -acquittal of the prisoner on the grounds of lack of condemnatory -evidence, or an adjournment of the trial for a -few days, when I shall be able to prove his innocence. As -everyone knows, Riskoff, the murdered man, drew three -thousand roubles from his bankers on the morning of his -death. One thousand roubles only was traced to the -prisoner. All the money was in small notes. I have here -one thousand five hundred of the missing two thousand. -There are witnesses present from the bank who will identify -every note. We hope to regain the other five hundred -shortly. These notes were not in possession of the -prisoner, but of another man, the man who committed the -murder, and who will yet be brought to justice. The -prisoner at the bar is innocent.’</p> - -<p>The effect of this announcement was startling and -dramatic in the highest degree. Everybody seemed affected -except the prisoner—he was unmoved; he continued to -stare into space. There was a hasty consultation among -the jury, and a hurried whispering with the Judge, who -asked if it was true that Michael Danevitch had the case -in hand. He was answered in the affirmative, and in the -end he announced that no verdict would be given that day, -but the prisoner would be put back for a fortnight.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Ivanoff had not been present at her husband’s -trial. She was prostrated with illness, the result of long -mental strain and intense anxiety; but a day or two before -the case came on Danevitch called upon her and bade her -be of good cheer, for her husband was innocent. Although -she knew that Danevitch was not likely to make such a -definite statement as that without warrant, she exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘But it is rumoured that my husband has confessed the -crime.’</p> - -<p>‘I have heard the same rumour,’ Danevitch answered; -‘but a confession that is wrung from a prisoner is not -always reliable. But come, now, take heart. I told you, -in the first instance, that I was much struck by the fact -that only one thousand roubles could be traced to your -husband. If he murdered his friend for his money, why -did he not take the lot? It seemed absurd that, having<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> -committed the crime, he contented himself with one-third -only of the amount he could have had. His story was -that he visited Riskoff, who repented of his hastiness, and -said he had written the letter of refusal when he was in a -bad temper, and that had your husband not called, he was -going to write an apology to him and enclose him one -thousand roubles. As it was, he handed him the money, -for which your husband gave a receipt as an acknowledgment -that he was indebted to Riskoff to the extent of -a thousand roubles. Subsequently, on Riskoff saying he -was going to a gunsmith’s to buy a gun and a revolver to -take with him on his journey, your husband pulled his -own revolver out and offered the loan of it to his friend. -The offer was accepted, and soon afterwards the two men -parted. On the first blush this story had the appearance -of being very far-fetched, and calculated to tax one’s -credulity; but when I came to examine it in connection -with all the circumstances, it presented itself to me as a -statement of fact. Now I have no hesitation in saying -that in the main, if not in actual detail, it is true.’</p> - -<p>Mrs. Ivanoff heard this in silent thankfulness. She felt -that her prayers had been heard, for night and day the -poor woman had prayed that her husband might be proved -innocent. Like most Russian women, she had an intense -faith in the rites of her Church and the efficacy of prayer. -Needless to say that after Danevitch’s statement her faith -was strengthened, for she knew he was not the man to express -such a pronounced opinion without he had a very -good foundation for it.</p> - -<p>As he himself had said, when he came to look into the -matter the case presented itself to him in a very different -aspect, and the prisoner’s story appeared probable. If -that story was true, it necessarily followed that a third -person must have been aware of the monetary transaction -between the two men, and, taking advantage of the circumstances, -had himself committed the crime for the sake of -the two thousand roubles. It was upon that theory that -Danevitch set to work. Riskoff led a bachelor life. His -household consisted of two female servants and a man<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> -servant. On the morning of the crime the man had gone -to the market. One of the females was an old woman -who had been in the service of the family for upwards of -fifty years, and had nursed Riskoff when he was a baby; -the other was a young girl of about eighteen. The old -woman at the time was in bed suffering from an ulcerated -foot, the result of a cut with a piece of glass on which she -had inadvertently stepped. Consequently the girl—Olga -was her name—was in charge of the house. She admitted -Ivanoff, and very soon afterwards her master and the visitor -went out, and were absent nearly an hour. Her master -told her that he was going to the bank to draw some -money for his journey on the morrow. The two men returned -together. In about half an hour afterwards she -opened the door for Ivanoff to depart. The murder was -not discovered until the return of the man-servant. Then -Olga went to her master’s room to inquire whether he intended -to dine alone that evening or whether there would -be guests. On opening the door, she was horrified to find -her master lying dead on the floor.</p> - -<p>Such was Olga’s story, and it seemed probable enough, -but Danevitch was not satisfied. The missing two thousand -roubles set him pondering deeply, and he had a private -interview with the old housekeeper, and questioned her -about Olga.</p> - -<p>‘Was Olga a steady girl?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Had she a lover?’</p> - -<p>The old woman thought not; at any rate, no one who -came to the house. But did nobody visit her? Well, -yes, a brother had been to see her the previous day. Her -brother was called Andrey. He was a soldier stationed at -Cronstadt, but was on furlough, and passed through St. -Petersburg on his way to visit his parents, who resided -at a place called Ladeinoe Pole, a little village lying -to the north of St. Petersburg and the east of Lake -Ladoga.</p> - -<p>‘Was the brother at the house on the day of the -murder?’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>The housekeeper did not know. She thought not. But, -still, he might have been without her knowing it.</p> - -<p>Pursuing his inquiries, Danevitch found that this soldier -brother had left St. Petersburg on the night of the murder -for his home. Danevitch followed him there, but found on -his arrival that, his furlough being up, he had returned to -Cronstadt. The parents were peasants, and, like most -Russian peasants, living a miserable sort of life; but -Danevitch learnt this fact, that quite recently they had -been to a neighbouring market-town and purchased a horse -and two cows, which made the neighbours quite envious; -and, of course, such an event in so small a village was a -nine days’ wonder, and was much commented upon. The -soldier son, who was so good to his parents, had no doubt -provided them with the money. Danevitch, however, was -well aware that, however dutiful and affectionate the son -was, he could not save from his miserable pay a sum sufficiently -large for the purchase of two cows and a horse. -The pay of the Russian private is about one halfpenny a -day. It is therefore impossible for him to save money. -Having regard to these facts, the detective deemed some -explanation imperatively necessary. But before he took -his departure from the little village, it came to his knowledge -that Andreyvitch, the father of Andrey, the soldier, -was carrying on negotiations with a Jew—Weissmann by -name—a nationalized German, for the purchase of a little -plot of land in the village. Weissmann had had a mortgage -on the land, had foreclosed, and was anxious to sell. At -last a bargain was struck, and Andreyvitch paid one -hundred roubles as earnest money. The hundred roubles -was paid in notes. They formed part of the amount -Riskoff had drawn from the bank. Thereupon Danevitch -confronted old Andreyvitch with two armed officers of the -law, and demanded to know where he got those notes from. -The simple and ignorant old peasant at once answered that -he had received them from his son.</p> - -<p>‘Where did the son get them from?’</p> - -<p>The father understood that his son had found a roll of -notes, and though he ought to have delivered them at the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> -bureau of police, his strong affection for his poor old -parents prompted him to commit a breach of the law by -retaining the money and giving it to his father.</p> - -<p>‘Had the father any more notes?’</p> - -<p>Yes, he had a roll of them. He produced them from a -hole in the thatch of his house. They were carefully -wrapped up in a piece of sheepskin to keep them from the -damp. There were notes to the value of one thousand five -hundred roubles. The old people had already spent about -five hundred roubles in the purchase of the cows and the -horse, and in clearing off certain debts. To the astonishment -and terror of the old people, the notes were retained, -and steps were taken to recover those that had already been -paid away.</p> - -<p>With the money in his possession, Danevitch returned -to St. Petersburg, and handed it over to the defending -counsel in time for him to make that dramatic <i>coup</i> in -court. The next step was the arrest of Olga and Andrey. -They were arrested simultaneously, though one was in St. -Petersburg, the other in Cronstadt. The woman was -terrified at first, but when she was confronted with the -Judge of Instruction, she became sullen, and refused to -answer any questions. Not so Andrey; he at once confessed -that he had stolen the money, but vowed that he did -not commit the murder.</p> - -<p>‘Who did commit the murder, then?’</p> - -<p>He believed that Ivanoff did. All that he knew about -it was what his sweetheart had told him; she said she had -found her master shot. He was lying on the floor with a -bullet-wound in the head, and on the table was a pile of -bank-notes. She asked him to go to the room and take -the notes, which he did.</p> - -<p>Danevitch saw at once the discrepancies in this story. -It was not at all likely that Ivanoff would have gone off -leaving a large number of bank-notes on the table. So -Olga and Andrey were each consigned to a secret dungeon. -In the course of a week the discipline of the dungeon life -had worked its effects on Olga, and with blanched lips she -related the following story to the Judge of Instruction.</p> - -<p>Her soldier lover had come to see her two days before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> -the crime, and, unknown to her master, she had kept him -in the house during those two days. On the morning of -the crime, when her master and Ivanoff returned from the -bank, she had to go into the room to take in some refreshments. -She saw a great heap of notes on the table; she -heard the conversation about the revolver, and saw Ivanoff -hand his to her master. When the visitor had departed -and she had closed the door upon him, she thought how -easy it would be to murder the master, take his money, -and let it seem as if Ivanoff had done it. Her fellow-servant -was ill in bed; the man-servant was out. Her lover -was at hand, and nobody knew that he was there. She -hurried to him. She told him all. He was entirely under -her influence. She went to her master’s room again. The -notes were still on the table, so was the revolver. He was -busy making up his books, and did not seem to notice her. -As she removed a tray containing glasses and biscuits, she -secretly took away the revolver also. Then she flew to -Andrey, gave him the weapon, and they returned to the -room. She opened the door gently; Riskoff was sitting -at the table, still writing. Andrey crept in on his hands -and knees and shot him. He took the notes and the -receipt given by Ivanoff to his friend for the thousand -roubles, and immediately left the house. In six months’ -time he would be drafted into the reserve; then he and -Olga would be married, and go to live with his people. -Nobody would suspect them of the crime. The case was -clear against Ivanoff; he would probably die, and there -would be an end of it, for dead men tell no tales.</p> - -<p>All would no doubt have turned out just as the wretches -desired, had Danevitch not been brought upon the scene. -The horrible story as told by Olga was corroborated in -every detail, and the receipt given to Riskoff by Ivanoff -was recovered. Andrey expiated his crime in the mines. -Olga was sent to Northern Siberia for life. Ivanoff was -released, but he was a mental wreck, and his loving and -devoted wife had to place him in a lunatic asylum. -Danevitch had saved him from Siberia, but could not -save him from the living death to which a cruel fate had -doomed him.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE MERCHANT OF RIGA.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Ferguson, Tauchnitz and Co.</span> were the largest firm of -exporters in Riga. Their trade consisted of tallow, timber, -corn, flax, hemp, flax-seed, quills, furs, etc. They had -agents all over the great Russian Empire, including the -far eastern and far northern parts of Siberia. The -trade was principally with Great Britain, and it was said -the firm employed a fleet of upwards of a hundred steam -and sailing vessels, besides numerous small craft for the -navigation of the Russian rivers.</p> - -<p>Donald Ferguson, the head of the firm, was a Scotchman, -naturalized in Russia, where he had lived for nearly -forty years. He had married a Russian lady, by whom he -had several children.</p> - -<p>Ferguson enjoyed the distinction of being reputed one -of the wealthiest merchants in Russia, and he was no less -conspicuous as a prominent citizen, who had done an -immense deal for his adopted country. For many years he -had taken a very active part in all philanthropic movements. -He had spent large sums of money in the improvement -of Riga and its harbour; he had built and endowed -a national hospital; had founded schools, and done much -for the improvement of the lower classes, whose cause he -espoused with great warmth and enthusiasm. He had -earned for himself, from one end of Russia to the other, a -name for fair dealing, probity, and honourable conduct. -In the mercantile world he and his firm were held in the -highest repute.</p> - -<p>One night at the beginning of spring he was found<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> -lying dead in his private office at his warehouse on the -quay at Riga. It was thought at first that he had died a -natural death, that he had had an apoplectic seizure; but -when the body came to be examined, there was conclusive -evidence of his having been strangled. On each side of -the throat were unmistakable signs of thumb pressure, and -a post-mortem examination made it clear that strangulation -had caused death. Such a prominent and well-known -man could not have died in an ordinary way without his -fellow-citizens experiencing a shock and being deeply -affected, but when the news spread that he had been -murdered it caused a profound sensation. Then there -was a universal expression of regret, followed by a cry of -indignation and horror, and a demand for vengeance, swift -and pitiless, on the slayer of this good man. Naturally -enough, the first thought was that he had been killed in -order that some of his property might be carried off, but -a little investigation soon put a very different complexion -on the affair, and proved that the crime was mysterious, -inexplicable, and remarkable. When many hours had -passed, and no trace of the murderer could be got, Michael -Danevitch was communicated with.</p> - -<p>The warehouse of Ferguson, Tauchnitz and Co. was an -immense block of buildings on the Grand Quay at Riga. -The counting-house was in the very centre of the block, -and faced the quay and the harbour. Adjoining, but at -the back of the counting-house, was Mr. Ferguson’s -private room. This room was lighted by a large window -overlooking a covered-in courtyard. On three sides of this -yard were platforms provided with cranes and communicating -with different floors, and it was here that carts and -waggons were loaded and unloaded.</p> - -<p>Frequently when business was very brisk, work was -carried on all night at the warehouse; but the murder was -committed in the early spring, when the export trade was -only beginning, and the usual hour for closing up was six -o’clock, and three o’clock on Saturdays. Mr. Ferguson met -his death on Saturday, March 3, about seven o’clock. He -was the last to leave the office, as he remained behind to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> -close up some business he was engaged upon. It was then -four o’clock, or thereabouts. He proceeded to his home -on foot, being greeted on the way by many people who -knew him.</p> - -<p>His private residence was in the suburbs of Riga. His -family at home consisted of his wife, two grown-up sons, -and two daughters. He had two other sons, one being -established in Hull as the English agent of the firm. -The other travelled all over Russia, and was absent at the -time of his father’s death. On arriving at his home, -Mr. Ferguson partook of some refreshment. He then -told his wife that he had suddenly remembered something -of importance he neglected to do at the office, and he -would go back. He did not say what this something was.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Ferguson asked her husband how long he was -likely to be, and he answered that he would return in an -hour, or an hour and a half at the outside. When -he left his house it was a few minutes past five. At -this time his sons were out. They arrived a little after -seven, and as their father had not returned, they set off, -expecting to meet him. Failing to do that, they went on -to the warehouse. On arriving there they were surprised -to find the main entrance door slightly ajar. They pushed -it open and entered. The place was in pitch darkness, and -there was unbroken silence. They naturally thought there -was something wrong, otherwise the door would not have -been open, but did not feel any alarm. They groped their -way to their father’s room. Darkness and silence there. -In moving about, Donald, the elder of the two, struck his -feet against something soft and yielding; he started back -with a cry of horror.</p> - -<p>‘What’s the matter?’ asked James, the younger one.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know,’ answered Donald; ‘but I believe there -is a body lying on the floor.’</p> - -<p>The young man procured a light as speedily as possible. -Then was revealed to them sure enough the sight of their -father lying on his back, with his left leg up, and his right -arm bent under his body. At first the sons thought he -had fainted, but the peculiar and ghastly appearance of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> -his face soon undeceived them, and when they touched him -they had painful evidence that their worst fears were well -founded. Terribly alarmed, they rushed out and sought -assistance, which was soon forthcoming. The police were -informed and a doctor was procured. The latter at once -said that Mr. Ferguson was dead, that he had been dead -about an hour. The time then was a little after eight -o’clock.</p> - -<p>‘What has my father died of?’ asked Donald.</p> - -<p>‘I am not prepared to say right off,’ said the doctor, -‘but I suggest apoplexy.’</p> - -<p>Ferguson was a fine man. He was above medium -height, well proportioned, muscular, and looked much -younger than his years. His age was sixty-eight. He -had gray hair, and a long flowing beard turning gray.</p> - -<p>It was now noted by all present that the place was in -great disorder. Ledgers, cash-books, and other books -were lying in a confused jumble on the floor; papers and -documents were scattered about in a very unbusiness-like -way on the desk. A large safe was open, and its contents -of papers and books had been hastily dragged out. These -signs were suggestive of robbery, and the doctor was induced -thereby to make a more thorough examination of -Mr. Ferguson’s body. For this purpose the dead man was -carried into a packing-room and placed on a counter. -Then the medical man noticed the marks on the neck, and -having satisfied himself that he was correct, he said it was -a case of murder; Ferguson had been strangled, and there -were indications of great force and strength having been -used. Several scratches were noticeable on the dead man’s -hands, and abrasions on his head, from which a little -blood had flowed. These things had escaped the doctor’s -notice in the uncertain light, but were revealed on closer -inspection. They were suggestive of a struggle, a fight for -life, and this was corroborated by the way things were -scattered about the room.</p> - -<p>Other policemen were now brought in, and means were -taken to ascertain to what extent robbery had been committed; -but, strangely enough, on the desk was a cash-box.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> -It was open, and contained a considerable sum of -money. In the safe, so conspicuous that it could not have -been overlooked by the eager eyes of a thief who had committed -murder in order to rob, was a leather bag full of -money. Apparently the bag had not been touched; the -mouth was still tied up with tape. On Mr. Ferguson’s -person were many valuables, including money. It was -difficult to understand how all this money should have remained -untouched, if the deed of violence was the result of -greed for gain. Why did the criminal, having committed -murder, not avail himself of the hoard that lay to his -hand? The investigators were naturally puzzled in the -face of such an inexplicable state of matters.</p> - -<p>In the meantime Ferguson’s partners had been communicated -with, and arrived on the scene as speedily as -possible. When they had made an examination, they -expressed an opinion that nothing had been taken away. -That the deceased had been murdered was evident; that -no robbery had been committed was scarcely less evident. -Here was a problem at once.</p> - -<p>Did the murderer enter the premises to rob, and, finding -the master there, slay him, and having done this -fearful deed, did he become so indifferent to his first -intent as to go off without the blood-money, which was -there for the taking? Having realized the extent of his -crime, was he so appalled that in his eagerness to escape -from the awful scene he forgot the gold? Such a thing -might be possible, but it didn’t seem probable. At any -rate, it was hardly in accordance with the principles of -debased human nature.</p> - -<p>Mr. Tauchnitz, the second partner, who was intimately -acquainted with the working of the business, and had been -with Ferguson most of that day, could suggest no reason -why the deceased should have gone back to the warehouse. -He had never been known to do such a thing before.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, it was a dreadful night for the -friends and relatives of the deceased; and the hour being -so late when the discovery was made, the police were placed -at a tremendous disadvantage. Riga is a large place. It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> -is a populous and busy seaport, doing an enormous trade -with other parts of Europe. An immense number of ships -of various nationalities were lying in the harbour. As in -all maritime places, there was a very rough element always -prominent in the town, and after dark many shameful and -brutal scenes took place. In addition to the sailors who -came and went, there was always a large garrison, for the -town is strongly fortified. So what with sailors and -soldiers, and the nondescript hangers-on who are always to -be found in their wake, law and order were not so well -observed as in some other towns; and it will be understood -that in the low quarters of such a place a criminal -might find safe refuge from pursuing justice. In the -instance we are dealing with, all the police could do was to -notify the facts to their agents and spies as speedily as -possible; but, necessarily, this was the work of hours; and -through the long, dreary winter night—for, though nominally -spring, the winter still lingered, though the ice had -broken up—not much could be done. This, of course, was -all in favour of the criminal. He had a big start, and -unless he was absolutely a fool he would avail himself of -his advantages.</p> - -<p>The murder was supposed to have been committed about -seven. The discovery was made a little after eight, but it -was after nine—in fact, close upon ten—before the police -really began to bestir themselves. During the time from -half-past six to ten, several trains had left the town, vessels -had left the harbour, and vehicles innumerable were driven -forth in all directions. It will thus be seen that the -murderer had many roads of escape open to him, and it -could not be doubted that, if he was really desirous of -saving his neck, he would avail himself of the chance he -had to get clear.</p> - -<p>That the murder was brutal could not be gainsaid; but -on the face of it the crime was not one of the ordinary -type. Danevitch’s preliminary investigations led him to -the conclusion that the motive which had prompted the -deed was not robbery. That admitted—and there was -evidence of it—the case was invested with a certain mystery<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> -suggestive of many things. Tauchnitz and the other partners -were questioned by Danevitch as to why Mr. Ferguson -had remained behind at the office on that fatal Saturday -afternoon, when everybody else had gone. No satisfactory -answer could be given to this question. Tauchnitz, who -had been with Ferguson all the morning, declared that -there was no reason whatever, as far as the business was -concerned, why the ill-fated man should have stayed at the -office.</p> - -<p>‘Was he in the habit of staying?’</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>‘Was he a methodical man?’</p> - -<p>‘Most methodical.’</p> - -<p>‘Was he given to making confidants?’</p> - -<p>‘No. He was very reticent.’</p> - -<p>‘But he bore the reputation of being straightforward, -honest, upright, and just?’</p> - -<p>‘Unquestionably. He won the respect of all men. His -character, so far as one knew, was without blemish.’</p> - -<p>The members of the dead man’s family spoke of him -with profound sorrow and regret. He had proved himself -a model husband, a kind, indulgent father, and though he -was not communicative, either to his family or anyone else, -no importance was attached to that. It was his nature to -be somewhat silent and reserved.</p> - -<p>Furnished with these meagre particulars, Danevitch -began his work. From the first he formed the opinion -that there was a deep and underlying motive for the crime, -which, however, he did not consider was premeditated. -And his reason for so thinking was this: A man who -deliberately sets forth to slay another in cold blood generally -provides himself with some lethal weapon. In this case -the slayer would hardly have trusted entirely to his hands, -unless he was a man of gigantic strength; for though -Ferguson was well advanced in years, he was not only -unusually vigorous, but unusually powerful. He was -known also to be determined, resolute, fearless. Such a -person was not likely to yield up his life easily. Consequently, -anyone who was acquainted with him would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> -surely have hesitated before engaging in a personal encounter. -Of course it may be suggested that the murderer -was an utter stranger, and knew nothing of his victim. -But that was not the opinion of Danevitch, whose deductions -were as follows:</p> - -<p>Firstly, the murder was unpremeditated.</p> - -<p>Secondly, the murderer met his victim by appointment. -There were several reasons for thinking this. It was -Saturday afternoon, and Ferguson had never been known -to go back to the office after it was closed on Saturday -afternoon before. His partners were emphatic in saying that -there was nothing in connection with the business which -required his personal attention at that time. No valuables -having been carried off, so far as could be ascertained, and -the confusion in which the papers were found, pointed to -the motive being a desire on the part of the murderer to -obtain possession of some document which certain circumstances -and conditions, not definable at that stage, gave a -greater importance to than money.</p> - -<p>Thirdly, the victim and the murderer having failed to -agree upon some point, and the former, perhaps, proving -stubborn and immovable, the latter, in a sudden frenzy of -passion, fell upon him, and got so much advantage in the -very initial stage of the struggle that he was enabled to -conquer with comparative ease, although the victim had -made an effort to free himself from the death-grip.</p> - -<p>Fourthly, the crime having been thus accomplished, and -without forethought, the criminal, agitated and filled with -fear and alarm, frantically turned over papers and books, -and rummaged the contents of the safe, in his eager desire -to find what he wanted. Finally, without discovering -what he wanted to discover probably, he fled, and in his -hurry and confusion forgot to close the door after him.</p> - -<p>The foregoing was the line of reasoning that Danevitch -pursued, but he kept it to himself. It was absolutely and -entirely opposed to public opinion, and to the theories set -forth by the police.</p> - -<p>As is invariably the case at such times, some very wild -suggestions were made; but there was a general tendency<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> -to believe that robbery was responsible for the crime, notwithstanding -that nothing appeared to be missing. But -public opinion did not influence Danevitch. He saw with -his own eyes and thought with his own brains, and he -came to the conclusion that he would probably find the -key to the puzzle if he knew more of Mr. Ferguson’s -private life. There, of course, he was at once confronted -with great difficulty. Everyone spoke well of the victim. -His family believed him perfect. For Danevitch, therefore, -to have breathed a word calculated to tarnish, even -by suggestion, the fair fame of this merchant prince and -good citizen would have been to incur odium and ill-will. -But he knew human nature too well to run any such risk -for the sake of a mere hypothesis. The problem, however, -had to be solved if possible, and he proceeded upon -his own lines to search for a tangible clue.</p> - -<p>In taking up a case of this kind, one must ever feel in -the initial stage that he is groping in the dark; but the -trained mind at once begins to reason the matter out, and -the very first thing sought for is a feasible and probable -motive. Motive is the very keynote in all detective work, -and when the motive has been more or less accurately -guessed, the next stage is to try and determine who was -likely to have been actuated by that motive. These -remarks necessarily apply to complicated cases, where the -mystery surrounding them seems impenetrable. When a -man is found murdered in his house, and his valuables -have been carried off, the motive is apparent enough. -That is a crime of mere vulgar sordidness, and the motive -is writ large. All crime is, of course, more or less vulgar, -but sordidness is not always the actuating influence. -Whether sordidness was or was not at the bottom of this -Riga crime, it was difficult at that stage to say; but the -inquirer was confronted with the remarkable fact that -nothing seemed to have been stolen.</p> - -<p>In spite of the many rumours of this, that, and the -other, and the various opinions expressed, all of which -were counter to his own views, Danevitch remained uninfluenced -by them, and adhered to the opinion he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> -formed, which, as I have endeavoured to show, was based -on sound reasoning. The many documents scattered about -the office where the murder took place, although carefully -examined by Danevitch, did not help the inquiry, as they -were all business papers, and obviously had been discarded -by the murderer as of no value to him. They had been -dragged rudely out of the large safe, and scattered broadcast -on the ground. Now, that was either the act of a -madman, or of someone who was searching hurriedly for -something he knew or believed to exist, and which he expected -to find in the safe.</p> - -<p>Danevitch’s next step was to examine the contents of a -large waste-paper basket that stood in the office. The -basket was full of paper, torn and otherwise. He records -that this proceeding of his was regarded as an absolutely -useless one; but those who condemned it did not know -what he was looking for. I have already said that, in -weighing all the particulars he had gathered up so far, he -formed an opinion that Mr. Ferguson had returned to his -office to meet somebody by appointment. The reasons for -this opinion have been set forth. One of his strong points -was, having formed an opinion, which he never did until -after much reflection, and a very careful examination of all -details, so far as he could gather them up, he would not -swerve from that opinion until he had proved it wrong; -and as soon as ever he was convinced that he was in error, -he was always ready to admit it.</p> - -<p>It is strong testimony to the wonderful perseverance and -patience of the man that every scrap of paper in the basket -was carefully examined. Amongst the great mass he found -some fragments which attracted his attention. One scrap -bore the following words: ‘Door at five.’ It was a coarse, -common enough paper, of Russian make, and the formation -of the letters indicated that the writer was an uneducated -person. With infinite trouble and pains he searched for -the corresponding morsels of paper. And if anyone wants -to know what a difficult task it was, let him fill a basket -with fragments and shreds of paper, shake them well up, -and then endeavour to pick out certain pieces and fit them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> -together. No Chinese puzzle, complicated and ingenious -as most of them are, was ever harder to do. But human -ingenuity, coupled with exemplary patience, will accomplish -much, and Danevitch at last succeeded in getting all the -scraps together. Then he pasted them in their proper -order on a sheet of foolscap, and was thus enabled to read -the following:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>‘This is the last chance I shall give you. You must see -me. I will be opposite your warehouse door at five on -Saturday. We can then discuss the matter alone and undisturbed. -You need not try to shuffle me off. If you -fail to do justice to those you have wronged, I will make -the whole affair public. So stay away at your peril.’</p> -</div> - -<p>The importance of this discovery could not be overrated; -and it not only gave Danevitch a clue, but proved him -right in his surmises. The letter was clearly a laboured -one. It was a man’s handwriting, and the writer showed -that he was not a practised correspondent. There were -smudges and smears, and words wrongly spelt, although in -the translation given above it has been deemed advisable -to give the correct spelling, because in rendering it from -the original into English, if the inaccuracies were retained, -all sense would be lost to the reader.</p> - -<p>It was very evident now to Danevitch that Ferguson had -had a secret—the secret of some dark transaction, which -placed him so far in the power of an uneducated person -that he had obeyed the command to go to the office, after -all was closed up for the day, in order to hold an interview -with the writer, who neither dated his missive nor signed -his name.</p> - -<p>Of course Danevitch kept this discovery to himself; and -he set to work with all the caution and skill for which he -was famed to get some accurate and reliable information -of Ferguson’s disposition and his peculiarities of temperament. -Everyone spoke highly of him—indeed, there -seemed a general desire to belaud him, even beyond his -merits, perhaps. In common phraseology, his word was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> -considered as good as his bond. His acts were above -suspicion; he was eminently respectable; he was charitable, -though there was a feeling that there was a tendency to -ostentation in his giving. In other words, he could hardly -be ranked amongst that class of men who will not let their -right hand know what their left hand gives. His marked -peculiarities were an obstinately strong will, and his refusal -to budge from a position he had once taken up. In this -Danevitch saw a probable cause of the crime, when it was -taken in consideration with the letter. The writer had -not premeditated the crime, but had been exasperated into -madness by Ferguson’s obstinacy. This was the detective’s -first deduction, and as he advanced step by step it seemed -to receive remarkable confirmation. Finally, as an estimate -of Ferguson’s character, he was regarded as a faithful and -honourable husband, an affectionate father, a loyal friend. -Amongst his workpeople he was looked up to with respect, -if not with actual affection. He was, however, thought an -exacting master, requiring the full measure of labour he -bargained for; but that rendered, he could be considerate -enough, and, in fact, did much for the physical and moral -welfare of those who served him.</p> - -<p>Danevitch had now reached a stage in his investigation -when he could congratulate himself on having obtained a -clue. It is true it was a slender one, but to such a man it -was of great value. He found himself handicapped, however, -by the very obvious disadvantage he would be placed -in if he had ventured to suggest that there was a flaw in -Ferguson’s character—that he had done something or other -which had placed him in the power of a person who was -far below him in the social scale. Whatever the error was -he had committed, it was clearly serious enough to draw -him back to his warehouse after business hours, in order to -have a clandestine interview with that person. As showing -Danevitch’s difficulty, it is worth while recording a conversation -he had with Mr. Tauchnitz, who, as his name -implies, was a German—a very shrewd, long-headed fellow, -who held his partner in the highest estimation. Tauchnitz -had been associated with Ferguson in business for a great<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> -many years, and he claimed to know and understand him -better than anyone else outside his own family.</p> - -<p>‘Do you think, Mr. Tauchnitz,’ Danevitch asked—‘do -you think that your late lamented partner had by some -rash act compromised himself to such an extent with an -inferior as to be completely in the power of that inferior?’</p> - -<p>Tauchnitz looked as though a thunderbolt had suddenly -fallen at his feet, and Danevitch had to repeat his question. -The answer was an emphatic, ‘No. Certainly not. I -believe that Ferguson was absolutely incapable of anything -of the kind.’</p> - -<p>‘You had the most perfect faith in him as a business man?’</p> - -<p>‘Indeed I had.’</p> - -<p>‘His business integrity was above suspicion?’</p> - -<p>‘Undoubtedly.’</p> - -<p>‘He concealed nothing from you you were entitled to -know?’</p> - -<p>‘I have no hesitation in saying he did not.’</p> - -<p>‘Nevertheless, he was regarded as a reticent man.’</p> - -<p>‘About his own affairs he certainly was reticent.’</p> - -<p>‘Now, if I were to suggest he had been guilty of some -dishonourable action, what would you say?’</p> - -<p>‘I should say you were doing the man a gross injustice,’ -replied Tauchnitz warmly.</p> - -<p>‘Had you free access to all the books and papers relating -to the business?’</p> - -<p>‘Undoubtedly.’</p> - -<p>‘But is it possible that Mr. Ferguson had transactions -in his office of which you knew nothing?’</p> - -<p>‘I won’t admit the possibility at all,’ answered Tauchnitz, -waxing wroth.</p> - -<p>‘You must remember, sir,’ said Danevitch severely, ‘I -have been instructed to try and unravel the mystery surrounding -your late partner’s death——’</p> - -<p>‘But I don’t think you are going the right way to work,’ -interrupted Tauchnitz.</p> - -<p>‘That is a matter of opinion,’ was the quiet rejoinder. -‘But be good enough to tell me if Mr. Ferguson kept any -private papers in his office?’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>‘Oh yes; I believe he did.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! That is a point gained.’</p> - -<p>‘He had a large tin box,’ proceeded Tauchnitz, in explanation, -‘in his own room, in which he kept documents -which did not relate to the business.’</p> - -<p>‘You don’t know what was in that box, I suppose?’</p> - -<p>‘I haven’t the remotest idea.’</p> - -<p>‘Could I have access to the box, do you think?’</p> - -<p>‘No; I am sure you could not. I have sent it away to -his family.’</p> - -<p>The opinion expressed by Mr. Tauchnitz of his partner’s -probity and honour was but a reflex of that which was -held throughout the town—indeed, it is not too much to -say throughout the greater part of Russia; for Ferguson -belonged to that class of men who understand the art of -getting themselves talked about. He had been wonderfully -successful as a merchant, and his name was associated -with so many public acts, and he had shown so much public -spirit, so much enterprise, and had advocated so many -measures calculated to benefit the working classes, that he -had come to be regarded as a benefactor, a philanthropist.</p> - -<p>It is interesting to dwell upon these points, because the -sequel will be in the nature of a surprise. Danevitch’s next -step was to seek an interview with Donald, Mr. Ferguson’s -eldest son, who was also a partner in the business—as, in -fact, all the sons were. Danevitch displayed great caution -in dealing with Donald. His experience with Tauchnitz -impressed him with the necessity of exercising all the -diplomacy he was capable of exercising. Donald was -much distressed by his father’s sad end, and expressed a -desire that no stone should be left unturned to bring his -murderer to justice; but he evidently inherited his father’s -reticence, and displayed in a very marked manner the Scotch -characteristic of so-called caution.</p> - -<p>‘Can you make any suggestion as to the motive for the -murder?’ asked Danevitch.</p> - -<p>‘It isn’t for me to do that,’ was the answer.</p> - -<p>‘We know that it wasn’t robbery,’ Danevitch said.</p> - -<p>‘I’m not so sure about that.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>‘But nothing is missing.’</p> - -<p>‘As far as we know at present, nothing is.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, do you think something may have been stolen?’</p> - -<p>‘I won’t express an opinion one way or the other.’</p> - -<p>‘Still, as far as one can judge, nothing was carried off.’</p> - -<p>‘So far as we can judge, that is so,’ answered Donald; -‘but the ways of thieves are incomprehensible.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, you think that the man who strangled your father -was also a common thief?’</p> - -<p>‘I cannot say he was, and I cannot say he wasn’t. We -have the broad fact before us that my father was murdered. -It is for you to try and find out why he was murdered.’</p> - -<p>‘I understand, Mr. Donald, that your father kept a box -of private papers in his office.’</p> - -<p>‘He did.’</p> - -<p>‘Where is that box now?’</p> - -<p>‘We have it here.’</p> - -<p>‘Would you allow me to examine the papers?’</p> - -<p>‘Why?’ asked Donald, evincing some surprise.</p> - -<p>‘Because it is possible—I only say it is possible—that I -might find something amongst them that will help me in -my inquiry.’</p> - -<p>Something like an ironical smile flitted across Donald’s -face as he said:</p> - -<p>‘I don’t think that is at all likely.’</p> - -<p>‘And yet, in the interest of all concerned, I should like -to put it to the test. May I do so?’</p> - -<p>‘You may,’ answered Donald, after a pause, ‘if my -mother and brother have no objections to your taking -that course.’</p> - -<p>The mother and brother being consulted, they gave -their consent, subject to the two sons being present at -the time of the examination. That being agreed to, the -box was brought forth and opened. It was not unlike -the tin boxes seen in lawyers’ offices, but it was furnished -with a peculiar and unusually strong lock, and as the key -to fit it could not be found, the services of a blacksmith -were secured, and after a great deal of trouble he got the -lid open. The very first thing that Danevitch’s eye fell<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> -upon was a packet, tied round with red tape, and marked -in the corner very legibly, ‘In the event of my death burn -this packet unopened.’</p> - -<p>By an adroit movement he seized that packet unseen by -the others and slipped it into his pocket. He had a feeling -that it contained the solution of the mystery, and he -considered that, in the interests of justice, he was perfectly -entitled to appropriate it and examine it.</p> - -<p>It was the law of Russia, at any rate, that any papers or -documents, however private, could be seized if justice was -to be aided thereby. If he was mistaken in his surmise, -then he would certainly carry out the dead man’s request -and burn the packet, and any secrets it might reveal to -him would never be breathed to a living soul, and the packet -once burnt, no one would be any wiser. The other papers -in the box were looked through, but there was nothing -found that could be of any use—nothing of a compromising -character, and the sons seemed gratified and pleased.</p> - -<p>An hour or two later, locked in his room at the hotel -where he was staying, Danevitch opened the packet, and -its contents revealed to him in a very short time an astounding -story, and put him on the track of the murderer.</p> - -<p>He found, as he had all along suspected, that Donald -Ferguson, the upright merchant, the man of unimpeachable -honour, the philanthropist, the public-spirited citizen, -the defender of the weak, the faithful husband, the good -father, had been very human, very weak. From the particulars -furnished by the secret packet of papers, Danevitch -gradually learnt the following story.</p> - -<p>A woman named Blok had come some years before -Ferguson’s murder to reside in Riga. She had spent the -greater part of her life in a small town in the far interior -of Russia. Her husband had followed the occupation of -a boatman on the Volga, being assisted by his two sons, -Alex and Peter. He had two daughters, Catherine and -Anna. The Blok family were held in high estimation by -all who knew them. Although occupying but a comparatively -humble position in the social scale, they were -eminently respectable, and were regarded as hard-working,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> -honest people. Of course, they were very poor, and were -not able to make much, if any, provision for old age or -accident. One day Blok and his son Alex were drowned. -A steamer laden with convicts on their way to Siberia ran -their boat down during a dense fog. At certain seasons -of the year fogs are very prevalent on the Volga River. -The breadwinner of the family being thus suddenly taken -away, the Bloks found themselves without means of support. -The youngest son, Peter, was then but eighteen, -and unable to earn more than would suffice for his own -wants. Under these circumstances, and acting on the -advice of a married sister, who resided in Riga with her -husband, who was a shipwright, Mrs. Blok removed to -Riga with her two daughters, hoping that in the busy -seaport they would all be able to find some employment.</p> - -<p>Catherine, the younger of the two girls, was noted for -her good looks. They were both pretty girls, in fact, but -Catherine was exceptionally attractive. Moreover, she was -bright, intelligent, and in a certain way clever. They -had not been in Riga very long before they both obtained -work in the firm of Ferguson, Tauchnitz, and Co. It -appears that they very soon attracted the notice of Mr. -Ferguson, who displayed great interest in them and improved -their position very much. Six months later Anna -fell seriously ill through blood-poisoning, caused by pricking -her finger at the warehouse, and, in spite of the best -medical advice provided for her by Mr. Ferguson, she died.</p> - -<p>It was well known that Mr. Ferguson showed the greatest -kindness to the family during their trouble, and all the -expenses of the funeral were defrayed by him. Peter Blok, -the only surviving son, came to Riga at this time to attend -his sister’s funeral, and it seemed that Mr. Ferguson took -a fancy to him, and gave him employment in the warehouse, -where he remained for about three months. At -the end of that time he was sent on board a vessel belonging -to the firm, and made several voyages, and finally he -was placed in command of a river-boat employed in the -Astrakhan trade.</p> - -<p>About two years after Anna’s death the Blok family, to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> -the surprise of everyone, suddenly left Riga. The reason -of their going, and the place where they were going to, -were alike kept secret. For a few weeks before they went, -Catherine remained at home on the plea of ill-health. -She did not seem ill, and nobody thought she was ill, -consequently the astonishment of her companions was -great, as may be imagined. It would appear that Catherine -Blok was a somewhat remarkable girl in this way. She -was exceptionally good-looking. She was far above the -average peasant in intelligence. Had the opportunity -been afforded, her intellectual powers would probably have -enabled her to take a superior position in life—that is to -say, superior to vast numbers of people occupying the -same plane as herself. What is meant by this will be -better understood if it is borne in mind that, as a rule, -the Russian peasantry are more ignorant and more stupid, -probably, than any other peasantry in the world. There -are two main causes for this. The primary one is climatic; -the secondary the powerful influence of the Church. The -climatic conditions are a very long and terribly severe -winter, which for a period ranging from seven to eight -months prevents the peasant from labouring out of doors; -in consequence of this he is reduced to much the same -condition as hibernating animals. His winter life, in -fact, is one of enforced indolence and inactivity. His -house is insanitary, comfortless, and more or less filthy. -His whole surroundings are calculated to debase and -brutalize him. He has no intellectual enjoyments because -he has no intellectual yearnings. He is content to live as -his father and grandfather before him lived. What was -good enough for them is good enough for him, he says. As -regards the influence of his Church, that makes itself felt -from his earliest years. He is taught to believe that he -has no right to reason or question. Everything must be -accepted in blind, implicit faith. Such education as he -receives is of the most elementary character; and having -inherited from his forefathers dulness of perception and a -lethargic temperament, he does not concern himself about -anything beyond gratifying his animal wants.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>Of course, there are exceptions to all this. Among the -teeming millions of Russia this must obviously be the case. -The Blok family were a very notable example indeed, and -Catherine was the head of them.</p> - -<p>It presents a most interesting study in psychology—though -it cannot be touched upon here except in a passing -way—that Ferguson, the rich merchant, the broad-minded -citizen, the respected husband and affectionate father, -should have been irresistibly attracted to Catherine Blok, -the very humble-born and ignorant peasant. Yet so it -was, and when Catherine left Riga, she was influenced -thereto by Ferguson, and her object in going was to -conceal, as far as could be concealed, the fact that the -merchant prince and the peasant girl had met on a -common ground; and as is invariably the result under -such circumstances, and in such a case, the meeting was -fraught with terrible consequences to both of them.</p> - -<p>When Mrs. Blok and Catherine left Riga, they retired -to Valdai, in the Valdai Hills, in the province of Novgorod, -to the south of St. Petersburg. Valdai was a very quiet, -out-of-the-way place. Here the mother and daughter -took up their quarters in a stone-built house, and enjoyed -comfort, convenience, and luxury, which must have been -very novel to them. They knew no one, and were utterly -unknown; nor did they seek to be known or to know. -At regular intervals, about once a month, a man visited -them. He was in the habit of going to St. Petersburg. -There he posted to Valdai, a distance of nearly a hundred -miles. He could have gone quite close to the place by -train, but he preferred the round-about way for reasons of -his own. He invariably arrived at Valdai at night, and -when he left he always went away early in the morning.</p> - -<p>This sort of thing went on for something like three -years. Then the visits of the man ceased, but correspondence -passed between him and Catherine, who was the -mother of a son about two and a half years old. The -man had looked after her and her offspring, but not as -liberally as he might and ought to have done. At last -differences arose between them. These differences were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> -traceable to Mrs. Blok. She thought, probably not without -some justification, that her daughter had not been -treated well. In the end the man exacted from Catherine -a document, which was signed by herself and counter-signed -by her mother. In this document, which was very -artfully drawn up, and was not, it is needless to say, -Catherine’s composition, the man was represented as -having been the victim of extortion and blackmailing, and -the girl stated that it was impossible for her to fix the -parentage of her son. It need hardly be said that the -man who was in the habit of visiting Catherine at Valdai, -and who took such extraordinary precautions to prevent his -visits being known to anyone else, was Donald Ferguson, -the merchant of Riga.</p> - -<p>By means of the papers found in the packet which he -took from Ferguson’s private box, aided and supplemented -by many and patient inquiries, Danevitch was enabled to -work out the foregoing pitiable little story. During the -time he was so engaged—it extended over several weeks—there -was an outcry against him. He was expected to do -so much; and those who ought to have known better -thought he was doing so little. Of course the general -public did not know that he was engaged in the business -at all, and, with the pig-headedness and stupidity peculiar -to a mob, they railed against the authorities, saying it was -shameful that so popular, upright, and true a man as Mr. -Ferguson should be strangled to death in a place considered -to be so well policed and watched as Riga; and yet all the -vigilance and all the cleverness of the police were powerless -alike to stay the crime and to bring the criminal to justice -when the crime had been committed.</p> - -<p>‘Our lives and property are not safe,’ exclaimed the -rabble. ‘The police are supine; they are useless; they -are in league with the knaves who prey upon honest -citizens. If this is not so, how is it they have not brought -Mr. Ferguson’s murderer to book?’</p> - -<p>This was the tone adopted by a low Radical anti-Government -paper, which styled itself the organ and the -mouthpiece of the people. Although as a rule it was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> -opposed to the moneyed and privileged classes, it was -pleased in this instance—because it gave it a <i>raison d’être</i> -for hurling abuse at the heads of the authorities—to place -Mr. Ferguson upon a pinnacle of greatness, and to speak -of him almost as if he were a martyred saint. The rulers -in Russia are peculiarly sensitive to, and intolerant of, -criticism, and the authorities in Riga, stung by the lashings -of the local organ, lunged out, so to speak, and -grabbed the first person they could lay their hands on. -The Russian police have a habit of doing this when driven -to desperation.</p> - -<p>In the Riga case the arrests were made so indiscriminately -and fatuously that the unfortunate suspects, after -enduring much misery and indignity, were set at liberty -with a growl that was not unlike a curse, and the local -paper hurled more thunderbolts at the heads of the police, -and showed a disposition to canonize the murdered man at -the expense of the authorities. During all the time that -this agitation was going on, Danevitch was working slowly -but surely at his task of drawing aside the curtain and -revealing the mystery. But those in authority above him, -in spite of his record, considered that he was fumbling in -the dark, and looking for clues in impossible places. But -having learnt something about Mr. Ferguson’s skeleton -from that packet of private papers, which was to be -destroyed unopened in the event of Mr. Ferguson’s death, -he proceeded on his own lines. It would not be easy to -give a reason that would satisfy all minds why Mr. -Ferguson kept those incriminating documents; but no -doubt he thought that as long as he lived the confession—if -it could be so called—which he had exacted from -Catherine Blok would effectually protect him against any -further claims she might be inclined to make against him; -because he could confront her with that document, and say, -‘Look here, you acknowledge certain things. Here is your -confession in black and white signed with your name. -Therefore, if you don’t leave me alone I will charge you -with blackmailing me.’</p> - -<p>This, of course, was the weapon of a cunning and artful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> -man which he used to menace and subdue the ignorant, -the weak and wronged woman. He knew well enough in -his own mind that he dare not make that document public; -for though part of the girl’s statement might be believed, -he would not come off scot-free, for would not people say, -‘If you had nothing to fear, why did you get that confession -from her?’</p> - -<p>The first step which Danevitch took after reading the -contents of the sealed packet was to learn something of -the Blok family; and to that end, in the character of an -old vagrant man, he visited the mother and the daughter -in their retreat at Valdai. It took him some time to -gather the materials for the little family history already -narrated. Necessarily, before he could do that, he had to -worm himself into their confidence, and he would not have -succeeded in doing that had he not laid a pretended claim -to occult powers, which enabled him to read the past and -divine the future. With such people as the Bloks this -went a long way. They, in common with their class, had -a fixed belief in charms, fortune-telling and spells.</p> - -<p>When Danevitch saw the infant son of Catherine, he -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘Ah, that is a fine child! but alas for his future!’</p> - -<p>‘How so? What mean you?’ asked the young mother -in alarm.</p> - -<p>‘The child that knows not his father is ill-starred.’</p> - -<p>‘Knows not his father!’ echoed Catherine, with flashing -eyes, and a voice tremulous with indignation. ‘How dare -you say that?’ she added menacingly, as she stamped her -foot.</p> - -<p>‘Think you,’ asked the pseudo-seer, ‘that I can be -deceived? I see with eyes different to yours. That child -knows not his father, and never will know him, for he is -dead.’</p> - -<p>Here Catherine burst into tears, and between her sobs -she exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘It’s true, it’s true, it’s true!’</p> - -<p>‘Of course it is,’ said Danevitch, with an air of triumph.</p> - -<p>Catherine recovered herself, and in an irascible tone said:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>‘No doubt you are very clever; but I doubt if you can -tell me how his father died.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch closed his eyes for some moments, and drew -his hand down his face like one deeply immersed in thought. -Then, suddenly starting up, he answered solemnly:</p> - -<p>‘He was done to death foully. He was strangled.’</p> - -<p>Catherine was terribly distressed, and, sinking into a -chair, she covered her face with her hands and wept -bitterly.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Blok, who was present, was indignant, and said -angrily to Danevitch:</p> - -<p>‘Get you out of the house. You distress my daughter. -She is an honest woman, and we do not want to hear anything -more from you.’</p> - -<p>‘Be not angry, good mother,’ said Danevitch. ‘Your -daughter questioned, and I answered.’ Then, with sudden -and startling abruptness, he asked, ‘Where is your son?’</p> - -<p>The mother’s face grew pale, and, with evident distress -and emotion, she said:</p> - -<p>‘He is dead.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, one is; he moulders at the bottom of the Volga; -but the living one, the living one, where is he?’</p> - -<p>Mrs. Blok looked appalled, and drew back from this -strange old man from whom nothing seemed hidden, and -before she could answer, Catherine started up, passionate -and flushed, and cried excitedly:</p> - -<p>‘Leave us, leave us! in the name of the Great Father, -go! My brother is far away; hundreds of versts of sea -divide him from his native land, and mayhap he will come -back no more.’</p> - -<p>‘It were well for him if he stayed away,’ remarked -Danevitch with solemnity. ‘But why grow angry with -me, my child? I have sorrow for you; I have tears for -you. You have been ensnared, deluded, cheated; and he -who ensnared you and cheated you stood high in the -estimation of men. The penalty of his folly was his life. -He has paid it. For your weakness blood lies at your door, -and nothing can ever wash it away.’</p> - -<p>At these words Catherine uttered a smothered cry, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> -fell into her mother’s arms, and Mrs. Blok, excited and -enraged, screamed at him:</p> - -<p>‘Out of the house, I tell you, out of the house! You -lay murder to our charge, and you lie. Go away! I -command you in God’s name to go.’ She crossed herself -as she spoke, and with her finger drew an imaginary -cross between herself and the prophet of evil, murmuring -as she did so: ‘We are defenceless women; God -shield us!’</p> - -<p>The painful and dramatic scene affected Danevitch, and -he silently withdrew; but he felt that he had got confirmation -of his surmises, for as soon as he learnt the story -of the family, he came to the conclusion in his own mind -that the man who had deprived Ferguson of his life was -Catherine’s unhappy brother. The young fellow, proud-spirited -and honest, flamed up at his sister’s wrong, and, -taking the matter in his own hands, had penned that letter -to Ferguson demanding an interview. It was obvious -there had been other letters written, because the writer -said, ‘This is the last chance I shall give you.’ Who -could have written that letter—which Danevitch so -patiently pieced together from the shreds picked out of -the waste-paper basket—if it had not been the broken-hearted -brother? He knew Ferguson, he had been -employed in the warehouse; and the great wrong his sister -had suffered made him desperate—made him forget the -social division which separated him from his sister’s wronger. -He went to him, not with robbery in his heart—he was -too proud for that—not with murder in his heart, but to -demand that the false statement which had been wrung -from poor Catherine should be given up to him, and that -Ferguson should recognise the claims the girl and the child -had upon him.</p> - -<p>It was easy to work out the sequel. Peter went to the -office; he wanted the paper his sister had signed. He -probably grew angry, and threatened his employer. The -employer was obstinate, stubborn, perhaps insulting, until, -stung into frenzy, the unhappy youth flew at him, and, -blinded by his passion, Peter had crushed the life out of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> -the man before he knew it. Youthful strength and fury -made Peter Blok a murderer, although he may have had -no wish to slay his victim. Finding, to his dismay, that -death had silenced for ever the lips of his sister’s betrayer, -he made a frantic effort to discover the paper which he -knew was in Ferguson’s possession. But his search proving -fruitless, he fled with remorse, no doubt, gnawing at his -heart.</p> - -<p>Danevitch says that never throughout his career did he -start to hunt down a man with greater reluctance than he -did in the case of Peter Blok. With the exception of -Danevitch himself, no one suspected Peter, and as it had -taken him some weeks to learn what he had learnt, the -young fellow had got a start which would probably save -him from the law’s vengeance.</p> - -<p>Danevitch, proceeding with great caution and tact, found -out that Peter had been second in command of a river-boat -engaged in bringing furs down from Astrakhan. The boat -was one of the river fleet belonging to Ferguson, Tauchnitz, -and Co. Three weeks before the crime in Riga, Peter -obtained leave of absence in order to visit his mother, who -was sick. As it was a long journey to where his mother -was living, his lengthened absence did not arouse any -suspicion. After the commission of the crime, there was -every reason to believe he quitted Riga at once, and -Danevitch satisfied himself that Peter had not gone to -Valdai again. As he had already spent several days there -with his mother and sister, had he returned he must have -been noticed, for it was a small place, and a stranger was -spotted immediately.</p> - -<p>From what Danevitch had gathered during his interview, -in the character of a gipsy, with Catherine and her mother, -he inferred that Catherine, at any rate, if not Mrs. Blok, -knew that Peter was going to see Ferguson. And from -what Catherine said during the interview—‘My brother is -far away; hundreds of versts of sea divide him from his -native land, and maybe he will come back no more’—the -deduction was Peter had gone to sea. Being a sailor, he -would probably experience no difficulty in obtaining a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> -ship. And it was equally feasible to suppose that before -going he wrote to his sister, telling her he was going far -beyond the seas.</p> - -<p>The most diligent and careful inquiries in Riga failed to -elicit any sign that Peter had sailed from that port, and -it was likely enough that he had made his way to some -other port on the Baltic Sea, or else to Cronstadt. Anyway, -he could not be found; and as Danevitch could not -entertain a doubt that Peter had killed Ferguson, he felt -bound, as a matter of duty, to circulate a description of -him. This description, however, was not made public, but -placed in the hands of the police and their thousand and -one spies. A whole year passed, however, and no trace of -Peter was obtained. The crime had died out of the public -memory, though not out of that of the police. They have -long memories, and thus it came to pass that one day -it was announced that the supposed murderer of Donald -Ferguson, the merchant of Riga, had been arrested in -St. Petersburg. Although he had grown a beard and -whiskers, he was soon identified as Peter Blok, and a ship’s -discharge upon him showed that he had come from New -York to Cronstadt in an American ship.</p> - -<p>Up to this point Danevitch had kept his knowledge of -Ferguson’s wrong-doing to himself, but now that Peter -Blok was under lock and key he was bound to make the -matter public. To the people of Riga it was like a bombshell -suddenly dropped in their midst. Everywhere where -Ferguson’s name was known, it was a shock. At first -doubts were thrown upon it; then there were open and -loud expressions of disbelief; but the damning documents -were produced, and could not be gainsaid. Then many -sympathizers with Peter came forward when the reaction -set in, and he was provided with funds for his defence; -and, of course, at the trial the whole miserable story was -pitilessly unfolded, until everyone knew it. It was a bitter, -terrible blow to the Ferguson family. It redounds to -their credit, however, that they unostentatiously made the -most ample provision for Catherine and her mother, and -the boy was provided for in such a way that it was not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> -likely he would ever want, and it was stated that he was -to be well educated and well brought up.</p> - -<p>The trial of young Blok clearly proved that nearly all -Danevitch’s surmises and deductions were correct. The lad -had heard through his mother of his sister’s wrong, and -from his sister herself he learnt how Ferguson, in order to -save himself, had wrung from the unhappy girl that false -confession, which, when she signed, she knew very little -about. It was not until later that she realized how she -had belied herself. Naturally that incensed her, and her -brother—smarting with shame and broken pride—placed -himself in communication with Ferguson, who at first tried -to ignore him, until at last, threatened with exposure, he -granted that interview which proved fatal to him.</p> - -<p>When the story was all told, a revulsion of feeling in -the prisoner’s favour took place, and he received the mild -sentence of seven years’ banishment in Siberia.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Count Obolensk</span> had resided in London for a good many -years. He occupied a magnificent house in the neighbourhood -of Hyde Park, where he lived in almost regal style. -He kept a retinue of servants. The furnishings and appointments -of his princely abode were said to be unique; -and he dispensed hospitality with a lavish hand. He was -known to be wealthy, to be a member of a very old and -influential Russian family, and at one time to have held a -high political position in his own country. Here the -general knowledge of his affairs ended; but there were -vague and ill-defined impressions in the public mind that -he had been expelled or had fled from Russia owing to -some of those political causes which in Russia count for so -much, but which in most other countries, or at any rate -in England, would be treated with contempt. But whatever -the reasons were which had induced the Count to take -up his residence in London, those who enjoyed his acquaintance -and hospitality did not allow themselves to be -troubled by them. In his own country he might have -been regarded as little short of Satanic in his iniquity for -aught that the throngs of people who attended his receptions, -his at-homes and parties, knew or cared. The -majority of mankind, in its concrete selfishness and gluttony, -thinks little and cares less about the personal qualities of -those who minister to its sensuous gratifications; what -most concerns it is the quality and nature of the giver’s -gifts. Let these be liberal and lavish, and nothing more -is asked. In Count Obolensk’s case it was universally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> -admitted that he excelled as a host, that his benevolence -knew no bounds, and he dispensed charity with a cosmopolitan -open-handedness which was worthy of all praise. -Personally he was a handsome man, with the tact and refinement -of a courtier, and the delicacy and deference of a -true-bred gentleman. He was a widower, with two grown-up -daughters—Catherine and Nathalia—both handsome -young women; while at the head of his household, as -general manageress, was an English lady, known as Mrs. -Sherard Wilson, who, it was generally understood, had -lived in Russia for a good many years. She was a fine-looking -woman, of commanding presence and strong -personality. She invariably presided at the Count’s social -functions, and acted as chaperon to his daughters. Of -her history no one knew anything, and nobody seemed concerned -about it. She was a power in the Count’s household; -and while she proved herself to be a woman of -exceeding great tact, and one who had made the art of -finesse a study, there was a tacit understanding that anyone -who offended her ever so slightly could never hope to enjoy -again the hospitality of the house over which she presided. -Her general characteristics could be summed up thus: she -was clever beyond the ordinary, well educated, a good -linguist, a tasteful and excellent hostess; she was well informed, -had more than a passing taste for politics, and -appeared to have been acquainted with many of the leading -statesmen of her time. Of them she would talk freely; -about herself she was silent, and he would have been a -bold man indeed who would have made the attempt to -‘draw her out’; he would most certainly have come to -grief. She was frequently absent from London; sometimes -for a few days, at others for weeks. But where she went -to, why she went, and what she did, were mysteries, and -the eye of vulgar curiosity was unable to penetrate them. -One thing was noted as peculiar: the Count’s daughters -never accompanied her.</p> - -<p>One night at the end of January, a night that, according -to Russian reckoning, was New Year’s Eve, and usually -celebrated with great ceremony in Russia, there was a reception<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> -at the Count’s house. It was one of the few -occasions when every nationality save Russian was excluded. -It had been one of those trying and maddening days, -peculiar to the English climate in January. A leaden sky, -a choking, foggy atmosphere, a general gloominess, and a -sense of that awful depression which seems to justify all the -hard things said about our climate by foreigners.</p> - -<p>However, the weather notwithstanding, there was a large -gathering at the Count’s house. Russians had come from -France, from Germany, from Switzerland, in order to be -present, and they made up a brilliant assembly. According -to Russian custom, there was a religious ceremony first of all. -Then followed a sumptuous repast, which included almost -every known Russian dish. After that the Count and his -guests retired to a large, heavily-curtained room, which, -compared with other apartments in the house, was plainly -furnished. It was lighted by three long windows on the -east side, but each of these windows was screened by -massive velvet curtains, which completely shut out the fog -and the gloom, while a very handsome twelve-light gaselier, -with tinted, rose-coloured shades, diffused a soft and agreeable -light throughout the apartment. The floor was -covered with an unusually thick carpet laid on very stout -felt. Not only was this most comfortable to the feet, but -it deadened sound, and the footfalls of the heaviest person -walking across the room could not be heard. At one end -of the room was a deep angle or recess, and placed diagonally -in this recess was a large carved oak bureau or -writing-desk. The entrance to the chamber was by a -panelled doorway, closed by an ordinary door, masked by -a second door lined with thick red felt or baize. This excluded -draught as well as sound. And assuming that -anyone had been prompted by curiosity or other cause to -play eavesdropper, he would have needed an abnormally -acute sense of hearing to have gathered any of the conversation -carried on in the room. At the opposite end of -the apartment—which was oblong—was another door, -giving access to a small anteroom, the walls of which were -lined with shelves filled with books.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>On the evening in question, when the Count and his -guests retired to the large chamber described, they made it -evident that they wished to be free from any possibility of -interruption, for the baize-covered door was locked inside, -and so was its companion door. The curtains at the -windows were so closely drawn that human eye could not -by any possible means have discerned from the outside -what was going on in the inside.</p> - -<p>In this room the Count and his visitors remained for -over two hours. They talked much, but not loudly nor -excitedly. Nearly everyone smoked, until the atmosphere -became heavy and thick, in spite of a large ventilator in -the ceiling. But nobody seemed to mind the heat or the -fœtidness. Every man appeared to be very earnest and -absorbed with what was going on, and when he rolled a -new cigarette, he generally did it in a preoccupied and -automatic sort of way. Occasionally the host, who sat at -the large desk in the recess, made notes, and read them out -to the company. Sometimes what had been written was -approved of; at others dissent was expressed, and discussion -ensued. Then the writing would either be altered or -allowed to remain as first written, according to the wishes -of the majority.</p> - -<p>It was two o’clock in the morning when the meeting -broke up. Then the Count carefully locked his desk, and -placed the keys in his pocket. He unlocked the doors, -and led his guests to the spacious dining-room, where light -refreshments were provided. A quarter of an hour or -twenty minutes later a man very cautiously rose up in the -recess in the room where the meeting had been held, and -where he had been concealed behind the bureau or writing-desk, -and, stretching his cramped limbs, he got out, crept -towards the door, listened intently, and, having assured himself -that the coast was clear, hurried out. At three o’clock -such of the guests as were not staying in the house began -to take their departure, a few in broughams, the majority -in cabs, which had been waiting through the bitter night.</p> - -<p>As most people know, the Russian New Year time is -kept up with great festivity; and, hospitable though he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> -was at all times, the Count, if possible, excelled himself on -this occasion, and those who were privileged to be present -went away with a feeling that they might have travelled -the wide world over without meeting with such princely -entertainment so delicately and gracefully dispensed. Host, -hostess, and the host’s daughters were always voted perfect, -and very lavish praise was uttered when Mrs. Sherard Wilson -was referred to, the English people particularly, who had -the <i>entrée</i> to the Count’s rooms during the festive gatherings, -expressing their admiration in no measured terms.</p> - -<p>At last the series of New Year receptions and entertainments -came to an end, and there was a lull, which was -taken advantage of by the Misses Obolensk to make their -arrangements for a forthcoming ball, which they intended -to give on a grand scale. The organizing of this ball was -left entirely to the young ladies, as Mrs. Sherard Wilson -was on the eve of departure on a journey to the Continent. -The Count never concerned himself about his domestic or -social arrangements; he left everything to the ladies. He -was a great reader, and he wrote a good deal. Such exercise -as he took he got either in his carriage or on horseback. -He did not visit much, but was passionately fond of music, -and went to all the principal concerts, and occasionally -attended the theatres. His was a routine life; he was -very regular in his habits, and one day was much like -another with him. His position in every way seemed an -enviable one, and apparently he lived in amity with all -men. All those who knew him respected and honoured -him.</p> - -<p>About a fortnight after the gathering of Russians at his -house to celebrate the New Year’s Eve, Miss Nathalia -Obolensk was descending the main stairway in a white -satin evening dress, with a magnificent red camellia in her -hair, for she was going to a grand concert with her father, -and the carriage was waiting at the door. Coming after -her was a liveried man-servant bearing a large tray full of -tea-things, including a kettle of hot water, a silver teapot -with the remains of the tea in it, a large jug of cream, and -other things, that he had just brought from the drawing-room.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> -He was a stolid, stupid-looking man, and suddenly -he justified his looks by stumbling and scattering the -contents of the tray over the young lady, tea, hot water, -jelly, being poured over her splendid dress, to its ruin. She -uttered a shrill cry of alarm, which quickly brought her -father, Mrs. Wilson, and some of the other servants into -the hall, and a very dramatic scene ensued. The shock to -her nerves, and the realization that the mishap had not -only spoilt her pretty frock, but would prevent her going -to the concert, had such an effect upon Nathalia that she -flew down the few remaining stairs, flung her arms about -her father’s neck, and fainted.</p> - -<p>In the meantime the author of the mischief presented a -very sorry spectacle. He seemed thoroughly ashamed of -himself, and undecided whether to bolt at once or gather up -the wreckage. Nor was his confusion and distress lessened -by the torrent of abuse and passionate scolding which fell -from Mrs. Sherard Wilson’s lips. In the choicest of -Russian she told him he was a ‘dolt,’ an ‘idiot,’ a ‘fool,’ -a ‘brute beast.’</p> - -<p>‘Leave the things, you stupid!’ she exclaimed fierily. -‘Ever since you entered the house, you have done nothing -but make mistakes and smash things up. But it’s the last -chance you’ll have of doing mischief here. In ten minutes -you’ll be out. Do you mark what I say? Ten minutes -only, and if you are not out of the house, then the other -servants shall kick you out.’</p> - -<p>‘If you please, my lady,’ whined the man, ‘I am entitled -to a month’s notice or a month’s wages.’</p> - -<p>‘You will get neither, you blockhead!’ replied the lady. -‘Why, your month’s wages won’t pay for the things you’ve -broken. And what business had you coming down the -main staircase. It was your place to use the servants’ -staircase.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m very sorry,’ moaned Andrey, ‘and beg your -pardon——’</p> - -<p>‘Sorry, you wretch! well you may be!’ exclaimed the -irate lady, unappeased by the culprit’s penitence; ‘but get -out of my sight, and in ten minutes you must have left<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> -the house. Paul’—this to the head-butler—‘Paul, I -charge you to see the fellow is off the premises in ten -minutes.’</p> - -<p>With this peremptory command, she hastened to the -reception-room, whither the Count had had his daughter -conveyed. He was much annoyed, but did not allow his -annoyance to find expression, as Mrs. Wilson did.</p> - -<p>Nathalia had by this time recovered from her faint, and -was bewailing her woe-begone condition, and the blighted -prospects of an evening’s enjoyment. Her father was -urging her to go upstairs and change her dress, saying -that they could still be in time for the concert, but she -said it was impossible; she was too much upset, and had -neither energy nor inclination to perform her toilet over -again, notwithstanding that she had two maids to wait -upon her. Finding that she was inflexible on this point, -her father expressed a hope that she would soon regain her -composure, and that he would see her at supper-time, and -leaving her to the care of Mrs. Wilson, he retired to his -study. In a little more than ten minutes the butler came -to Mrs. Wilson and announced that Andrey had gone.</p> - -<p>‘Thank goodness!’ exclaimed the lady. ‘I am sure I -never had such a stupid person in my service before. -Whatever were you doing to engage such a dolt?’</p> - -<p>‘He came to me very well recommended, madame.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, those who recommended him ought to be ashamed -of themselves; that’s all that I’ve got to say. It’s really -shameful that people who call themselves honest should -recommend incompetent servants in order to get them off -their hands.’</p> - -<p>‘I am afraid it’s frequently done, madame,’ the butler -remarked.</p> - -<p>‘That is no excuse.’</p> - -<p>‘I do not offer it as an excuse, madame. I agree with -you that it is shameful.’</p> - -<p>‘But surely when you engaged Andrey you might have -seen that he was a fool.’</p> - -<p>‘No, madame, I did not,’ answered the butler with some -show of wounded dignity. ‘He seemed sharp enough at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> -first. His stupidity set in afterwards. I fancy he is a little -given to drink, though I’ve never missed anything, and have -never seen him really the worse for liquor.’</p> - -<p>‘How long is it since he came here?’ demanded the lady -warmly.</p> - -<p>‘Just six weeks, I think.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s six weeks too long. Take good care that the -next man you engage knows his business.’ The butler -bowed and was retiring, when Mrs. Wilson called him -back. ‘Stay a minute. You are aware that I am leaving -London to-morrow, and may be absent three or four -weeks. You had better not engage anyone else until I -return.’</p> - -<p>‘But, madame, we shall be short-handed, and——’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t care whether you are short-handed or not. -You will do as I tell you.’</p> - -<p>Paul knew that it would be fatal to his interests to -attempt to argue with his mistress when she was in a bad -temper, so he made his bow and discreetly withdrew.</p> - -<p>‘Now, Nathalia,’ said Mrs. Wilson, when the man had -left them, ‘away you go upstairs, change your dress and -take your father to the concert. You know how disappointed -he will be if he doesn’t go, and as I am leaving -to-morrow, I don’t wish to see him miserable and unhappy. -You know what a sensitive man he is, and though he doesn’t -say much, he feels the more.’</p> - -<p>This appeal had its effect. Nathalia’s ruffled feelings had -smoothed down.</p> - -<p>‘Very well, I will go,’ she said; ‘but it’s an awful -nuisance having to change my things in a hurry.’</p> - -<p>She rang for her maids, and while Mrs. Wilson gave -orders that the carriage was to be kept at the door, -Nathalia hurried to her room, reappearing in about twenty -minutes, looking, as far as personal appearance was concerned, -as if nothing had happened, though there was still -an expression of worry and concern on her handsome face. -Mrs. Wilson had already warned the Count not to settle -himself to his reading, as he would still be able to go to -the concert. He was delighted at this, for he did not like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> -to have his plans changed, and he was waiting in the hall -when his daughter came downstairs.</p> - -<p>‘Well, my dear,’ he said to her in complimentary strains, -‘you look charming in spite of the little contretemps. It’s -an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and I suppose the -spoilt dress means a fresh order to your dressmaker, and -a further lightening of my purse.’</p> - -<p>He laughed pleasantly, and, following his daughter into -the carriage, they drove off, and after all were in time to -hear the best part of the concert.</p> - -<p>When Mrs. Wilson and Nathalia appeared at the -breakfast-table the next morning, they had both recovered -from the previous evening’s little annoyance. Mrs. Wilson -was somewhat hasty-tempered, but she very soon got over -her small outbursts, and her usual condition was a very -pleasant geniality. During the breakfast, Andrey’s gross -stupidity was discussed and laughed at; and when the -Count, with his usual generosity, said he thought that the -fellow’s wages should be sent to him, for, in spite of his -stupidity, it was after all an accident, the lady acquiesced, -and a little later she put up the amount in a packet, and -instructed Paul to see that Andrey got it. Then she -busied herself during the rest of the day in seeing that -everything was in ‘apple-pie order’ previous to her departure, -for whenever she was away the management of -the household devolved almost entirely upon the servants. -It was true there was an excellent housekeeper, and -Catherine was exceedingly domesticated; besides this, she -took an interest in the house. Nevertheless Mrs. Wilson -was always under the impression that her absence meant -disruption, and that it was impossible for things to flow -smoothly while she was away. It was a pleasant little bit -of conceit and did no harm, for while it gratified her it -amused the others.</p> - -<p>Dinner was unusually early that evening, for Mrs. Wilson -had to catch the night mail to Dover. Her luggage—she -never travelled without a considerable quantity—had previously -been conveyed to the station, and, dinner over, she -arrayed herself in a costly and handsome Russian fur cloak,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> -and, in company with her maid, was driven in her brougham -to Holborn Viaduct, and a first-class compartment was -specially reserved for herself and her companion.</p> - -<p>The weather was still atrocious. It was bitterly cold. -There had been a drizzling rain all day long. The mud -in the streets was of inky colour, and of glutinous consistency. -People flitted by in the foggy atmosphere like -ghosts, and not all the lights of London could relieve the -gloom and depressing atmospheric effects. There were -very few passengers that night; but amongst them was a -man of medium height, attired in a long ulster and a seal-skin -cap, the flaps of which were turned down until his -face was all but hidden. He had taken a second-class -ticket, and he and a young German, a commercial traveller, -were the only occupants of the compartment. When -Dover was reached, the rain was pouring down, the sea -roared, and Channelward all was dark as Erebus. The -man in the ulster, whose only luggage consisted of a hand-bag, -hurried on board the small steamer, which was grinding -away at the pier as the water tossed her up and down. -Ensconcing himself in the shadow of the funnel, he watched -the passengers as they descended the unsteady gangway; -and having seen Mrs. Wilson and her maid come on board -and retire to the cabin reserved for them, he dived down -into the saloon and ordered supper, for he was hungry.</p> - -<p>The crossing was an exceedingly rough one. The -wretched cockleshell of a steamer which the railway company -considered good enough to carry their passengers -from one shore to the other was tossed about in a manner -well calculated to alarm any but hardened travellers. The -man in the ulster, however, was not affected. Having -enjoyed a good supper, and washed it down with a pint of -champagne, he produced from his case a very big and very -strong-looking cigar, and lighting it, he battened his seal-skin -cap down on his head and went on deck, where he -remained until the steamer glided into Calais Harbour -from the storm-tossed waters of the Channel. He remained -until Mrs. Wilson and her maid had gone on -shore. Then he followed, carrying his hand-bag. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> -went into the douane, had his bag examined, saw a porter -deposit the lady’s wraps and rugs in the first-class compartment -of the carriage labelled ‘Through carriage to -Geneva,’ and, that done, placed his own bag in an adjoining -compartment, and as his second-class ticket had only -been from London to Calais, he secured a first-class for -Geneva, and was one of the very few passengers who -travelled that dark and stormy night to the French -capital of Switzerland on the shores of Lake Leman.</p> - -<p>At the period of this story Alexander II. sat upon the -throne of All the Russias. It is a matter of history now -that he was one of the best-threatened monarchs who ever -ruled over a so-called civilized people. His life had been -attempted so many times that he lived in constant fear and -dread, and the most extraordinary measures were taken for -his preservation. He changed his bedroom every night; -his palace was filled with soldiers; his food was cooked by -special cooks, who were solemnly sworn in in accordance -with the rites of their Church to protect him; nevertheless, -their <i>chef</i> had to appear in the royal presence at every -meal and taste all the dishes before they were served to his -august master. But even then dozens of eyes watched -the man’s every movement, lest he might adroitly slip -poison into the food. It was a terrible penalty for an -Emperor to have to pay for his greatness, but, unhappily, -it was a condition of things that had been familiar, more -or less, to Russian rulers for a long time. Michael Danevitch -was held high in the esteem of the Czar, who regarded -him as one of his strongest safeguards. The famous -detective’s restoration to the Treasury of the stolen million -roubles was a thing of the past, and was almost forgotten; -but that exploit had made his reputation, and gave him an -absolutely independent position as well as power. Since -then he had displayed remarkable zeal and acumen. He -had unearthed numerous dastardly plots, and had sent -to the fortress of Peter and Paul, the prison of Schlusselburgh, -and to Siberia, many desperate men, who believed -that the way to freedom and reform was by the destruction -of human life and the shedding of innocent blood.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>It was well known throughout Russia at this time that -a secret Nihilist organization existed of vast proportions, -and that one of the main objects of the association was to -bring about the death of the Czar. It is difficult to understand -how men and women, claiming to be intelligent and -reasoning beings, could come to believe that by slaying -their monarch they would redress their own wrongs, real -or imaginary. Everyone was aware that the moment the -breath was out of the body of one Czar, another would -step into his place. The cry of ‘Le Roi est mort!’ would -be echoed back by ‘Vive le Roi!’</p> - -<p>There could be no interregnum for a single hour, unless -a tremendous social upheaval took place and a republic was -proclaimed. But while that is the easiest thing imaginable -in France, it never has been possible in Russia; firstly, on -account of the enormous extent of the country; secondly, -by reason of the varied nationalities represented; and -thirdly, owing to the want of anything like homogeneousness -among the vast masses of people swayed by the -Imperial rule. Nevertheless, to kill the Czar was the constant -aim of thousands and tens of thousands of his -subjects. It thus became necessary for his Imperial -Majesty to take the most extreme measures for the preservation -of his life. It was like a game of check and -counter-check. The Nihilists watched with a thousand -eyes; they plotted and planned with busy brains. But -they in turn were watched; and the forces of the law were -constantly at work against them. The Nihilists, however, -had the best of it. They played the cleverer game. For -in the army, the navy, in the law, the civil service, in all -classes and ranks of society, even in the Church itself, they -had their spies and agents, and those who were on the side -of the Czar found all their energies, all their vigilance, -taxed to avoid the mines which the others were ever ready -to spring. Amongst the Czar’s most devoted adherents -and trusted followers was Colonel Vlassovski, who was in -command of the military guard which night and day did -duty at the Winter Palace, where the Emperor was then -residing.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>The Winter Palace of St. Petersburg is the largest -residential palace in the world, with the exception of -Versailles and the Vatican. Its length is four hundred and -fifty-five feet, and its breadth three hundred and fifty. So -spacious is its interior that as many as six thousand persons -can be easily accommodated there at one time. It will be -readily understood that to effectually guard a place of these -stupendous dimensions from a crafty, cunning, and silent -enemy, who gave no sign of his presence until he had -struck his blow, was not an easy task; and the tremendous -responsibility and ceaseless strain on the nerves which were -inseparable from Colonel Vlassovski’s position, transformed -him in a few months from a comparatively young man to -an old and haggard one. One day in the month of -December the Colonel sent an urgent message by special -courier to Danevitch, in whom he had the utmost confidence. -The message was to the effect that he wished to -see Danevitch immediately. The detective hurried at once -to the palace, and was immediately ushered into the -Colonel’s private cabinet, where there were numerous -telegraphic machines that placed the chief in communication -with all parts of the city, and nearly every part of -Russia. The Colonel temporarily dismissed his clerks and -attendants when Danevitch arrived, and bolted the door so -that they might be alone and free from interruption.</p> - -<p>‘I have sent for you,’ he began, ‘to make an investigation. -Last night one of the guard in the interior of the -palace, a young soldier named Vladimir, who was on duty -near the Czar’s apartments, was surprised by the corporal -in the act of making drawings and plans of that part of -the palace. He was immediately arrested, but made the -most desperate efforts to destroy his papers. He was prevented, -however, from doing this, and an examination -proved them to be drawings to scale of certain portions -of the interior of the palace. Vladimir, before he joined -the army, was in an architect’s office. On being questioned -he grew sullen, and resolutely declined to say anything.’</p> - -<p>‘And what inference do you draw from the man’s act, -Colonel?’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>‘What inference! Why, can there be any doubt that -he is a Nihilist spy?’</p> - -<p>‘Where is he now?’</p> - -<p>‘In the fortress of Peter and Paul.’</p> - -<p>‘What will be his punishment?’</p> - -<p>‘As a soldier on duty he has been guilty of treason—for -it has been declared treason for any unauthorized person -to make drawings or tracings of any part of a royal -residence—he will therefore be summarily tried, and, if -proved guilty, will be instantly shot.’</p> - -<p>‘And you think he will be proved guilty?’</p> - -<p>‘There is not a doubt about it. He was discovered -making drawings of the palace without orders. When -questioned, he declined to give any explanation, and his -endeavours to destroy the plans showed that his motives -were not innocent ones. Of course we shall try, before he -is executed, to get information from him.’</p> - -<p>‘Which you will fail to do.’</p> - -<p>‘Why?’</p> - -<p>‘Because these Nihilists’ agents will not betray their -comrades.’</p> - -<p>‘But he will be tortured into a confession.’</p> - -<p>‘You may torture him, but he will not confess. The -Nihilists are pitiless. A traitor to their cause not only -destroys himself, but all those belonging to him, for the -vengeance falls also on his family and connections, however -innocent they may be. Vladimir knows that, and you may -depend upon it that, punish him as you will, you will never -wring from him a word of confession.’</p> - -<p>‘What’s to be done, then?’ asked the Colonel, in -distress.</p> - -<p>‘Let the fellow go free. Reinstate him.’</p> - -<p>The Colonel stared in blank amazement; then he broke -into a mocking laugh, as he asked caustically:</p> - -<p>‘Have you taken leave of your senses, Danevitch, or -become a fool?’</p> - -<p>‘Neither.’</p> - -<p>‘Explain, then. What do you mean?’</p> - -<p>‘A dead man cannot speak; a live one can. Put<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> -Vladimir back into his place again, and leave the rest to -me. He is a key, as it were. With him you may open -many doors. Kill him, and the doors will remain closed -against you.’</p> - -<p>A new light broke on the Colonel. He looked thoughtful, -and for some moments remained silent; then he remarked:</p> - -<p>‘But there are a thousand difficulties now in the way of -setting him free.’</p> - -<p>‘Under ordinary circumstances, yes. But in this case a -stroke of the Czar’s pen can do it. You are in the -Emperor’s confidence. Explain to him what is required, -and in two hours’ time Vladimir can be back in the palace -again. Then he will betray himself by some act, some -sign; on the other hand, all the resources of Peter and -Paul will fail to wring from him a word that will be of use -to us.’</p> - -<p>The Colonel saw the force of the argument, and said -that he would lose no time in procuring an interview with -the Czar. That was done; result, in the course of the -day Vladimir was reinstated. He had been told that on -investigation the authorities were not disposed to take a -serious view of his offence. He was a young soldier, and -of value to the State, and another chance would be given -to him. So he was severely reprimanded, and brought -back to the palace, much to his own amazement. He had -considered himself doomed, and his restoration to liberty -puzzled him; but he was too obtuse to divine the real -cause, and he did not dream how every movement of his -was being watched. Some days later he justified Danevitch’s -prediction. Being off duty, he went into the city, -and, making his way to one of the quays on the Neva, now -frozen over, he met a young woman, and was seen to hand -her a paper. They did not confer together long, and when -they separated, the young woman was followed to her home -by Danevitch. Had he been a mere subordinate of the -chief of police, he would have been compelled to have reported -this incident, with the result that a domiciliary -visit would have been paid to the house, and as a natural -corollary of that action, assuming that, as was suspected,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> -she was in conspiracy with others, her co-conspirators would -be warned, and justice might be defeated. Danevitch was -aware of all this, and, like a well-trained sleuth-hound, he -did not attempt to strike his quarry until he was absolutely -sure of it. He knew that at the most Vladimir could be -but a humble instrument; behind him and influencing him -were more powerful foes to the State. These were the -people he wanted to lay his hands upon. It was no use -casting his net for the little fish only; it was the big ones -he fished for. After witnessing the meeting between -Vladimir and the young woman, Danevitch had another -interview with Colonel Vlassovski, during which he informed -him that Vladimir was dangerous, and should be -closely watched, though care was to be taken not to allow -him to suspect that he was being watched. A few days -later Danevitch again went to the Colonel, and said:</p> - -<p>‘I believe I am in the way of bringing to light a great -conspiracy, and I am going to leave Russia for a time.’</p> - -<p>‘But how in the world can you bring the conspiracy to -light if you are out of Russia?’ asked the Colonel in alarm. -‘Your presence is required here if there is danger.’</p> - -<p>‘No. I can do better elsewhere. There is danger, but -it does not threaten immediately. The head of the movement -is not in Russia. If the head is destroyed, the tail -is sure to perish. I am going to seek the head. The tail, -which is here, can be trampled on afterwards.’</p> - -<p>‘Where is the head, do you think?’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t exactly know. In Berlin, perhaps; in Geneva, -Paris, London.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah, Geneva and London!’ exclaimed the Colonel -angrily. ‘Those two places are responsible for much. -They offer refuge to the vilest of wretches so long as they -claim to be merely political offenders. Like charity, that -term covers a multitude of sins, and under its protecting -influence some of the most desperate and bloodthirsty -scoundrels who ever walked the earth have found -sanctuary.’</p> - -<p>‘True,’ answered Danevitch; ‘but we cannot help that. -There are ways and means, however, of dragging rascals of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> -that kind from their sanctuary. I am going to see what -can be done.’</p> - -<p>‘You will keep in touch with me,’ the Colonel remarked.</p> - -<p>‘Certainly I will. In the meantime, draw a closer cordon -round the palace, and let no one sleep. You must not -forget, Colonel, that the plots we are called upon to -checkmate are hatched not in Russia, but in some of the -European capitals. The poor fools who execute the work -here are mere tools. We want to lay hands on the principals, -the people who from a safe retreat supply the -money. Stop the money, and the tools will cease to -work.’</p> - -<p>All that Danevitch urged was undeniable. The Colonel -knew it. Those in power knew it. The Czar himself -knew it. But hitherto the great difficulty had been to -secure the principals. The prisons were full of the hirelings; -hundreds and hundreds of them dragged out their -miserable lives in Siberia; but still the danger was not -lessened, for as long as ever money was forthcoming men -and women could always be found ready and willing to -pit their liberties and lives against the forces of the -Government. It cannot be denied that amongst them -were some, many perhaps, who were not mere hirelings, -but were prompted by mistaken notions of patriotism; -they were generally young people led away by false sentiments -and misplaced enthusiasm. It had been found, too, -that young women, for the sake of men they loved, were -willing to risk all they held sacred on earth at the bidding -of their lovers. They were the most pliant, the most -willing tools; but they were also the weak links in the -chain. They acted with less caution than men. They -went to work blindly, and with a stupid recklessness which -was bound sooner or later to betray them. Danevitch had -a favourite theory, or saying, to the effect that, given a -plot with a woman in it, all you had to do was to find out -the woman, and you would discover the plot. In this case -he had found out the woman. The one who met Vladimir -on the quay by the Neva was a book-keeper in a general -store. She shared apartments with another young woman<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> -in a poor part of the town. At night, when her duties for -the day were over, she was in the habit of attending -secret meetings, mostly of women, with a sprinkling of -men amongst them. One of these women was a Madame -Petrarna. She was an organizer and a leader. Vladimir’s -sweetheart was in high favour with her. Petrarna was the -wife of a man who was in exile as ‘a danger to the State.’ -He had been arrested as a suspicious personage, and though -nothing was actually proved against him, he was sent to -Siberia.</p> - -<p>Having learnt so much about Vladimir’s sweetheart, -Danevitch devoted his attention to Petrarna. He had -made the ways of Nihilists a study, and though they had -their spies everywhere, he was often able to outwit them, -and he succeeded in getting around him a little band of -devoted agents who were ready to go anywhere and do -anything at his bidding. Amongst these agents was a -clever little woman, and she succeeded one night in gaining -admission to a meeting over which Petrarna was -presiding. The president spoke of the arrest and release -of Vladimir, and how he had been able, after all, to hand to -his sweetheart and their colleague certain drawings of the -palace, which would be invaluable to them in their work.</p> - -<p>This and many other things the agent learnt, and conveyed -the intelligence to her employer Danevitch, whereby -he was induced to go abroad to search for the head, as he -had told Colonel Vlassovsky.</p> - -<p>Weeks passed, and Danevitch was in Geneva. The -weather was bitter. The winter had set in very early, and -so far had been unusually severe. At this period there -were something like five thousand Russians living in -Geneva and its environs. The majority of these Russians -were Nihilists. One night, although a black <i>bise</i> was -blowing, filling the air with spiculæ of ice, and freezing -to the marrow all those who ventured into the streets, -various individuals—singly, in twos and threes—wended -their way to an old building in a lonely side-street not -far from the Gare. It was a short street, and devoted -principally to warehouses, which were closed at night;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> -consequently it was badly lighted, and after business hours -practically deserted. The entrance to one of these buildings -was by an arched gateway, closed with massive wooden -gates, in one side of which was a small door to allow the -workpeople to pass in and out when the gates were closed. -On the night in question, this little door opened and shut -many times; each time it opened, somebody entered after -having been asked for a sign, a counter-sign, and a password. -Without these none could enter. At length there -were nearly fifty persons present. Then the gate was -barred and guarded. In a long back upper room, the -windows of which were so screened that not a ray of light -could escape, a meeting was held. It was a Nihilist -meeting, and the chief thing discussed was the destruction -of the Czar of Russia. Reports were also read from many -‘Centres,’ detailing the progress that was made in what was -called ‘The Revolutionary Movement.’ One man brought -with him a great quantity of seditious literature in Russian. -It had been printed by a secret press in the town. The -meeting was presided over by a lady; that lady was Mrs. -Sherard Wilson. She distributed a considerable amount -of money among those present, and talked the most -violent of language. She was a fluent and eloquent -speaker, and swayed the meeting as reeds are swayed by -the wind.</p> - -<p>A long discussion followed, and many things were -settled. Amongst others, the date of the ‘Czar’s execution’ -was fixed; and Mrs. Sherard announced that she -would leave for St. Petersburg in a very few days to -hasten the ‘good cause.’</p> - -<p>The meeting was orderly, business-like, and quiet. -Every person present—man and woman—seemed terribly -in earnest, and there was a grim severity in their tone and -speech which argued unrelenting bitterness and hatred -against the ruler of Russia and many prominent members -of his council, all of whom were marked for swift and -sudden death. It was midnight when the meeting broke -up. Silently the people came, silently they departed; and -when the last one had gone, and the door in the gate had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> -been locked, a death-like stillness reigned in the deserted -warehouse. Outside, the black <i>bise</i> roared, bringing from -the lake and the surrounding hills fierce storms of hail.</p> - -<p>A little later the door of the gate opened noiselessly, -and a man, having glanced carefully up and down to see -that no one was in sight, passed out, locked the door after -him, and disappeared in the darkness of the night.</p> - -<p>That man was Michael Danevitch. He had heard all -that had passed at the meeting, for he had been concealed -behind a pile of packing-cases, and his note-book was filled -with the names, so far as he could gather them, of all those -who had taken part in the proceedings.</p> - -<p>Three days after the meeting had been held, Mrs. Sherard -Wilson took her departure for Berlin, where she rested -for a day and a night, and had interviews with several -influential people, and at a certain bank and money-changer’s -in Berlin she converted an English cheque for a -large amount into Russian money. She was known to the -money-changer; he had cashed similar cheques before. -Having completed her business, she pursued her way to -Russia. At the frontier her luggage and passport were -examined. There was nothing liable to duty in the former; -the latter was all in order and duly viséd. The examiners -at the frontier, however, failed to discover in one of her -trunks a very artfully and cleverly contrived false bottom, -where lay concealed not only a mass of inflammatory literature, -but documents of the most damaging description. -So she passed on her journey, distributing largess freely, and -regarded by the officials as a lady of distinction, travelling -no doubt on important business, for no one travelled for -pleasure in the winter weather. Mrs. Wilson spoke French, -German, Russian, and many dialects, so that she had no -difficulty with regard to tongues. In the same train with -her travelled a man, who was ostensibly a fur merchant, in -reality her shadower—Danevitch the detective.</p> - -<p>In due course they reached St. Petersburg, and the lady -was driven to one of the principal hotels, where she -engaged a suite of rooms; and when three or four days -had elapsed, during which she was very active and went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> -about much, she attended a secret meeting, held in the -house of one Alexeyeff, who was a bookseller in a small -way of business. In that house over sixty persons assembled, -including the indefatigable Mrs. Sherard Wilson. -When the last person had entered, there gradually closed -around the place a cordon of heavily-armed policemen. -They, again, were reinforced by a body of soldiers with -loaded guns and fixed bayonets. At a given signal, when -all was ready, the door of the house was burst in and the -meeting, which had just got to business, was broken up in -wild confusion. The people saw that they had been -betrayed and were trapped. For a moment a panic seized -them. Some made a bid for liberty, and rushed off, but -could not get far; the cordon was too strong to be broken -through. Others, with a wild despair, prepared to sell -their lives and liberties dearly. But, as is well known, -Continental police, and particularly the Russian police, -stand on no ceremony when resistance to their authority is -offered. The maudlin sentiment which we in England so -often display, even when the most desperate ruffians are -concerned, is quite unknown abroad. Resistance to the -law generally means injury, and often death, to the resister. -On the occasion in question, the police and the soldiers were -all heavily armed, for they were aware that the work they -were called upon to perform could not be undertaken -with kid gloves on; the glittering swords and bayonets -which menaced the trapped people had an effect, and what -threatened to be a scene of bloodshed and death ended in -a despairing surrender to the forces that were irresistible. -From the moment that the police broke in upon the -meeting Mrs. Sherard Wilson felt that hope had gone, and -she made no attempt either to save her own liberty or -arouse her followers to action.</p> - -<p>Under a very strong escort the misguided people were -conveyed to prison, and very soon it was made evident that -Danevitch had brought to light one of the most desperate -and gigantic conspiracies of modern times. Not only had -plans been drawn up and arrangements made for killing -the Czar, but many noblemen and high officials were to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> -killed. The conspirators were chosen from all ranks of -society, and they had followers in the army and the navy, as -well as in the police. That they would have succeeded in -their nefarious designs there is little doubt, had it not been -for the vigilance and cleverness of Danevitch. He found -out that Count Obolensk, who resided in London, was -supplying large sums of money to aid the work of the -conspiracy. The detective therefore decided upon the bold -step of taking service in the Count’s household for a time. -This he succeeded in doing, and on the night of the -meeting recorded in the early part of this story, which -was held at the Count’s house, he hid himself behind the -writing-desk and heard all that took place. In order to -get away from the house without raising suspicion, he let -the tray of china fall on the stairs as Miss Obolensk was -descending. He followed Mrs. Sherard Wilson to Geneva, -and was present at that other meeting, when he gained -most important information, and subsequently, all unknown -to her, accompanied the lady to Russia.</p> - -<p>Investigation brought to light the fact that Mrs. Wilson -was the wife of a Russian of high social position, but he -had been sent to Siberia for life as a political offender. -From that moment his wife became the sworn enemy of -the Government and the Czar. She had previously been -acquainted with Count Obolensk, and was able to exert -great influence over him, and, as he was very wealthy, he -proved a valuable ally. The plot failed, however, at the -eleventh hour, thanks to Danevitch. How narrow had -been the escape of the Emperor from a violent death was -revealed at the trial of the prisoners, when it was proved -that a considerable number of the officials of the palace, -as well as soldiers and servants, had been corrupted, and -on a given date a man was to be admitted to the palace at -night, and he was to throw a bomb into the Czar’s bedroom.</p> - -<p>Simultaneously an attempt was to be made on the lives -of several influential people residing outside of the palace. -Desperate and terrible as all this seems, there is no doubt -it would have been attempted, for the men and women<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> -who were mixed up in the plot were reckless of their lives, -and terribly in earnest.</p> - -<p>No mercy was shown to the prisoners, and the majority -of them were sent to some of the most inhospitable regions -of Northern Siberia, including Mrs. Sherard Wilson. To -her it must have been infinitely worse than death, and it -may be doubted if she ever survived to reach her destination.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE CROWN JEWELS.</h3> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Moscow</span>—or, as the natives call it, Maskva—might almost -be described as a city within a city; that is to say, there -is the Kremlin, and a town outside of that again. The -word Kremlin is derived from the Slavonic word Krim, -which signifies a fort. It is built on a hill, and is surrounded -by a high turreted wall from twelve to sixteen -feet thick. This wall varies from thirty to sixty feet high, -and is furnished with battlements, embrasures, and gates. -Within the Kremlin are most of the Government offices: -the Treasury; the renowned Cathedral of St. Michael, -where the monarchs of Russia were formerly interred; and -the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, long -used as a place of coronation of the Emperors.</p> - -<p>In the Treasury are preserved the State jewels, which, -in the aggregate, are probably of greater value than any -other State jewels in the civilized world. There are something -like twenty crowns of such a size, splendour, and -intrinsic value that each in itself is a fortune. Tradition -says that one of these crowns was given by the Greek -Emperor Comnenus to the great Vladimir. Some are -covered with the most magnificent diamonds; others with -turquoises of immense size; others, again, with rubies and -pearls; the groundwork of all is solid gold, and the workmanship -exquisite. Then there are sceptres of massive -gold, powdered with priceless gems. There are diamond -tiaras, diamond cinctures, services of gold and jewelled -plate, jewelled swords. These costly treasures are preserved -in a large well-lighted room of noble proportions,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> -and to this room the public are freely admitted. It need -scarcely be said that the State jewel-room of the Treasury -is a source of great attraction to foreigners, and no one -visiting Moscow for the first time would think of leaving -the city without having paid a visit to the Treasury jewel-room. -One morning, on opening the Museum for the day, -there was tremendous consternation amongst the officials -and attendants, when one of the guardians of the treasure-house -made the discovery that no less than three crowns, -two sceptres, a diamond belt and a diamond tiara were -missing. The circumstance was at once reported to the -keeper of the jewels—General Kuntzler. The office was -generally held by a retired military officer, and was much -sought after, as it was a life appointment and the salary -was good. The keeper had many subordinates under him, -and while they were responsible to him, he himself was -held entirely responsible by the Government for the safe-guarding -of the jewels. General Kuntzler had occupied -the position for about two years, after long and important -military service. When he heard of the robbery, he was -so affected that his mind gave way, and before the day -was out he shot himself.</p> - -<p>Investigation soon made it evident that a crime of unparalleled -audacity had been committed under the very -noses of the Government officials, and property intrinsically -valued at many thousands of pounds had disappeared. -As the affair was a very serious one for all concerned, no -time was lost in summoning Michael Danevitch and enlisting -his services. As can readily be understood, quite -apart from the monetary value of the lost baubles, the -associations surrounding them made it highly desirable that -every effort should be put forth to recover them; and it was -impressed upon Danevitch how imperatively necessary it was -to take the most active measures to get on the track of -the thieves immediately, because, as everyone knew, the gold -would be melted down as soon as possible, and the precious -relics be thus destroyed. Amongst the crowns carried off -was the one worn by the last King of Poland. It was a -magnificent bauble, and was so thickly encrusted with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> -gems that in round figures it was worth in English money -something like fifty thousand pounds. It will be seen, -therefore, that the loss in mere value to the State was -enormous. It was, of course, as Danevitch saw clearly -enough, no ordinary robbery. It must have been planned -deliberately, and carried out with great ingenuity. Nor -was it less obvious that more than one person had been -concerned in the daring crime.</p> - -<p>There was a prevailing impression at first that General -Kuntzler must have had a share in the robbery, but -Danevitch did not take that view. The unfortunate -General had an untarnished record, and though his suicide -was calculated to arouse suspicion, it was established by -Danevitch that the poor man—fully realizing the great -responsibility that rested on his shoulders—was unable to -face the blame that would attach to him. It would be -said that he had not exercised sufficient care, and had been -careless of the safety of the priceless treasures committed -to his charge. This was more than he could bear, and he -ended the whole business as far as he was concerned by -laying violent hands upon himself.</p> - -<p>‘I saw from the first,’ Danevitch writes, ‘that the guilty -parties must be sought for among the ranks of those who -make robbery a fine art, if one may be allowed to so -express himself. Mere commonplace, vulgar minds would -have been incapable of conceiving, let alone of carrying -out, so daring a deed as that of robbing the State of its -priceless historical baubles. It was no less self-evident to -me that the affair must have been very carefully planned, -and arrangements made for conveying the articles out of -the country immediately, or of effectually destroying their -identity. In their original condition they would practically -be worth nothing to the illegal possessors, inasmuch -as no man dare offer them for sale; but by taking out the -gems and melting the gold the materials could thus be -converted into cash. I ascertained that when the Museum -was closed in the evening previous to the robbery being -discovered, everything was safe.’</p> - -<p>It appeared that it was the duty of the chief subordinate,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> -one Maximoff, to go round the hall the last thing, after it -had been closed to the public for the day, and see that -everything was safe. He then reported to General -Kuntzler. This had been done with great regularity. It -so happened, however, that the day preceding the discovery -that the jewels had been stolen was an official -holiday. At stated periods in Russia there is an official -holiday, when all public Government departments are -closed. This holiday had favoured the work of the thieves, -and some time during the forty hours that elapsed between -the closing of the hall in the evening before the holiday, -and the discovery of the robbery on the morning after the -holiday, the jewels had been carried off.</p> - -<p>The holiday was on a Wednesday; on Tuesday evening -Maximoff made his round of inspection as usual, and duly -presented his official report to his chief, General Kuntzler. -According to that report, everything was safe; the place -was carefully locked up, and all the keys deposited in the -custody of the General, who kept them in an iron safe in -his office. It was pretty conclusively proved that those -keys never left the safe from the time they were deposited -there on Tuesday night until Maximoff went for them -on Thursday morning. During the whole of Wednesday -Maximoff and the attendants were away. Maximoff was -a married man, with three children, and he had taken his -family into the country. Kuntzler remained, and there -was the usual military guard at the Treasury. The guard -consisted of six sentinels, who did duty night and day, -being relieved every four hours.</p> - -<p>‘The whole affair was very complicated,’ proceeds Danevitch, -‘and I found myself confronted with a problem of -no ordinary difficulty. I was satisfied, however, that -General Kuntzler was entirely innocent of any complicity -in the affair; and, so far as I could determine then, there -was not the slightest ground for suspecting Maximoff. -There were twelve other subordinates. They were charged -with the duty of dusting the various glass cases in which -the jewels were deposited, and of keeping the people in -order on public days, and I set to work in my own way to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> -endeavour to find out what likelihood there was of any of -these men being confederates. It seemed to me that one -or more of them had been corrupted, and proved false to -his charge. Without an enemy in the camp it was difficult -to understand how the thieves had effected an entrance.’</p> - -<p>The Treasury was a large white stone building, with an -inner courtyard, around which were grouped numerous -Government offices. The entrance to this yard was by a -noble archway, closed by a massive and ornamental iron -gate. In this gateway a sentry was constantly posted. -The Museum was situated in about the centre of the left -wing of the main block of buildings. The entrance was -from the courtyard, and the hall, being in an upper story, -was reached by a flight of marble steps. To gain admission -to the hall, the public were necessarily compelled -to pass under the archway, and so into the courtyard. Of -course there were other ways of reaching the hall of jewels, -but they were only used by the employés and officials. -General Kuntzler, his lieutenant, Maximoff, and four of -the subordinates, resided on the premises. They had rooms -in various parts of the building.</p> - -<p>A careful study of the building, its approaches and its -exits, led Danevitch to the conclusion that the thief or -thieves must have reached the hall from one of the -numerous Government offices on the ground-floor of the -block, or from the direction of Kuntzler’s apartments, and -he set to work to try and determine that point. He found -that one of the offices referred to was used as a depository -for documents relating to Treasury business, and beneath -it, in the basement, was an arched cellar, also used for -storing documents. This cellar was one of many others, -all connected with a concreted subway, which in turn was -connected with the upper stories by a narrow staircase, -considered strictly private, and used, or supposed to be -used, by the employés only. The office was officially -known as Bureau 7. Exit from it could be had by a door, -which opened into a cul-de-sac, and was not a public -thoroughfare. It was, in fact, a narrow alley, formed by -the Treasury buildings and a church.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>Danevitch was not slow to perceive that Bureau 7 and -the cul-de-sac offered the best, if not the only, means of -egress to anyone who, being on the premises illegally, -wished to escape without being seen. It was true that -one of the sentries always on duty patrolled the cul-de-sac -at intervals; but that, to the mind of Danevitch, was not -an insuperable obstacle to the escape of anyone from the -building. Of course, up to this point it was all conjecture, -all theory; but the astute detective brought all his faculties -to bear to prove that his theory was a reasonable one.</p> - -<p>He ascertained that the door into the cul-de-sac was -very rarely used indeed, and had not been opened for a -long time, as the office itself was only a store-room for -documents, and days often passed without anyone going -into it. Critical examination, however, revealed to Danevitch -that the outer door had been very recently opened. -This was determined by many minute signs, which revealed -themselves to the quick and practised eyes of the detective. -But something more was forthcoming to confirm him in -his theory. On the floor of Bureau 7 he found two or -three diamonds, and in the passage of the cul-de-sac he -picked up some more. Here, then, at once was fairly -positive proof that the thief or thieves had made their -exit that way. Owing to rough handling, or to the jarring -together of the stolen things, some of the precious stones -had become detached, and by some carelessness or other a -number of them had fallen unperceived to the ground; -these as surely pointed the way taken by the robbers as -the lion in the desert betrays his track by the spoor. This -important discovery Danevitch kept to himself. He was -fond of likening his profession to a game at whist, and he -used to say that the cautious and skilful player should -never allow his opponent to know what cards he holds.</p> - -<p>Having determined so much, his next step was to discover, -if possible, the guilty persons. It was tolerably -certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well -acquainted with the premises. Of course it went without -saying that no one could have undertaken and carried -out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> -making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of -every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it -away when secured. The fact of the robbery having been -committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government -holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was -equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately -acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications. -The importance of the discovery of the way by -which the criminals had effected their escape could not be -overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that -the way by which they entered should be determined. To -do that, however, was not an easy matter. The probability—a -strong probability—was that those concerned had lain -perdu in the building from the closing-time on Tuesday -night until the business was completed, which must have -been during the hours of darkness from Tuesday night to -Wednesday morning, or Wednesday night and Thursday -morning. In the latter case, however, the enterprising -‘exploiters’ must have remained on the premises the whole -of Wednesday, and that was hardly likely. They certainly -could not have entered on Wednesday, because as it was a -non-business day a stranger or strangers seeking admission -would have been challenged by the sentries, and not allowed -to pass without a special permit. At night a password -was always sent round to the people residing in the building, -and if they went out they could not gain entrance -again without giving the password. These precautions -were, in an ordinary way, no doubt, effective enough; but -the fact that on this occasion they had proved of no avail -pointed to one thing certain, which was that the intruders -had gained admission on the Tuesday with the general -public, but did not leave when the Museum was closed for -the night, and to another thing, not so certain, but -probable, that they had been assisted by somebody living -on the premises.</p> - -<p>Altogether something like sixty persons had lodgings in -the Treasury buildings, but only fourteen of these persons, -including Kuntzler himself, were attached to the Museum -portion. The General’s apartments were just above the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> -hall in which the Crown jewels were kept. He had a suite -of six rooms, including a kitchen and a servant’s sleeping-place. -He was a widower, but his sister lived with him as -his housekeeper. She was a widow; her name was Anna -Ivanorna. The General also had an adopted daughter, a -pretty girl, about twenty years of age: she was called -Lydia. It appeared she was the natural child of one of -the General’s comrades, who had been killed during an -<i>émeute</i> in Siberia, where he was stationed on duty. On the -death of his friend, and being childless himself, Kuntzler -took the girl, then between six and seven years of age, and -brought her up. For obvious reasons, of course, Danevitch -made a study of the General’s household, and so learned -the foregoing particulars.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, the General’s death was a terrible -blow to his family, and Lydia suffered such anguish that -she fell very ill. Necessarily it became the duty of Danevitch -to endeavour to ascertain by every means in his -power if Kuntzler’s suicide had resulted from any guilty -knowledge of the robbery. But not a scrap of evidence -was forthcoming to justify suspicion, though the outside -public suspected him. That, perhaps, was only natural. -As a matter of fact, however, he bore a very high reputation. -He had held many important positions of trust, and -had been elected to the post of Crown Jewel Keeper, on -the death of his predecessor, on account of the confidence -reposed in him by the Government, and during the time -he had held the office he had given the utmost satisfaction. -An examination of his books—he had to keep an account -of all the expenses in connection with his department—his -papers and private letters, did not bring to light a single -item that was calculated to arouse suspicion, and not a -soul in the Government service breathed a word against -him, while he was highly respected and esteemed by a very -large circle of friends.</p> - -<p>It was admitted on all sides that General Kuntzler was -a very conscientious and sensitive man. The knowledge -of the robbery came upon him with a suddenness that -overwhelmed him, and, half stunned by the shock, his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> -mind gave way, and he adopted the weak man’s method -to relieve himself of a terrible responsibility. That was -the worst that anyone who knew him ventured to say; -he was accorded a public and a military funeral, and was -carried to his last resting-place amidst the genuine sorrow -of great numbers of people.</p> - -<p>‘I confess that at this stage of the proceedings,’ writes -Danevitch in his notes of the case, ‘I did not feel very -sanguine of success in the task imposed upon me; and -when Colonel Andreyeff, Chief of the Moscow Police, sent -for me, and asked my views, I frankly told him what I -thought, keeping back, however, for the time being, the -discovery I had made, that the culprits had departed -from the building by Bureau 7, and had scattered some -diamonds on the way. The Colonel became very grave -when he learnt my opinion, and paid me the compliment of -saying that great hopes had been placed on me, that the -reputation of his department was at stake, and if the -jewels were not recovered, and the culprits brought to -justice, it might cost him his position. I pointed out that -I was quite incapable of performing miracles; that while -I could modestly claim to have been more successful in my -career than any other man following the same calling, it -was not within my power to see through stone walls, or -divine the innermost secrets of men’s hearts.</p> - -<p>‘“But you are capable of reading signs which other men -have no eyes for,” exclaimed the Colonel.</p> - -<p>‘“Possibly,” I answered, as I bowed my thanks for -the good opinion he held of me; “but in this instance -I see no sign.”</p> - -<p>‘“But you are searching for one?” said the Colonel -anxiously.</p> - -<p>‘“Oh, certainly I am,” I responded.</p> - -<p>‘The anxious expression faded from the Colonel’s face, and -he smiled as, fixing his keen gray eyes on me, he remarked:</p> - -<p>‘“As long as you are still searching for a sign, Danevitch, -there is hope. There must be a sign somewhere, -and unless you have grown blind and mentally dull, it will -not escape you for long.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>‘This was very flattering to my <i>amour propre</i>, and I -admit that it had a tendency to stimulate me to renewed -exertion, if stimulus was really needed. But, as a matter -of fact, I was not just then very hopeful. Nevertheless, as -I took my leave, I said that, if the problem was solvable -by mortal man, I would solve it. This was pledging -myself to a good deal; but I was vain enough to think -that, if I failed by methods which I had made a lifelong -study, to say nothing of a natural gift for my work, no -one else was likely to succeed, except by some accident -which would give him the advantage.’</p> - -<p>Like most men of exceptional ability, Danevitch was -conscious of his strength, but he rarely allowed this self-consciousness -to assert itself, and when he did he was -justified. His methods were certainly his own, and he -never liked to own defeat. That meant that where he -failed it was hardly likely anyone else would have succeeded. -Not only had he a tongue cunning to question, -an eye quick to observe, but, as I have said elsewhere, a -sort of eighth sense, which enabled him to discern what -other men could not discern.</p> - -<p>After that interview with Colonel Andreyeff, he fell to -pondering on the case, and bringing all the logic he was -capable of to bear. He saw no reason whatever to change -his first opinion, that there had been an enemy in the -camp. By that is meant that the robbery could never -have been effected unless with the aid of someone connected -with the place, and knowing it well. Following his course -of reasoning, he came to the decision that the stolen -property was still within the Kremlin. His reason for -this was, as he states:</p> - -<p>‘The thieves could not have passed out during the night, -as they would have been questioned by the guards at the -gates. Nor could they have conveyed out such a bulky -packet on Wednesday, as they would have been called upon -for a permit. On the other hand, if the property had been -divided up into small parcels, the risk would have been -great, and suspicion aroused. But assuming that the -thieves had been stupid enough to carry off the things in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> -bulk, they must have known that they were not likely to -get far before attracting attention, while any attempt to -dispose of the articles as they were would have been fatal. -To have been blind to these tremendous risks was to argue -a denseness on the part of the culprits hardly conceivable -of men who had been clever enough to abstract from a -sentry-guarded Government building property of such -enormous value. They would know well enough that -melted gold and loose gems could always find a market; -but, having regard to the hue and cry, that market was -hardly likely to be sought for in any part of Russia. -Therefore, when reduced to an unrecognisable state, and -when vigilance had been relaxed, the gold and the jewels -would be carried abroad to some of the centres of Europe, -where the infamous receiver flourishes and waxes fat on the -sins of his fellow-men.</p> - -<p>‘In accordance with my custom in such cases,’ continues -Danevitch in his notes, ‘I lost not a moment when I took -up the case in telegraphing to every outlet from Russia, -including the frontier posts. I knew, therefore, that at -every frontier station and every outlet luggage would be -subjected to very critical examination, and the thieves -would experience great difficulty indeed in getting clear. -But there was another aspect of the case that could not be -overlooked, and it caused me considerable anxiety; it was -this—the gems could be carried away a few at a time. A -woman, for instance, could conceal about her person small -packets of them, and excite no suspicion. To examine -everyone personally at the frontiers was next to impossible. -There was another side, however, to this view, and it -afforded me some consolation. To get the gems out of the -country in the way suggested would necessitate a good -many journeys on the part of the culprits, and one person -making the same journey several times would excite -suspicion. If several people were employed in the work, -they would be certain to get at loggerheads sooner or -later, and the whole business would be exposed. I always -made it a sort of axiom that “when thieves fall out honest -men come by their due,” and experience had taught me that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> -thieves invariably fall out when it comes to a division of -plunder. Of course, I was perfectly alive to the fact that -it would not do to rely upon that; something more was -wanted: it was of the highest importance to prevent the -stolen property being carried far away, and all my energies -were concentrated to that end.</p> - -<p>‘I have already given my reasons for thinking that at -this stage the stolen jewels had not been removed from -the Kremlin. Although there are no regular streets, as -understood, in the Kremlin, there are numerous shops and -private residences, the latter being inhabited for the most -part by the officials and other employés of the numerous -Government establishments. The result is that within -the Kremlin itself there is a very large population.’</p> - -<p>It will be seen from these particulars that the whole -affair bristled with difficulties, and, given that the thieves -were sharp, shrewd, and cautious, they might succeed in -defeating Danevitch’s efforts. One of the first things he -did was to request that every sentry at the Kremlin gates -should be extra vigilant, and subject passers to and fro to -more than ordinary observation, while if they had reason -to suspect any particular person, that person should be -instantly arrested. The precautions which were thus -taken reduced the matter to a game of chance. If the -thieves betrayed themselves by an incautious or careless -act they would lose. On the other hand, if they were -skilful and vigilant the detective would be defeated; and -as the stakes were very large, and to lose meant death to -them (that being the penalty in Russia for such a crime), it -was presumable that they would not easily sacrifice themselves. -At this stage Danevitch himself confessed that he -would not have ventured to give an opinion as to which of -the two sides would win.</p> - -<p>The more Danevitch studied the subject, the more he -became convinced that the thieves must have been in league -with someone connected with the Treasury Department. -In face of the fact that false keys had been used, the -theory of collusion could not be ignored; the difficulty -was to determine who was the most likely person to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> -have proved traitor to his trust. Maximoff bore a high -character; General Kuntzler had reposed full confidence -in him. The subordinates were also men of good repute. -That, however, was not a guarantee that they were proof -against temptation. Nevertheless, Danevitch could not -get hold of anything that was calculated to arouse his -suspicion against any particular individual. If there was -a guilty man amongst them, he would, of course, be particularly -careful not to commit any act, or utter any -word, calculated to betray him, knowing as he did that -Danevitch was on the alert.</p> - -<p>When several days had passed, and General Kuntzler -had been consigned to his tomb, Danevitch had an interview -with his sister, Anna Ivanorna. She was in a state -of great mental excitement and nervous prostration; and -Lydia, the General’s adopted daughter, was also very ill. -Anna was a somewhat remarkable woman. She was a tall, -big-boned, determined-looking individual, with a soured -expression of face and restless gray eyes. Her manner of -speaking, her expression of face, and a certain cynicism, -which made itself apparent in her talk, gave one the notion -that she was a disappointed woman.</p> - -<p>‘This is a sad business,’ began Danevitch, after some -preliminary remarks.</p> - -<p>‘Very sad,’ she answered. ‘It has cost my brother his -life.’</p> - -<p>‘He evidently felt it very keenly,’ said Danevitch.</p> - -<p>‘A man must feel a thing keenly to commit suicide, -unless he is a weak-brained fool, incapable of any endurance,’ -she replied with a warmth that amounted almost to -fierceness. After a pause, she added: ‘My brother was -far from being a fool. He was a strong man—a clever -man.’</p> - -<p>‘So I understand. Did he make any observation to you -before he committed the rash act?’</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, he did, Anna,’ cried out Lydia from the couch on -which she was lying, wrapped in rugs.</p> - -<p>Anna turned upon her angrily, and exclaimed:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>‘How do you know? Hold your tongue. He made no -observation, I say.’</p> - -<p>Lydia was evidently annoyed at being spoken to in such -a manner, and she replied with spirit, as she raised herself -on her elbow:</p> - -<p>‘Don’t snap at me like that, Anna. I know perfectly -well. My poor father said over and over again that he -had been betrayed, that there had been a traitor in the -house. It was that that distracted him. He couldn’t -bear the thought of it.’</p> - -<p>‘And who do you suppose the traitor was?’ Anna asked -angrily. ‘You are always thinking wrong of people.’</p> - -<p>Lydia did not take any notice of this. She lay still, -and seemed to be suffering; keen mental anguish.</p> - -<p>‘Have you any opinion how the robbery was committed?’ -asked Danevitch of Anna.</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>‘But surely you must have some idea.’</p> - -<p>‘No, I haven’t.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you think it possible, now, that such a crime could -have been committed without a confederate in the camp?’</p> - -<p>‘What do you mean?’ demanded the woman sternly, as -though she resented the bare suspicion which the question -implied.</p> - -<p>‘My meaning is plain, surely. An utter stranger to the -place could not have done this deed.’</p> - -<p>‘I suppose he couldn’t. But whoever did it couldn’t -have been an utter stranger.’</p> - -<p>‘Do I understand from that that you suggest the culprit -or culprits are people who were employed here?’</p> - -<p>‘No, I don’t suggest that. But it stands to reason that -anyone undertaking a deed of this kind would be careful -to make himself acquainted with the building.’</p> - -<p>‘And how do you think he did that?’</p> - -<p>‘You know as well as I do that the place is open to the -public. What is there to prevent anyone studying the -place?’</p> - -<p>‘Nothing whatever, so far as the public part of it goes. -But, unless with the aid of a confederate, I do not quite see<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> -how anyone could become acquainted with those parts -where the public are not admitted.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, Mr. Danevitch,’ said Anna, with a decisiveness -which was meant to clinch the argument, ‘I am not an -expert like you, nor do I know anything at all about the -matter, therefore don’t bother me with any more questions. -I am troubled enough, and have enough on my mind without -this affair. I want to forget it.’</p> - -<p>‘I make every allowance for you,’ replied Danevitch. -‘I quite understand that your feelings are lacerated, but -I thought it was within the bounds of possibility that -you might be able to throw some light on the matter. -However, I will not disturb you further, but take my -leave.’</p> - -<p>Anna showed him out with a sigh of relief, and she shut -the door with a bang that indicated too plainly how glad -she was to get rid of him. At this stage, Danevitch -writes, he felt in a quandary. There were certain signs -that suggested probabilities, but it was not easy to determine -just then whether or not the signs were anything -more than shadows, by which he might be misled. -Speculation and theory were all he had to guide him, and -he was only too well aware that the most astute of -reasoners is apt to be misled. What necessarily concerned -him was the danger of being led out of the true track by -a false sign. He was not indifferent, of course, to the fact -that he had made some progress—that is to say, he had -determined pretty conclusively how the thieves had left -the Treasury buildings when once they had secured their -booty. But what was of still greater importance was to -discover how they got in. Could he solve that part of the -problem, he felt sure it would give him many points.</p> - -<p>It was remarkable about Danevitch that, while he was -often mistrustful about his own instincts, he seldom erred. -He had made human nature so close a study that the -person who, as the saying is, could have thrown dust in -his eyes would have had to have been preternaturally -clever. He maintained, and proved it over and over again, -that the face was so certain an index to what was passing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> -in the mind that every thought of the brain was communicated -instantly to the features, which indicated it -as unmistakably as a delicately-balanced needle notes -the slightest current of electricity. Of course, it was -necessary to understand these face-signs. That in itself is -a science. Indeed, the power to understand it is a gift, -and he who fully possesses it is what is termed to-day ‘a -thought-reader.’ Danevitch did not call himself that, but -he possessed the power in a marked degree, nevertheless; -and no one could be indifferent to the extraordinary -strength and power of his eyes. When he looked at you, -you felt somehow as if he was looking right into your -brain. Mr. Gladstone is said to have that peculiar eye, -and it can readily be understood that anyone with guilty -knowledge having to meet the piercing gaze of such an -eye is almost sure to betray himself by face-signs, which -to the expert are full of meaning. Danevitch had brought -this study to such perfection that it proved invaluable to -him, and often afforded him a clue which otherwise he -would never have got. Another strong trait in his character -was the persistency with which he stuck to an idea when -once he had thought it out. That, again, was largely -responsible for the success that attended his efforts in the -art of solving criminal problems. Of course, his ideas -were generally very sound ones, and the result of much -cogitation. He never jumped to hasty conclusions.</p> - -<p>The foregoing little disquisition is not out of place in -view of what follows, and will certainly add to the reader’s -interest.</p> - -<p>About three weeks after that interview between Danevitch -and Anna Ivanorna, three men were seated in a -restaurant situated in what is known as the Zemlidnoi-gorod, -which, being interpreted, means ‘earthen town,’ and -it is so called because at one time it was surrounded by an -earthen rampart. This part of Moscow contains a number -of drinking-places, spirit-stores, shops, cafés and restaurants. -The one in which the three men were seated was a very -typical Russian fifth-rate house. The ceiling was black -with smoke. Flimsy and frouzy curtains hung at the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> -windows; the floor was sanded; long, rough, wooden -tables, forms, and common chairs constituted the furniture. -At one end of the room was a small counter, covered with -lead, on which stood sundry bottles, glasses, and plates of -caviare and sandwiches; at the other end was the indispensable -stove—a huge affair with a massive convoluted -iron flue, that was suggestive of a boa constrictor.</p> - -<p>The night being very cold, the three men were crowded -round the stove, engaged in deep and earnest conversation. -Two of the men were young; one about two or three and -twenty, the other a year or two older. They were well -dressed, and apparently belonged to a class not given to -frequenting drinking-places of that kind. The third man -was of a somewhat striking appearance. He was swarthy -as a gipsy—a black beard and moustache, black eyes, black -hair, cropped close to the skull. In his ears he wore small -gold rings, and his style, manner, and dress proclaimed him -unmistakably a seafaring man.</p> - -<p>Presently the glazed door of the shop swung open, and -a Jew tumbled in. He was heavily bearded; on his head -was a small black, tightly-fitting skull-cap. He wore long -boots, with his trousers, which were very baggy, tucked into -the tops, and a fur-lined coat, which must have been in -existence for a generation at least. He divested himself -of this coat and hung it on a peg, and then ordered vodka -and caviare.</p> - -<p>The three men ceased their conversation when the -stranger entered; and he, when he had finished his repast, -rose, and with somewhat unsteady gait, as if he had been -drinking, walked to the stove and asked if he might be -allowed a seat there. The other three, with by no means -good grace, made room for him. The seafaring man was -smoking a very black, very strong cigar. The Jew produced -from his pocket a huge pipe, and, filling it with -coarse tobacco, asked the seafarer for a light, which was -given. When his pipe was fairly in swing, he said to the -man with the cigar:</p> - -<p>‘Unless I’m mistaken, you reek of the salt sea.’</p> - -<p>‘I suppose I do,’ answered the other brusquely. ‘Any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> -way, I’ve been soaked with it often enough. Where are -you from?’</p> - -<p>‘Constantinople.’</p> - -<p>‘So. A trader, I suppose?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘What do you trade in?’</p> - -<p>‘Anything on earth, so long as it will turn me in -money.’</p> - -<p>‘Bah!’ sneered one of the young men—‘just like you -Jew dogs. It’s always money with you—money, money. -It’s your only prayer.’</p> - -<p>‘In that respect I’m not sure that there is much -difference between the Jew dog and the grasping Christian. -But I don’t want to quarrel with you. I’m a stranger in -the town. Will you drink at my expense?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ answered the three as one man.</p> - -<p>So drink was ordered, and for a time the conversation -was friendly and general, and when it flagged a little the -Jew said:</p> - -<p>‘That’s a curious robbery that has taken place lately.’</p> - -<p>‘What robbery?’ asked one of the young men, eyeing -the Jew keenly.</p> - -<p>‘The robbery of the Crown jewels.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes; very curious.’</p> - -<p>‘By Father Abraham!’ exclaimed the Jew, with a great -puffing out of his breath, ‘but I should like to call some -of the precious stones mine. The God of Jacob! I wonder -what has become of them. They haven’t caught the -thieves yet, I suppose?’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ was the curt answer.</p> - -<p>‘Ah! they are clever fellows; must be wonderfully -clever to do such a deed. But I expect they’ll be laid by -the heels yet.’</p> - -<p>‘No fear,’ answered one of the youngsters. ‘You can -depend upon it they know what they are about.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! just so, just so,’ mused the Jew—‘just so. It’s a -clever bit of business—clever, clever; by God it is! I -wonder, now, what has become of those jewels. They are -worth risking body and soul for.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>‘I say, stranger,’ remarked the seafarer, ‘you had better -be careful what you say, or you may land yourself in -trouble.’</p> - -<p>‘True, true, true!’ moaned the Jew. ‘But, God in -heaven, only to think of all those precious gems! It -almost turns one’s brain.’</p> - -<p>He sank into a moody silence, and stared fixedly at the -stove, as though he was dreaming dreams about the gems. -The other three men conversed in low tones for a little -time, until the two younger ones rose up, said ‘Good-night,’ -and left, for the hour was getting late. Then the -Jew seemed suddenly to wake up from his reverie, and he -asked the seafarer if he was going.</p> - -<p>‘No; I am lodging here,’ was the answer.</p> - -<p>‘So. That reminds me. Landlord, can I have a bed?’</p> - -<p>He was told he could. There was some haggling about -the price to be paid, but the matter was amicably settled -in the end, and the Jew invited the seafarer to have some -more vodka. True to the traditions of his kind the world -over, the sailor man accepted the invitation, and the two -sat drinking until the landlord came to remind them it -was time they retired.</p> - -<p>The sailor was pretty far gone in his cups, and the Jew -offered to assist him up the stairs to bed. With some -difficulty the pair managed to mount the greasy, rickety -stairs to where the sleeping chambers were, and the Jew -accompanied the sailor man to his room, and then from -his capacious pocket he produced a bottle of vodka, and -they set to work to discuss it. Presently the Jew -murmured in a maudlin way, as his thoughts still ran upon -the gems:</p> - -<p>‘By Father Abraham, but it was a big haul! Why, -there must have been a million roubles’ worth of them.’</p> - -<p>‘Of what?’ asked the skipper, who, though pretty well -soaked, seemed to have his wits about him.</p> - -<p>‘The stolen jewels,’ mumbled the Jew. ‘I would buy -every one of them at a price; I would, so help me God!’</p> - -<p>‘Now, what price would you give?’</p> - -<p>‘How could I tell—how could I tell, unless I saw them?’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>The sailor man became thoughtful and silent, and the -Jew sank down in a corner like a sack, mumbling incoherently -guttural sentences, in which the words ‘gems, -jewels, gold,’ predominated. Presently the sailor was overcome -by his potations, and stretching himself on the bed, -boots and all, was soon snoring in drunken sleep. A -couple of hours later the Jew crept from the room, sought -his own chamber, and was speedily sound asleep in the -bed.</p> - -<p>The next morning the two men drank their tea together, -and having lighted one of his long black cigars, the sailor -invited the Jew forth into the city.</p> - -<p>‘You say you are from Constantinople?’ asked the -sailor, as they walked together.</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you reside there?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘In what part?’</p> - -<p>‘The Jews’ quarter.’</p> - -<p>‘And, I suppose, like all your tribe, you don’t know -your own wealth?’</p> - -<p>The Jew sighed dolefully.</p> - -<p>‘Alas, alas!’ he exclaimed; ‘by Abraham in heaven, I -swear I am very poor.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! you all say that.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s true, it’s true. But why do you ask?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, nothing; only, if you had been rich, I might have -put something in your way by which you could have -doubled your riches.’</p> - -<p>‘What is it? What is it?’ cried the Jew eagerly. -‘Tell me; I can get money. Thousands, tens of thousands, -millions of roubles, if needs be. But tell me what -it is. I want to grow rich; I want money—want it by -sackfuls. It is my dream; I worship it.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah,’ grunted the sailor, with a smack of his lips, ‘you -are all alike. Have you any friends in Moscow?’</p> - -<p>‘No; I am a stranger. I have come to trade. I will -lend money at interest on good security, or I will buy anything -that I can sell again.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>The sailor became very thoughtful. He puffed away at -his rank cigar like a man who was deeply absorbed, and -the Jew ambled on by his side, mumbling to himself. -Presently the sailor addressed him:</p> - -<p>‘Do you stay in the same lodgings to-night?’</p> - -<p>‘I do.’</p> - -<p>‘Good. I’ll meet you at nine o’clock, and may be able -to put something in your way. I must leave you now.’</p> - -<p>‘Count on me,’ said the Jew. ‘If we can do a deal -together, I’ll put money in your purse.’</p> - -<p>‘You bet you will! You don’t suppose I’m going to -serve you without serving myself. I don’t love your race -enough for that. It’s a matter of convenience. But till -to-night, adieu.’</p> - -<p>‘By the way, how are you called?’</p> - -<p>‘I am known as Captain Blok. I command a small -trader doing business in the Black Sea.’</p> - -<p>‘Where is she now?’</p> - -<p>‘She is being overhauled at Azov.’</p> - -<p>‘Will you be alone to-night?’</p> - -<p>‘No. The two friends you saw last night may be with me.’</p> - -<p>‘Good. This looks like business. I will meet you -without fail.’</p> - -<p>The sailor went off, and the Jew continued his jaunt -through the town. When nine o’clock came, it found him -by the big stove in the restaurant. There were several -other customers there, but he held aloof from them, for -one had a little before called him ‘a dog of a Jew,’ saying -he had no business to be there amongst Christians, and -tried to pick a quarrel with him. As a quarter-past nine -struck, Captain Blok entered. He was alone. He addressed -a few preliminary remarks to the Jew, then requested that -he would follow him to his bedroom.</p> - -<p>‘What is your name, Jew?’ asked Blok, as he shut the -door.</p> - -<p>‘Nikolai—Israel Nikolai.’</p> - -<p>‘Are you a Russian?’</p> - -<p>‘I was born in Poland, but have been trading in -Constantinople and the Levant for many years.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>‘You are good for a deal in a big way?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘And can be secret?’</p> - -<p>‘As the grave.’</p> - -<p>At this point the door opened, and Blok’s companions -of the previous night entered. They looked at Blok inquiringly, -then at the Jew suspiciously.</p> - -<p>‘He’s right,’ said Blok. Then turning to the Jew, he -continued: ‘Now look here, Israel Nikolai, you say you -can command money?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, to any extent.’</p> - -<p>‘Very well; now, we’ve got some stuff to sell, and we are -going to take you to see it. The stuff is contraband, -therefore you must be careful. And if you play us false, -just as sure as God Almighty is up in heaven, your throat -will be cut, and your dirty carcase will be flung into the -river Maskva.’</p> - -<p>The Jew smote his breast, and wailed out with passionate -eagerness:</p> - -<p>‘Trust me—trust me! To those whom I serve, I am as -stanch as steel.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s right. Now, then, come with us.’</p> - -<p>The four men descended the greasy staircase, and went -forth into the street. It was an intensely dark night. A -few hazy stars were alone visible in the black sky. The -street-lamps in that part were very poor affairs, and gave -but little light. The four proceeded for a short distance; -then Blok said:</p> - -<p>‘Nikolai, before we go any further, you must let us -blindfold you.’</p> - -<p>The Jew protested, but at last yielded, and a thick scarf -was bound about his eyes. Then one of the men took his -hand and led him. They walked along in silence for quite -half an hour, until, by the sound of flowing water, the Jew -knew he was near the river. A halt was made. There -was the grating of keys in a lock, a door was opened, and -Israel was led forward into a passage, while the door was -locked and barred. He was then taken down a flight of -stairs, where the bandage was removed from his eyes, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> -a light was procured. He found himself in a cellar, with -an arched brick roof, from which water dripped, while the -floor of red brick was slimy and foul. The place was -furnished with a single trestle table and a stool or two. -In one corner was a large trunk, bound with cowhide. -This was opened, and some bundles lifted out, placed on -the table, and untied, and there were revealed to the wondering -Jew heaps of precious stones, including diamonds, -rubies, amethysts, pearls, sapphires, turquoises. At the -sight of the gems the Jew rubbed his hands together, and -his eyes glistened with almost unnatural brilliancy.</p> - -<p>‘Father Abraham!’ he exclaimed. ‘What wealth! -what a fortune! Are they all real? Let me feel them; -let me examine them.’</p> - -<p>Blok so held the lamp that its rays were thrown full on -to the heaps of gems, and the three men watched the Jew’s -every movement. He examined the stones carefully, picked -out some of the finest, weighing them in his hands, holding -them close to the light so as to see them better, then -placing them in little heaps.</p> - -<p>A full hour was spent in this way. But few remarks -were made, though every now and again the Jew broke -into an exclamation of delight. At length Blok asked -Nikolai what he thought of them.</p> - -<p>‘Splendid! wonderful! magnificent!’ was the gasped -answer.</p> - -<p>‘Now, then, are you open to trade?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘Will you buy the lot?’</p> - -<p>‘At what figure?’</p> - -<p>‘A million roubles.’</p> - -<p>The Jew started back with a look of disgust on his -face.</p> - -<p>‘It is too much—too much!’ he almost screamed. -‘They are not worth it.’</p> - -<p>‘You lie, you dog!’ put in one of the young men. -‘You know they are worth a good deal more. But we -want to sell them quickly, and you shall have them as a -bargain for a million roubles.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span>Nikolai groaned, swore, protested, declared by all the -fathers that the price was outrageous, and at last, when he -had exhausted himself, he wound up by offering seventy-five -thousand roubles for the lot. After much haggling, -the three men agreed to take the price, and Nikolai said -he would go next day to the Bank of Moscow, to which -he had letters, and draw the money, and it was arranged -that the four men were to meet the following night outside -of the restaurant, and proceed again to the cellar, -where the money would be exchanged for the jewels. And -Blok added:</p> - -<p>‘As soon as the bargain’s completed, you had better -clear out. You can travel with me to Azov, if you like, -and I’ll give you a cheap passage to Constantinople.’</p> - -<p>The Jew turned to Blok, with a glance full of meaning, -and replied:</p> - -<p>‘I may sail with you, but I’ll send my jewels a safer -way.’</p> - -<p>The business, so far, being concluded, Nikolai was once -more blindfolded. The lamp was extinguished, and they -all left the house together. After going some distance, -the bandage was removed from the Jew’s eyes. The two -young men went away, and Blok and Israel continued -their walk to their lodgings.</p> - -<p>The following morning Nikolai told Blok that he was -going to the bank to arrange about the money, but that -the deal would have to take place that evening in their -bedroom at the café, as he would not trust himself with -them in the cellar with so much money about him. To -this Blok answered that the transaction would have to be -arranged in the cellar, that everything would be perfectly -square and fair.</p> - -<p>Reluctantly the Jew yielded, and went away. He met -the captain again in the evening at the restaurant, and -Blok anxiously inquired if he had got the money, whereupon -the Jew pulled from a deep pocket inside his vest -a bundle of notes, the sight of which caused the captain’s -eyes to sparkle.</p> - -<p>A little later they set off, being met on the route by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> -two young men. Nikolai resolutely declined to be blindfolded -again. He said there was no necessity for it. He -also warned his companions that he was well armed, and -was prepared to resent any treachery. They laughed, and -said he was a fool not to see that they were anxious to -trade, and not likely to offer violence, which would imperil -their own safety.</p> - -<p>The house by the river was at last reached. It had -formerly been a store of some sort, but had apparently -long been untenanted, and was falling into decay. One of -the young men had inserted the key into the lock of the -door, and was about to turn it, when a whistle was blown, -and almost as if it was by magic the four found themselves -surrounded by armed men, who seemed to come through -the earth. Before they could offer the slightest resistance, -Blok and the two young men were seized and ironed, and a -guard set over them. Then a police officer, the Jew, and -three or four other men, entered the premises, descended -to the cellar, and, having ascertained that the gems were -in the trunk, they bore the trunk out, and placed it on a -cart that was in readiness, and under a strong escort the -stolen jewels were conveyed to the Treasury, where several -high officials were waiting to receive them; and Blok and -his companions realized that they had been tricked, -trapped, and betrayed by the ‘dog of a Jew,’ who was -none other than Danevitch.</p> - -<p>He says it was one of the proudest moments of his life, -for his part had been played with consummate art, and his -triumph was complete. It remains now to explain how he -managed to get on the track of his men, and net them so -cleverly.</p> - -<p>After his interview with Anna Ivanorna, he began to -think that she could throw some light on the mystery if -she liked, and he had her shadowed. He ascertained from -Lydia that Ivanorna had a son about five-and-twenty. -He had paid court to Lydia, but she did not like him. A -few months before the robbery this young man had spent -a fortnight with his mother during the temporary absence -of General Kuntzler. His mother was blindly devoted to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> -him, although he was known to be an idle, dissolute vagabond. -He had been well educated, and had once held a -position in the Post Office, but had been discharged for -some irregularity. His name was Peter, and one night, -some days after the robbery, he and his mother were -seen to meet in a lonely part of the suburbs.</p> - -<p>From that moment a close watch was kept on Peter’s -movements, and it was ascertained that he was associated -with another young man, called Maiefski. They were -always together, and in a little while were joined by Blok, -who was Peter’s half-cousin. The old disused store on the -banks of the river was taken in Maiefski’s name, ostensibly -to store grain there; but little by little the gems from -the stolen articles, which were ruthlessly broken up, -were conveyed from a house in the Kremlin which -Peter rented to the place on the river bank.</p> - -<p>Blok had secured lodgings in the miserable restaurant in -the poor quarter of the earthen city, as he hoped thereby -to escape attracting any notice. At this restaurant the -three rascals were in the habit of meeting. Then it was -that Danevitch, being sure of his ground, assumed so -successfully the rôle of the Jew.</p> - -<p>On the night when he and Captain Blok staggered up -to the latter’s room, Danevitch was perfectly sober, -although he assumed the gait and manner of an intoxicated -person. When Blok had gone to sleep, Danevitch -searched his person, and in a pocket-book found letters of -a most compromising character. They seemed to show -that the first idea was that the three men were to travel -singly to Azov, each man carrying as many of the gems as -he could without causing suspicions. They were to be -deposited on Blok’s vessel, and when all was ready Blok -and his companions were to sail away to Constantinople, -where they hoped to dispose of the gems, but if not, they -were to take a journey to Persia, where precious stones could -always be sold.</p> - -<p>The appearance of the Jew on the scene altered their -plans, and they thought if they could only get him to buy -them their risk would be greatly lessened, and the moment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> -they touched the money they were prepared to clear out, -and seek safety in some other country. Their little -scheme, however, was entirely frustrated, thanks to the -cleverness of Danevitch.</p> - -<p>At Peter’s lodgings the battered gold of the stolen -property was found, but ultimately the Polish crown was -restored almost to its original state, and may still be seen -in the museum at Moscow.</p> - -<p>As the plot of the robbery was gradually unfolded, it -was proved that Anna Ivanorna was the victim of her -perfidious son. She was a weak, rather stupid woman—at -any rate, where he was concerned—and she fell a victim -to his wiles and wickedness. If she did not actually assist -him, she shut her eyes while he made wax impressions of -various keys, and on the night of the robbery she unquestionably -helped him and his companion, Maiefski, who was -secretly admitted. It is possible that, when Kuntzler -heard of the crime, he had some suspicion that his sister -knew something about it, and, unable to face the awful -shame of exposure, he took his life.</p> - -<p>Neither Maximoff nor his subordinates had anything to -do with the robbery. They were all exonerated after a -most exhaustive investigation, which led to the conviction -of the guilty parties, who, with the exception of Anna, -were sent to the Siberian mines for life. She was condemned -to ten years’ incarceration in the prison fortress -of Schlusselburgh. That was practically a living death.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">THE STRANGE STORY OF A SECRET -TREATY.</h3> -</div> - - -<p>‘<span class="smcap">I received</span> orders,’ says Danevitch, ‘to proceed without -delay to the official residence in St. Petersburg of Prince -Ignatof,<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs. He -had the reputation of being one of the most powerful -Ministers who had ever held the position in Russia. It -was said of him, as it used to be said of Bismarck, that he -was a man of blood and iron. He was dead to emotion; -he had no nerves; he was pitiless; he was anti-everything -that wasn’t Russian; but he was also a born diplomatist—clever, -brilliant, unscrupulous, far-seeing, polished as a -rapier, and as deadly as a rapier when occasion called -for it.</p> - -<p>‘Such was the common report about him, and no doubt -it was, in the main, true. He was a widower, with one -grown-up daughter. There was a deadly feud, however, -between them, and he had disowned her, as she had chosen -to marry against his will, and very much beneath her, as -her father averred. Her husband was in the consular -service. His name was Kasin; he was a member of a -middle-class family who had made money in trade; but -Kasin himself was said to be poor, and almost entirely -dependent upon his salary.</p> - - - -<p>‘These facts were common property, and naturally it -must have caused the Prince great annoyance to know that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> -his daughter’s name was in everyone’s mouth, and that she -was vulgarly referred to as the wife of a poor devil of a -consul, who found it difficult to rub two roubles together. -Caste is very strong in Russia, and the line of demarcation -separating class from class is exceedingly well defined.</p> - -<p>‘The Prince was an utter stranger to me; I had heard -much about him, but had never seen him. On being -ushered into his bureau, I beheld a small-made, delicate-looking -man, with a remarkable and striking face. The -mouth was small and firm; the nose prominent; the eyes -deep-set, and of exceptional brilliancy; the eyebrows were -thin, but well defined; and the forehead, in proportion to -the small, sharply-cut features, seemed enormous. He was -slightly bald in front, and such hair as he had was turning -gray. His face was clean-shaven. When his lips parted, -he revealed a splendid set of teeth, absolutely without -a flaw.</p> - -<p>‘As I looked upon this remarkable man, everything I had -heard about his personal character seemed to me to be -more than confirmed. It was impossible to study the -mouth without feeling that it was capable of uttering -cruel, cutting, bitter things. It was no less impossible -not to understand that the small, brilliant eyes could peer -into men’s brains, and almost read their secret thoughts. -Every line of his face, every feature, every glance, indicated -an iron, a relentless, will; and when he spoke, the smooth, -incisive tones confirmed this. His hands were small, well shaped, -but sinewy, as were his wrists. This was no doubt -due to many years’ practice with the sword and the foil. -He was a noted swordsman, had fought many duels, and -had always succeeded in either severely wounding or killing -his man. Physically and mentally he could be a deadly -antagonist; one glance at him was sufficient to determine -that fact, for fact it was.</p> - -<p>‘He was perusing a document as I entered. He glanced -over the edge of the paper, motioned me to be seated, and -went on reading.</p> - -<p>‘For ten minutes the silence was unbroken, save for the -rustle of the paper as he turned over the leaves. Only a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> -man of very pronounced characteristics could have remained -silent so long under such circumstances.</p> - -<p>‘He finished his manuscript, folded it up, and placed it -in a safe. Then he condescended to address me.</p> - -<p>‘“You have the reputation of being able to unravel -mysteries when other men fail?” he commenced.</p> - -<p>‘I could only bow to this.</p> - -<p>‘He drew an elegant little penknife from his pocket, -and began to trim his nails, but I noted that all the time -his piercing eyes were fixed on me.</p> - -<p>‘“You are reliable?” was his next remark.</p> - -<p>‘It was put in the form of a question. In other men -the remark might have seemed commonplace. Coming -from the Prince’s lips, it was full of meaning; it even -covered a menace. That is to say, it carried with it the -implication, “Woe betide you if you are not!”</p> - -<p>‘“If I were otherwise,” I answered, “I should not occupy -the position I do.”</p> - -<p>‘“True,” he replied. “Now, the matter in which I am -going to enlist your services is a delicate one.”</p> - -<p>‘He paused, and fixed his eyes upon me again, and toyed -daintily with the penknife.</p> - -<p>‘“I have had to do with many delicate cases,” I -said.</p> - -<p>‘“Ah! And have been successful?”</p> - -<p>‘“More frequently than not.”</p> - -<p>‘“You’ve been employed in Government business -before?”</p> - -<p>‘“Yes,” I answered shortly, as I felt somewhat annoyed -at the manner in which he put his questions.</p> - -<p>‘“I am impressed with you,” he was good enough -to say.</p> - -<p>‘I returned no answer to that, merely making a very -formal motion of the head.</p> - -<p>‘“Our little introduction places us <i>en rapport</i> with each -other,” he continued, closing the blade of his penknife with -a snap. Even this remark was pregnant with meaning. -It really meant that he understood me, or believed that he -did. “And now I will tell you the business.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>‘He had been standing up to this moment, but here he -seated himself, crossed his legs, and thrust his hands into -his pockets. To the ordinary observer he would have -appeared as the most unconcerned person in the world, but -I could not fail to see that he was a master in the art of -restraint. It was not difficult to determine that, beneath -the cold, passionless, immobile face was tremendous -anxiety, and a suppressed nervous energy, that could -only be kept in subjection by extraordinary will-power.</p> - -<p>‘“A special, confidential, and trusted courier,” he -continued, “arrived here yesterday afternoon, and placed -in my hands the draft of a secret treaty of the very -greatest importance.”</p> - -<p>‘Here he paused again, and looked at me in his peculiar -manner, as if he was trying to thoroughly understand how -I was affected by the information he was giving me. Or, -on the other hand, it might have been that he had not -quite made up his mind whether or not I was a fit and -proper person to be entrusted with State business of such -a momentous nature.</p> - -<p>‘“Pray proceed, Prince,” I said, with the greatest -unconcern.</p> - -<p>‘“Bah!” he muttered, almost inaudibly, allowing irritation -to display itself for a brief instant. His irritation -arose, I inferred, because he failed to read me as easily as -he imagined he could do. Perhaps that was not quite the -case, but it was something of the kind. The exclamation -had scarcely left his lips when he broke into a smile—a cold, -cynical smile, but full of meaning. “That draft has been -stolen,” he added abruptly, and watched to see what effect -that announcement would have upon me.</p> - -<p>‘But I merely said:</p> - -<p>‘“I anticipated that.”</p> - -<p>‘“Why?” he asked sharply.</p> - -<p>‘“By your manner, Prince.”</p> - -<p>‘He smiled again, and said caustically:</p> - -<p>‘“I didn’t know I was so shallow, and could be so easily -fathomed. But pardon me; I had forgotten for the -moment that you are a master in your craft. We shall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span> -get on together. Yes, you are clever; the draft has been -stolen. What that means you will better understand when I -tell you that it may possibly plunge this country into war.”</p> - -<p>‘“I recognise the seriousness of the matter, Prince,” I -said, “and, seeing how very serious it is, I would suggest -that there should be no restraint, no reserve. If I am to -be of use, I must not only have a free hand, but be trusted -absolutely.”</p> - -<p>‘“You are right, you are right,” he replied quickly. -“But the whole business is fraught with such terrible -potentialities that extreme caution is needed.”</p> - -<p>‘He rose, and paced up and down for some moments, -still keeping his hands in his pockets. His face betrayed -no agitation, but his manner did. Nevertheless, his self-restraint -was very remarkable. I waited for him to continue -the conversation, and presently he stopped and faced me.</p> - -<p>‘“Ah, yes!” he said, speaking in an absorbed way. -“Well, these are the particulars: The courier, who had -been travelling night and day, arrived, as I have already -said, yesterday afternoon, and delivered to me a draft of a -treaty. Having perused it, I placed it in a despatch-box -and locked the box in that safe; but, notwithstanding -the precaution, it has been stolen.”</p> - -<p>‘“The box?” I asked.</p> - -<p>‘“No; the treaty only.”</p> - -<p>‘“When did you make that discovery?”</p> - -<p>‘“This morning.”</p> - -<p>‘“At what time?”</p> - -<p>‘“Soon after eight o’clock.”</p> - -<p>‘He did not proceed to give me all the particulars in -narrative form, as another person might have done, but I -had to drag them from him, so to speak, by question and -answer.</p> - -<p>‘“Where did the courier come from, Prince?” I asked.</p> - -<p>‘“Bulgaria.”</p> - -<p>‘“Was he aware of the importance of the despatches -he carried?”</p> - -<p>‘“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>‘“You don’t doubt his honesty, I suppose?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>‘“I don’t see the slightest reason for doing so. He is -one of the best men in the service.”</p> - -<p>‘“Has he been here since?”</p> - -<p>‘“No. He was excessively fatigued with his long and -trying journey, and being relieved of his responsibility, he -said he should sleep for the next twenty-four hours.”</p> - -<p>‘“I suppose you have caused a search to be made?”</p> - -<p>‘“No,” answered the Prince, with great decisiveness; -“what was the use of doing that? The thief who steals -a State document of that kind is not likely to leave much -trace behind.”</p> - -<p>‘“Of course a good many persons have access to your -establishment?”</p> - -<p>‘“Yes—that is, to the business part of the establishment; -but my official residence is private; and this bureau is -sacred to myself; no one but very privileged people can -enter here.”</p> - -<p>‘“Do you suspect anyone?”</p> - -<p>‘“No. It’s a mystery.”</p> - -<p>‘“But is it clear that, whoever the person is, he must -have been well acquainted with this place?”</p> - -<p>‘“Yes,” answered the Prince thoughtfully, as he stroked -his chin.</p> - -<p>‘“He must also have known that the draft had been -delivered to you?”</p> - -<p>‘“True, true,” the Minister responded, with increased -thoughtfulness.</p> - -<p>‘“That argues that he was behind the scenes; he knew -a good deal of what was going on, and was particularly -well acquainted with the importance of the treaty.”</p> - -<p>‘“Obviously.”</p> - -<p>‘“And the document has been stolen for political -purposes?”</p> - -<p>‘“Obviously, again.”</p> - -<p>‘“Or the thief, being a traitor to his country, if he -belongs to this country, was actuated by mercenary motives -only, and stole the draft to sell it to our enemies?”</p> - -<p>‘The Prince fixed his eye upon me again, and answered -very slowly, and with emphasis on every word:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>‘“It might be so—perhaps it is so.”</p> - -<p>‘“Very well,” I said. “Now, Prince, I must ask you to -let your mind dwell upon everyone in touch with you, and -tell me if there is a single one of them against whom you -might justifiably entertain some suspicion.”</p> - -<p>‘“There is no one,” he answered, after a thoughtful -pause.</p> - -<p>‘“And yet an utter stranger to the place could hardly -have committed such a theft?” I suggested.</p> - -<p>‘“That seems a feasible theory.”</p> - -<p>‘“You’ve no reason to suppose, Prince,” I asked, “that -the despatch-box was opened on the bare chance of its containing -something of value?”</p> - -<p>‘“No. My deliberate opinion is the thief wanted that -draft, and that alone. He is an enemy—a traitor; and -if he can be identified the penalty of his crime will be -death.”</p> - -<p>‘“If your opinion is right, the thief, of course, must -have known the draft of the treaty was there?”</p> - -<p>‘“Quite so.”</p> - -<p>‘“Who was likely to have known it, do you think?”</p> - -<p>‘Another long pause ensued before the Prince answered. -Then he said:</p> - -<p>‘“Legitimately, very few indeed. It is one of the State -secrets. There are many people who come and go here, -and an alert traitor might learn much. I see no sign to -guide me. Clearly enough, the thief must have been in -possession of certain information supposed to be known -to this bureau alone, and he has availed himself of the -knowledge to purloin a document of extraordinary political -importance. Heaven and earth will have to be moved to -stop the thief leaving the country; but, what is of more -consequence, he must be prevented sending the document -away, or any abstract of it.”</p> - -<p>‘“That is easily said,” I remarked, with a smile, for he -seemed to me to be underrating the difficulties of the -case.</p> - -<p>‘“And it must be done,” came from him in a tone so -commanding, so authoritative, so decisive, that it revealed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> -the man in his true character. Moreover, his face wore a -look of iron determination, and his eyes appeared to glow -with a strange, almost unnatural, light. After a pause, he -added: “You have the resources of an empire behind you—a -well-organized police force, an army of spies, the -telegraph system. These things, added to your own skill, -should enable you to bring the miscreant to justice, and -save the State secret from passing to our enemies.”</p> - -<p>‘He spoke with a great deal of subdued force, and I -could see that his mental anxiety was painful; and yet -there was an outward semblance of calm. The extraordinary -power of self-subjection which the man possessed -enabled him to almost entirely hide the nervous excitement -which would have entirely overcome any ordinary -man.</p> - -<p>‘The situation was certainly a singularly trying one; for -here was a responsible minister of the Crown, who, being -entrusted with a State document of stupendous importance, -had to confess to its having been stolen within twenty-four -hours of its coming into his possession. There appeared -to have been great carelessness somewhere, and I could see -that the Prince was terribly anxious, in spite of his self-possession.</p> - -<p>‘“You say that the document was delivered to you -yesterday afternoon, Prince?” I remarked, for I found it -necessary to still question, in order to make clear certain -points which were very necessary for my own guidance, -and his natural reticence kept him from giving me every -detail right off.</p> - -<p>‘“Yes,” he answered shortly, as though he considered -the question superfluous, for he had already told me what -I now wanted repeating, but I intended that the question -should lead up to others.</p> - -<p>‘“How long did the courier remain with you after he -had delivered the papers into your hands?”</p> - -<p>‘“Not more than five minutes.”</p> - -<p>‘“When he left did anyone else come into your -bureau?”</p> - -<p>‘“No.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>‘“You perused the document, of course?”</p> - -<p>‘“I did. And to-day it was to have been laid before -his Majesty the Emperor.”</p> - -<p>‘“How long did you remain here after the departure of -your courier?”</p> - -<p>‘“An hour.”</p> - -<p>‘“And you are sure nobody came in during that -time?”</p> - -<p>‘“Absolutely certain.”</p> - -<p>‘“And are you as certain, Prince, that nobody was concealed -in the room without your knowing it?”</p> - -<p>‘The question seemed to startle him, but in an instant -he controlled himself again, and, with a cold smile, remarked, -as he glanced round the room:</p> - -<p>‘“I am quite as certain. You can see for yourself -that there is no place where a person could conceal himself.”</p> - -<p>‘I had to admit that that was so.</p> - -<p>‘“If I have not misunderstood you,” I went on, “when -you had perused the document, you placed it in the -despatch-box?”</p> - -<p>‘“I did. Both safe and box were afterwards locked. -I locked them myself, and took the keys with me.”</p> - -<p>‘“When did you discover the loss?”</p> - -<p>‘“About an hour and a half ago.”</p> - -<p>‘“Had the lock of the safe been tampered with?”</p> - -<p>‘“Not at all.”</p> - -<p>‘“It was intact?”</p> - -<p>‘“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>‘“And the despatch-box?”</p> - -<p>‘“That was intact also.”</p> - -<p>‘“Then, both safe and box must have been opened with -keys that fitted them?”</p> - -<p>‘“That is obvious.”</p> - -<p>‘“Are there any duplicate keys in existence?”</p> - -<p>‘“Yes; there are duplicate keys of all the despatch-boxes -and all the safes in this department, but they are in -possession of the Emperor himself. They are kept to -guard against any possible contingency.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>‘“But presumably it would be very difficult for any -unauthorized person to obtain possession of them?”</p> - -<p>‘“I should say that the difficulties in the way are so -great that we may dismiss it as being practically impossible.”</p> - -<p>‘“That throws us back, then, on the theory that somebody -must have got possession of your keys.”</p> - -<p>‘“There, again, the difficulties are so great that I cannot -think it possible. Come with me, and I will show you the -safeguards that are adopted.”</p> - -<p>‘I followed him out of the room. At the door of his -bureau was an armed sentry. We traversed a long corridor. -On each side were doors. At the end of the -corridor another sentry was posted. We gained a large -square hall, where several liveried servants stood. Two -came forward, and partly drew aside the massive velvet -curtains hung before the marble stairs; these stairs were -covered with massive carpet, into which the feet sank.</p> - -<p>‘On the landings more liveried servants were posted. -We passed along a carpeted passage to the Prince’s official -residence, and entered a magnificent room, and thence into -a luxuriously furnished boudoir, where a lady sat alone, -perusing a book. For a moment she did not notice me, -as I was some little distance behind the Prince, and partly -screened by the velvet portière at the door. She jumped -up, and was about to throw her arms around his neck, but -catching sight of me, she blushed, drew back, and said to -him:</p> - -<p>‘“I did not expect you so soon.”</p> - -<p>‘“I am engaged on some important business, Catarina,” -he replied, a little brusquely. “You had better retire for -a time.”</p> - -<p>‘Without another word she withdrew. She was a young -woman, about four or five-and-twenty, and one of the few -I have seen whose beauty might be said to be without -blemish. Complexion, features, eyes, teeth, lips, hair—the -whole figure was perfect. She was ravishing—a -woman for whom a man would have perilled his soul.</p> - -<p>‘From the boudoir we entered a spacious and magnificently<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> -arranged and furnished sleeping apartment. In -one corner was a large cupboard. The Prince drew a -peculiarly constructed key from his pocket, opened the -door, and flung it back, remarking as he did so:</p> - -<p>‘“That door is of steel. In that niche in the cupboard -all my keys are deposited every night. The door is then -secured, and the key of the door, together with many -other keys, are given into the charge of the confidential -clerk, Vladimir Nicolayeff. He is an institution here, -and has been in the Government service upwards of forty -years.”</p> - -<p>‘“Does he reside on the premises?” I asked the Prince.</p> - -<p>‘“He does,” was the answer; “and you will now see -how difficult it is, with all these precautions, for anyone -to abstract the keys.”</p> - -<p>‘In answer to this, I could not refrain from remarking:</p> - -<p>‘“And yet, Prince, there is the hard fact that your safe -and despatch-box have been opened, and a State document -stolen.”</p> - -<p>‘He looked very thoughtful and grave as he replied -somewhat sternly:</p> - -<p>‘“That is so. And what you have got to do is to -endeavour to find out how they have been opened, who -opened them, and where the papers have gone to. Please -commence your work at once, as every hour’s delay is in -favour of the thief.”</p> - -<p>‘“You must pardon me, Prince,” I remarked; “but I -have a few more questions to ask, and you must allow me -to work in my own way.”</p> - -<p>‘“Oh, certainly!” he exclaimed, a little peevishly, which -somewhat astonished me, having regard to the way he had -controlled himself so far; but it was another indication of -the anxiety that was consuming him.</p> - -<p>‘Nor was it to be wondered at, for he himself had hinted -that if this State secret was made known to the enemies of -Russia it was quite within the bounds of possibility that -war might ensue.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a></p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span>‘No man, much less the Prince, could have been indifferent -to that, for it was an open political secret that -Russia at that moment was far from being in a fit condition -to take the field against a powerful foe. The signs -of the times pointed to a coming conflict at no distant -date, and fully aware of that, it was known, or believed, -that the Prince, who was intensely patriotic, intensely -ambitious, and no less intensely desirous of enormously -expanding the Czar’s dominions, had been making herculean -efforts to consolidate the Empire, and gain the -allegiance, or at least the neutrality, of certain States, -without which Russia’s aims might, and in all probability -would, be frustrated. Bearing all this in mind, the reader -will be at no loss to understand how a man like the Prince -would be distressed by the danger which confronted him; -for if anyone did know, he certainly did, that the internal -weakness of Russia was too great just then for a responsible -Minister to risk a great war.</p> - -<p>‘By further questioning the Prince, I ascertained that -he had a private and confidential secretary, in addition to -twelve ordinary secretaries. But not one of them was -admitted to the private bureau, where for the time being -the State papers were deposited, without the Prince’s permission. -His official business was transacted in another -department, and the inner sanctum sanctorum was in a -measure sacred to the Prince himself. A sentry was always -posted at the door, and he had strict orders to allow no -one to enter who had not special business, and who was not -furnished with a pass.</p> - -<p>‘Being hedged round with these precautions, it seemed -very difficult to comprehend how anyone could have gained<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> -access to the room in order to obtain possession of the -precious documents. In constructing a theory, there were -many points that could not possibly be overlooked. The -chief of them was the all but absolute certainty that there -had been a conspiracy, and a traitor and a spy was in the -camp. He had known of the negotiations that were going -on with respect to the treaty; he knew that the special -courier was travelling post-haste to Russia; that the draft -was delivered into the Prince’s hands, and deposited temporarily -in the Prince’s safe, where all documents relating -to the Prince’s department—that is, political documents—requiring -the Foreign Minister’s close personal attention -were placed for his convenience.</p> - -<p>‘In the case of a document of such paramount importance -as this secret treaty, no copy of it could be made at -first. This was another point the thief was obviously -aware of, and it was also certain that he must have been -pressed for time, or he would have made a copy of the -draft himself, or extracts from it, which it was presumable -might have answered all the purposes for which the document -had been stolen. Such a course would not only have -prevented the hue and cry being raised, but all the resources -of a great Empire being put in motion against -him.</p> - -<p>‘Examining the matter in this light, the question -necessarily arose, Who was there who, having access to the -Foreign Office, was enabled, in spite of all the stringent -regulations and safeguards, to penetrate to the very centre -of the temple—if one may use such an expression—and -carry off a secret which was known to comparatively few -people?</p> - -<p>‘This question was, of course, the crux of the whole -affair, but I felt satisfied in my own mind about one thing. -The guilty person was someone who knew the working of -the Foreign Office, was well acquainted with the internal -arrangements, and in close contact with the Prince. It -need scarcely be said, perhaps, that the Prince was exceedingly -anxious to prevent the matter leaking out and -becoming public property. It would necessarily have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> -caused great excitement and grave anxiety, and I agreed -with him that on many grounds it was highly desirable to -keep it from the public.</p> - -<p>‘There was one other point I ought to refer to, and it -is a very important one; the theft was clearly committed -during the night, or, at any rate, after business hours. -On the first view that might seem to narrow the inquiry -somewhat, though, as a matter of fact, it presented the -affair in a more complex aspect; but, on the other hand, -it seemed to me to point conclusively to several persons -being concerned.</p> - -<p>‘In setting to work to read the riddle, I proceeded on -the analytical principle, and searched, to begin with, for -the motive. That seemed very apparent. Firstly, it was -a secret treaty; secondly, it was framed against Turkey; -thirdly, it was conceivable that it was of vital importance -to Turkey to know what the treaty was likely to do, what -it aimed at; therefore, somebody in the pay of Turkey, -or somebody as a speculation, had stolen the document -with a view to pecuniary gain.</p> - -<p>‘The latter supposition seemed to me hardly tenable—at -any rate, not so likely as the idea that Turkey had her -spies even in the Russian Foreign Office. I don’t mean to -say these spies were Turks themselves. As can be understood, -it would have been next to impossible for a Turk to -have gained entrance to the Foreign Office; but Turkey, -of course, had her emissaries, and Russians were to be -found so debased, so dead to all patriotism, so lost to -every sense of honour, so mercenary, that they were ready -to sell their country for the gain of gold. Of course, -black sheep of this kind are numbered in every nation, -therefore Russia was no exception.</p> - -<p>‘Everything pointed to the thief being a Russian, and, -being a Russian, he also had some connection with the -Foreign Office, a connection which gave him the right of -being under the roof all night.</p> - -<p>‘It is necessary to explain that the Foreign Minister in -Russia is provided with an official residence in the Foreign -Office itself; that is to say, a portion of the actual building<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span> -is set apart for the accommodation of himself and family -and suite. An official of this kind keeps up a great deal -more state than an English Minister does, and his suite -and servants are generally very numerous.</p> - -<p>‘In the Prince’s case, there were fewer people about him -than usual, for the reason that he had no family. Nevertheless, -I found that, including footmen, pages, and lower -servants, there were forty persons in his <i>ménage</i>, and his -domestic affairs were attended to and presided over by the -lady whom he had addressed as Catarina, and whose ravishing -beauty had so struck me. It is not necessary to refer -to her by any other name. This lady had two private -maids, and she exercised very considerable influence over -the Prince’s personal and domestic affairs.</p> - -<p>‘At this stage of my theorizing it seemed to me very -clear that the miscreant would be found amongst the personnel -of the Prince. The consideration of all the facts -forced me to this, the most feasible conclusion. But I -did not lose sight of the almost absolute certainty of a -conspiracy, because it was hardly conceivable that one -person, and one person only, would have committed such -a daring act of treason; for an act of that kind was very -foul treason indeed, and in Russia was punishable with -death.</p> - -<p>‘Assuming that I was right with regard to my surmises, -it would seem that a member of the household had been -tampered with; pressure and temptation had been brought -to bear upon him from outside. The temptation must -have been great; heavy payment would be made; the -traitor had been willing to sell his country for blood-money, -and I was at pains to try and ascertain if any -member of the Prince’s <i>personnel</i> had given indications of -being in possession of an unusual amount of money.</p> - -<p>‘I have endeavoured so far to make clear to those who -may read this narrative the mental process by which I -tried to lay hold of a clue. I need scarcely say that at -the outset in a case of this kind one gropes in the dark. -There is not a ray of light at first to guide him, and he -must proceed cautiously and warily lest he go astray, and,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> -while he is straining his eyes in one direction, his quarry is -safely flying in another. Seeming impossibilities have to -be reconciled with probabilities, and probabilities reduced -to certainties. And when a clue, no matter how faint, -has once been struck, it must be followed up patiently, -intelligibly, and doggedly. There are three golden rules -to be strictly observed by him who would succeed in connecting -crime with its author. They are patience, silence, -watchfulness.</p> - -<p>‘Human craft and human cunning are very difficult things -to deal with, nor can one deal with them at all unless he is -deeply read in human nature. In this instance craft of no -ordinary kind had to be encountered. The criminal, to -begin with, was not of the ordinary type. It was probable -that up to this time he had lived a seeming virtuous life, -and knowing how terrible was the penalty attaching to his -wrong-doing, he would strain every nerve to prevent suspicion -falling upon him. I had necessarily to consider all -these little details, for they were essential to success.</p> - -<p>‘Although the Prince bore the reputation of being a cool, -calculating diplomatist, who had outwitted every other -diplomatist in Europe with whom he had had dealings, I -found that in this matter of the stolen treaty he somewhat -discredited his reputation; for he was by no means cool, -and seemed unable to enter into the calculations which -were necessary to a clear understanding of the course to be -pursued if the mystery was to be unravelled. He had at -the outset reminded me that I had the resources of an -empire at my command, and he insisted on the telegraph -being set instantly to work, and the police throughout the -country being placed in possession of the facts. I was -opposed to that course myself; I thought it was as likely as -not to frustrate our efforts. But, of course, he had his own -way, and he soon began to display not only irritation, but -decided anger, when he found that I narrowed my search to -the Foreign Office, and showed no inclination to go further -afield. “It seems to me,” he cried warmly, “that you are -simply wasting time, and giving the enemy a chance. While -you are hanging about here the traitor is making good his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span> -escape. Is it not certain that, whoever it is who stole the -document, he is now hurrying to Turkey with it as fast as -he can?”</p> - -<p>‘“No, Prince,” I replied; “it is by no means certain that -such is the case. On the contrary, I incline very strongly -indeed to the belief that the traitor will be found here -under this roof; that he has not stirred away, and is not -likely to stir away.”</p> - -<p>‘“You are wrong,” he said sharply.</p> - -<p>‘“We shall see,” I answered. “I admit that it is highly -probable the document is being conveyed to the Turkish -Government. If that is so, we cannot hope to overtake it, -and another move will have to be made on the diplomatic -board in order to checkmate those who have circumvented -you. Your splendid skill in the game will enable you to -determine the move. You may depend upon it that those -who have entered into this conspiracy to convey valuable -information to our country’s enemy have well calculated -the chances of success, and have taken means to ensure the -information reaching its destination. But the key of the -puzzle must be searched for here. If we find that key -quickly, we may be able to prevent the information reaching -the Turkish Government; but it is useless trying to do -so without the key.”</p> - -<p>‘“Then, you suspect someone in the department?” the -Prince asked.</p> - -<p>‘“I don’t suspect anyone at present,” I answered.</p> - -<p>‘“What I mean to say is, you think the thief is one of -the employés of the Foreign Office?”</p> - -<p>‘“I think the thief is a member of your own household, -Prince.”</p> - -<p>‘He looked at me in astonishment; then something like -a smile of incredulity flitted across his stern face as he exclaimed, -“Oh, nonsense!”</p> - -<p>‘“Why do you think it nonsense?” I asked.</p> - -<p>‘“It seems to me simply impossible that it could be so. -No member of my household could have gained access to -the bureau.”</p> - -<p>‘At this I reminded him that, whereas in the daytime<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span> -the corridors of the Foreign Office were patrolled by -sentries, they were withdrawn when business hours closed, -though sentries were on duty all night outside.</p> - -<p>‘“But all communication between my residence and the -office is shut off at night by locked doors,” he answered.</p> - -<p>‘“That only serves to show how very cunning and very -clever the thief was to succeed in reaching your room and -opening the safe in spite of bolts and bars,” I said.</p> - -<p>‘The Prince grew very thoughtful. He seemed greatly -struck by my theory, and ultimately confessed that he had -not seen the matter from that point of view before. The -result was he said I was to work in my own way, to follow -my own lead, and to have an absolutely free hand.</p> - -<p>‘“It is a dastardly business,” he exclaimed with warmth, -“and even if the traitor were to turn out to be my own -brother, I would not hesitate to shoot him, for nothing -short of instant death would be a fitting punishment.”’</p> - -<p>Of course, all the resources peculiar to the Russian police -system were utilized so far as they could be in a case of -this kind. But the difficulties in the way will at once be -apparent when it is borne in mind that the fact of a treaty -having been stolen from the Foreign Office had to be kept -as secret as possible. If the matter had leaked out, and -become generally known to the public, the excitement -would necessarily have been tremendous, and the objects -in view—that is, the capture of the thief and the recovery -of the missing document—would, in all probability, have -been frustrated.</p> - -<p>It will not be out of place here to explain that in Russia -there is an armed police answering to the French gendarme; -then there is a municipal police, very similar to the police -of Great Britain; and lastly there is a vast army of spies, -or <i>mouchards</i>, as the French call them. In this army both -sexes are represented, and they overrun Russia. The three -branches of the police service are not worked and controlled -from one centre, owing to the vastness of the -country; and this want of centralization has always been -a flaw in the administration, as it is sometimes difficult to -bring the various centres into complete harmony.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>From these particulars, it will be gathered that a great -deal must depend on individual effort, for while in the -concrete the system may present weak parts and differences -that are irreconcilable, in the abstract there is a unity of -motion which gives the individual tremendous power, in -this way: An accredited Government agent moving from -point to point could demand, and would receive, every -possible assistance, and the lumbering methods of the -bureaucracy would be dispensed with.</p> - -<p>In our own country we often complain very bitterly -about the red-tapeism which so seriously clogs and -hampers freedom of movement. But this red-tapeism of -ours is nothing as compared with Russia. Russian red-tapeism -is responsible for tremendous evils, and it often -retards in a painful manner the administration of -justice.</p> - -<p>It will now be clear, probably, to the mind of the -reader that an individual in Russia, endowed with -faculties beyond the ordinary, has a chance of very -signally distinguishing himself. This was certainly the -case with Danevitch; and while nominally he was under -the control and subject to the authorities in St. Petersburg, -he was allowed a latitude and a freedom of action -accorded to but few. His peculiar talents and his -individuality begot him this distinction, and while it -placed great responsibility on him, it left him so far -untrammelled that he was enabled to exercise his independent -judgment, and pursue the course which seemed to -him, according to the circumstances of the hour, the right -one.</p> - -<p>After all, this was but another illustration of the fact -that nothing succeeds like success. Danevitch had been -singularly successful, though his success was due to talents -only one remove from genius.</p> - -<p>He has already, in his own words, made it plain that, -in the case of the missing treaty, he believed, and in fact -felt certain, that the culprit would be found amongst the -Prince’s household, though this did not prevent him availing -himself of all the resources of the police department,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> -which of course he had a right to do. But necessarily he -was hampered by the secrecy it was so important to -observe. What he did was to request by telegraph that -the authorities in all the principal towns, seaports, and -frontier stations should issue orders for a more than -ordinarily strict examination of the passports and papers -of people passing out of the country; that every person -from St. Petersburg should be closely questioned, and -should suspicion be aroused by his answers, he should be -detained, and his luggage searched.</p> - -<p>This is a measure permissible in Russia, but would not -be tolerated in England. But in the vast dominion over -which the Czar rules it is a necessity, and through its -means many a crime has been detected and many a plot -frustrated. It is right to say that the seizure of luggage -is only resorted to when there is strong reason for believing -that the owner is a dangerous person.</p> - -<p>Although Danevitch took the steps indicated, he did not -believe for a moment that anything would result beyond a -great number of people being seriously inconvenienced, -some innocent persons being arrested, and a great deal of -blundering on the part of jacks in office, and of boorishness -on the part of local police, who, dressed in a little brief -authority, like to exercise it with all the brutal brusqueness -peculiar to ignorant minds. He relied upon his own -methods, and felt convinced that, if the mystery was ever -to be unravelled, it could only be done by his own individual -efforts. The more he dwelt upon all the details of the -case as he had gathered them, the more he was convinced -the guilty person would be found to be somebody who was -in close communication with the Prince. Working on -this basis, he classified the household under three heads -for the purpose of giving his theory a somewhat practical -form:</p> - -<p>Firstly, there were the lower servants of the <i>ménage</i>.</p> - -<p>Secondly, the upper servants.</p> - -<p>Thirdly, the body servants of the Prince and his close -personal attendants, including his secretaries, clerks, shorthand-writers, -and amanuenses.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>Those in the first category he dismissed from his calculations -altogether, since it was so highly improbable that any -one of them could have had the opportunities for committing -such a crime. Obviously, in an establishment so -constituted as the official residence of the Prince was, an -inferior servant could not have gained access to the Prince’s -private rooms without running the gauntlet of many -vigilant eyes, and incurring so much risk as to make it all -but impossible that he could succeed.</p> - -<p>Those who fell into the second category were not passed -over without a little more consideration and a critical -examination of the possibilities which were presented, when -they were weighed individually and collectively. But -when all this had been done, Danevitch scored them off -the slate, too, and the sphere of his inquiry was so far -narrowed.</p> - -<p>In the third category there were necessarily included -persons of intelligence which ranked higher than that to -be found in the other two. But, as Danevitch progressed -with the working out of his theory, he deemed it important -to subdivide this third category, because his investigations -made it clear that only a few of these individuals -were so situated as to have the chance of abstracting the -document.</p> - -<p>Let it be distinctly borne in mind that the paper was in -a despatch-box, locked. The despatch-box was in a safe, -locked. The safe was in the Prince’s private bureau, -where none but the privileged were allowed to enter, and -the door of which was also locked. Now, then, let it be -still further remembered that the keys necessary to open the -door of the safe and the despatch-box were kept in a safe -in the Prince’s bedroom, and the key of that safe was one -of a number which every night were given into the custody -of Vladimir Nicolayeff, the Clerk of the Keys.</p> - -<p>There was another point which had to be very closely -considered. It was this: the person who stole the document -must have known it was there. He could not have -known it was there if he had not occupied a position -which enabled him to learn a good deal of what was going<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> -on; but as it could not be supposed for a moment that a -Minister like the Prince would have lightly made a confidant -of an inferior and irresponsible person, it was difficult -to believe that the crime was the work of one individual; -and here again Danevitch had to build up a theory, which -he did as follows:</p> - -<p>A was in possession of a secret that a draft treaty was -being conveyed from Bulgaria to Russia, and would reach -the Prince at a certain hour on a certain day, and for -political or mercenary motives imparted the information to -B, who, probably for political motives only, wished to -make it known to the Government of the country against -which the treaty was framed. B had to fall back upon C -to procure the keys, without which the documents could -not be carried off.</p> - -<p>Here at once a conspiracy was suggested, and, a conspiracy -admitted, it was impossible to dismiss the courier -and Vladimir Nicolayeff from it. These two men, of -course, represented extremes of position. The courier, -whose name was Boruff, was a trusted and confidential -Government officer of good birth and high social position. -Nicolayeff, on the other hand, was a porter—a trusted -servant, it was true, but a servant of humble origin and -low rank. His services, if they had been given and used, -must have been bought; that is, he had been corrupted, -tempted from his allegiance by money. Next, the third -or middle person had to be considered. What position -did he occupy? It was not easy to answer that beyond -saying it was obviously someone very close to the -Prince.</p> - -<p>Having arranged these various points, and set them -forth in their order, he felt satisfied that his theory was -a feasible one, and, if acted upon, was more likely to yield -results than the search-for-the-needle-in-the-bottle-of-hay -process of stopping people at the frontiers. At any rate, -while that process was being carried out, Danevitch proceeded -on his own lines, and his first step was directed to -learning some particulars about Boruff.</p> - -<p>In age the courier verged on forty. He had been in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> -Government service for fifteen years. Every confidence -was reposed in him, and he was greatly respected. He -had been engaged on courier duty for something like -four years, and had made many journeys between Turkey -and Russia. Formerly he had been a confidential clerk at -the Russian Consulate at Smyrna.</p> - -<p>He was a married man, and had four children, but lived -apart from his family. There had been serious disagreements -between him and his wife, owing, so it was stated, -to his infatuation for another lady, which had led to -all sorts of complications, difficulties, and domestic jars. -These, of course, were purely family matters, and had not -affected his Government position, as it was considered there -were faults on both sides. Boruff was not well off. Such -officials are poorly paid in Russia; and as he was forced to -keep up two establishments, and moreover was extravagant, -his resources were severely taxed.</p> - -<p>So much did Danevitch learn of Boruff. Not much, if -anything at all, to suggest a probability that Boruff had -any guilty knowledge. He was a poor man; that was the -worst that could be said about him. But poverty lays a -man open to many temptations. Starving virtue is sorely -tested when gold is jingled in its ears. It is so easy to be -honest when one wants for nothing.</p> - -<p>Such were Danevitch’s reflections, and he put Boruff in -his note-book, as he says, for future use if necessary. He -thought it was just possible that ultimately the courier -would prove one of the pieces necessary to complete the -puzzle.</p> - -<p>He next turned his attention to Vladimir Nicolayeff, a -man of a totally different stamp. He was an old man—well, -that is, he was close on sixty. He had been in the -army, and had seen service in his youth, but, having been -severely wounded, was discharged, and ultimately got employment -under the Government. He had served at the -Foreign Office a great many years. His position, though -humble, was an important one. In his lodge in the -entrance-hall all the keys not in use were kept. He also -received messages and parcels, answered questions of inquirers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> -and pointed out the way to the different departments.</p> - -<p>At this stage Danevitch sought another interview with -the Prince, who cast a quick, keen glance at the detective, -and asked curtly:</p> - -<p>‘What news?’</p> - -<p>‘None,’ was the equally curt answer.</p> - -<p>‘Have you entirely failed?’ asked the Prince.</p> - -<p>‘At present I can say nothing.’</p> - -<p>‘But you have got no clue?’</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>A look of annoyance swept across the face of the Prince, -and he shrugged his shoulders, as if in disgust.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose it is hopeless now to expect any results from -your inquiries?’</p> - -<p>‘You forget, Prince,’ said Danevitch, with dignity, ‘it is -not many hours since you instructed me in the matter. I -cannot perform impossibilities.’</p> - -<p>‘True, true,’ was the irritable response. ‘But tell me, -do you see any likelihood of being able to bring the guilt -home to anyone?’</p> - -<p>‘Excuse me, Prince,’ answered Danevitch firmly, ‘I am -not given to expressing ill-formed opinions, and, not being -a prophet, I decline to run the risk of prophesying.’</p> - -<p>‘Forgive me,’ said the Prince; ‘I am afraid I have -allowed my anxiety to blind me to common-sense. But -the fact is, this loss has preyed upon my mind terribly. -It is a very serious affair indeed—very serious. Moreover, -it shows that there is a traitor somewhere. If we have -traitors about, the State is in danger. Therefore it is imperative -that this matter should be sifted to the very -bottom. No time, no money, no patience, no skill, must -be spared. The truth will have to be revealed.’</p> - -<p>‘I would venture to remind you, Prince,’ said Danevitch, -‘that the virtue of patience is one which, above all others, -should be exercised in a case of this kind.’</p> - -<p>The Prince was not indifferent to the point of the -remark, and, bowing with consummate politeness, said:</p> - -<p>‘Pardon me, Danevitch; I have perhaps been hasty.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> -You understand your art better than I do. I have no -right to dictate to you. Pray proceed on your own -lines.’</p> - -<p>‘Thank you,’ Danevitch replied. ‘We shall get on now. -My object in requesting this interview is to ask who conveys -your keys to Nicolayeff at night?’</p> - -<p>‘No one. It is his duty to come to me and receive -them. But as it often happens that it is not convenient -for me to see him myself, the keys are then given to him -by my valet—a fine youth named André.’</p> - -<p>‘Did André give them to him the night before last, -when the papers were stolen?’</p> - -<p>‘No; I gave him the keys myself.’</p> - -<p>‘There is no mistake about that, Prince?’</p> - -<p>‘None whatever.’</p> - -<p>‘One more question: Did you go out that night?’</p> - -<p>‘I did. I went to the opera.’</p> - -<p>‘What time did you return?’</p> - -<p>‘About two in the morning.’</p> - -<p>‘Did you note if the door of the safe in your sleeping -apartment was closed then?’</p> - -<p>‘I haven’t a doubt about it.’</p> - -<p>‘But you didn’t try the door?’</p> - -<p>‘No.’</p> - -<p>‘Were the keys in their proper places in the morning?’</p> - -<p>The Prince did not answer immediately. He appeared -to be reflecting. At last he said:</p> - -<p>‘Yes, of course they were. I remember now taking -them out of the safe myself, and handing them to my -private secretary, who proceeded with me to my bureau. -There is one point I forgot to tell you at our last interview. -When I opened the safe in the bureau, I noticed that the -lid of the despatch-box was wide open. It was that that -aroused my suspicions, and led to my discovering immediately -that the papers had gone.’</p> - -<p>‘But the despatch-box had been locked overnight?’</p> - -<p>‘I am certain of it.’</p> - -<p>‘So that the thief must have forgotten to close it again -after abstracting the papers.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span>‘Precisely so.’</p> - -<p>After this interview, Danevitch felt more than ever convinced -that someone in very close personal relations with -the Prince had been a party to the deed, and began to look -round to see if suspicion could be justifiably entertained -against any one of the inner household, so to speak. With -a view to this end, he arranged the following plan with the -Prince. He was to spend two days at the official residence -in the character of a foreign visitor—the Prince’s guest. -André, the valet, was to be told off to personally attend -him.</p> - -<p>In due course Danevitch arrived. He was driven to the -residence in one of the Prince’s carriages, which was sent -to the station to meet him. He had a certain amount of -luggage, which was deposited in the handsome bed-chamber -allotted to him. He was a German on a secret mission, -and did not understand Russian. His get-up would have -deceived his own mother. He found André a smart, -intelligent young man, who seemed to wear his heart upon -his sleeve. There was nothing whatever in his manner or -bearing which caused Danevitch to mistrust him.</p> - -<p>The beautiful Catarina presided over the Prince’s household, -but never sat at his table. The detective was a little -puzzled at first to understand the reason of that; and, in -fact, Catarina was a kind of mystery, but in a few hours -he had defined her position. Ostensibly she was his ward. -She was the daughter of a very old friend of his, a military -man, who had been killed on active service, and, in accordance -with a solemn compact made between the two -men, the Prince undertook to be a father to the orphan -daughter. That was the story generally believed; at any -rate, people affected to believe it. Danevitch did not. He -found that Catarina had great influence over the Prince at -times; but at others he seemed to treat her with coldness, -even disdain, according to his mood. Danevitch came to -the conclusion that Catarina was, in her way, almost as -much a diplomatist as the Prince himself; but he saw -signs—trifling ones, but significant to him—that whatever -love or affection there was was on the Prince’s side. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span> -was sure that Catarina was not happy, but led a lonely, -fretting life in that splendid palace.</p> - -<p>Danevitch went for two days, but his visit was extended -to a week. When he was taking his departure, the Prince -asked him if he was any wiser than when he went.</p> - -<p>‘A little,’ answered Danevitch.</p> - -<p>‘But is there anybody in my household whom you -suspect?’ asked the Prince with some anxiety.</p> - -<p>‘Frankly there is,’ said the detective.</p> - -<p>‘Who is it?’ the Minister demanded in a peremptory -tone.</p> - -<p>‘Pardon me,’ said Danevitch, ‘for declining to answer -you now. But unless I am very much mistaken, I shall be -able to give you some valuable information before many -days have passed.’</p> - -<p>In less than a week Danevitch sought another interview -with the Prince.</p> - -<p>‘I have a request to prefer this time,’ said Danevitch -after some preliminary remarks.</p> - -<p>‘What is it?’ asked the Minister quickly, and possibly -reading in his visitor’s face that he had made a discovery.</p> - -<p>‘You have a daughter?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ gasped the Prince, who, in spite of his power of -self-control, started at the question, and his brow clouded -over.</p> - -<p>‘She is the wife of Kasin, who is the Russian Consul at -Smyrna.’</p> - -<p>A cold, cynical smile of bitterness played about the -Prince’s thin lips as he remarked:</p> - -<p>‘That is an open secret. But let me tell you at once, -I have not seen my daughter for years, and never wish to -see her again. She is an ingrate. I have cast her forth -from my heart.’</p> - -<p>The Prince betrayed the fact that, though he bore the -reputation of being a man of blood and iron, and very -likely justified his reputation when it came to matters of -diplomacy, he had hidden springs of deep emotion and -passion which were capable of being called into play.</p> - -<p>‘I do not wish to probe you, sir, nor touch upon your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> -domestic affairs more than can possibly be helped. I have -come here to request that you will influence the recall of -your son-in-law from Smyrna.’</p> - -<p>The Prince sprang to his feet, and grasped the back of -his chair, and though he tried to control himself, it was -evident he was greatly excited.</p> - -<p>‘Good God!’ he exclaimed, ‘do you mean to say that -my son-in-law has had a hand in this business?’</p> - -<p>‘I mean to say nothing, sir, at present.’</p> - -<p>‘But your request carries with it an accusation. Remember -the terrible responsibility of that. If Kasin has -had a hand in purloining these papers he is a traitor, and -the penalty is death.’</p> - -<p>‘I am aware of that, Prince.’</p> - -<p>‘The disgrace to me would be terrible. I hate him, -but he is my son-in-law.’</p> - -<p>The Prince paced up and down the room. He was -strongly agitated. His pride was wounded, perhaps, as it -had never been wounded before. Danevitch remained -silent. He had nothing more to say then. Presently the -Prince swung round on his heel, and said sternly, and -threateningly:</p> - -<p>‘Remember this, Danevitch, not only is your own reputation -at stake, but the honour of my family. You may -risk your reputation as much as you like—it is naught to -me; but, by the Virgin! be careful of my honour, or——’</p> - -<p>He suddenly checked himself. Danevitch rose, and, -with a cold bow, remarked:</p> - -<p>‘I will withdraw from this business altogether. What -I have learnt shall be a locked secret with me. I wish you -good-day, sir.’</p> - -<p>‘Stay!’ cried the Prince. ‘I apologize to you. I -forgot myself, but make allowance for my feelings. I am -in the wrong; you are in the right. Forgive me. This -matter must go through, let the consequences be what -they may. Though my daughter, my own flesh and blood, -be guilty of this crime, she shall suffer. My country—Russia’s -interests have the first claim upon me. Pray -proceed. I was the father a few minutes ago. I am<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span> -Prince Ignatof, Russia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, -again.’</p> - -<p>He resumed his seat. He was the calm, cold, passionless, -unemotional diplomatist once more.</p> - -<p>‘Now, then, tell me all,’ he said peremptorily.</p> - -<p>‘At this hour I have nothing to tell you. I am here to -prefer a request. That I have a motive in making that -request, you may take for granted.’</p> - -<p>‘You want Kasin to be recalled?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘It shall be done.’</p> - -<p>‘When? Immediately.’</p> - -<p>‘Is it so urgent as that?’</p> - -<p>‘It is.’</p> - -<p>‘Good. He shall be recalled by telegraph.’</p> - -<p>‘I would request that he be commanded to leave Turkish -soil in twelve hours’ time, and to telegraph as soon as he -is in Russia.’</p> - -<p>‘And after that?’</p> - -<p>‘And after that I will make a revelation to you.’</p> - -<p>‘So be it. In three days’ time, call here again at this -hour. You will find me alone, and prepared to receive -your revelation.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch took his departure. That same evening -Vladimir Nicolayeff was walking along one of the principal -streets. He had been dining at a café, and was making -his way back to his duties at the Foreign Office. A -bearded man suddenly confronted him at a corner of a -street, and said:</p> - -<p>‘Nicolayeff, what was your reward for being false to -your trust?’</p> - -<p>‘What do you mean?’ demanded the porter angrily.</p> - -<p>‘Why do you answer my question with another? I -ask how much were you paid for being false to your -trust?’</p> - -<p>Nicolayeff was agitated and confused.</p> - -<p>‘Who are you?’ he demanded.</p> - -<p>‘The devil.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, betake yourself to your kingdom.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span>‘Not until I have done with you here. Again I ask -you how much were you paid for giving up the key of -Prince Ignatof’s safe to the beautiful Catarina? Or was -it her beauty alone that tempted you?’</p> - -<p>Nicolayeff reeled. It almost seemed as if he was suddenly -seized with palsy, and he uttered a strange, half-choked -cry as he sank to the ground in a swoon. Perhaps -in his superstitious mind he really thought the bearded -man was the Evil One. A policeman approached. The -bearded man whispered something in his ear and disappeared. -The policeman blew a whistle, and assistance -came. Then Nicolayeff was carried to the station, and -when he recovered from the swoon he found himself a -prisoner. In the meantime a message had been sent to -the Foreign Office to say that the Clerk of the Keys had -been picked up in the street in a swoon, and was then in -custody. The message was conveyed direct to the Prince.</p> - -<p>Three days passed, and Danevitch again presented himself -at the Prince’s bureau.</p> - -<p>‘Have you any news, Prince?’ he asked.</p> - -<p>‘A code telegram was sent to Kasin recalling him.’</p> - -<p>‘Is he in Russia?’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know. He has not answered.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah, I suspected that would be the case.’</p> - -<p>‘I await your revelation,’ said the Prince calmly.</p> - -<p>‘It is here,’ answered Danevitch, as he took a letter -from his pocket-book and handed it to the Prince. ‘Shall -I retire while you read it?’</p> - -<p>The Prince glanced at the handwriting, and became -very agitated.</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ he said, ‘do. Come back in a quarter of an -hour.’</p> - -<p>As Danevitch went out, the Minister called to the sentry -at the door:</p> - -<p>‘He will return in fifteen minutes. In the meantime -let no one else enter at your peril.’</p> - -<p>When Danevitch went back, he found the Prince seated -at his desk. His face was almost deathly in its whiteness; -but he was calm and frigid.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span>‘You are deserving of your reputation,’ he said. ‘You -have indeed made a revelation. How did you obtain -possession of that letter?’</p> - -<p>‘I intercepted it. The writer believes, no doubt, that -it is now on its way to Turkey.’</p> - -<p>‘Nicolayeff is under arrest.’</p> - -<p>‘He is.’</p> - -<p>‘See that not a moment is lost in securing Boruff.’</p> - -<p>‘That shall be done, Prince.’</p> - -<p>‘The interview can end.’</p> - -<p>‘Have you no other instructions?’ asked Danevitch -significantly.</p> - -<p>The Prince understood. A pang of emotion caused his -face to twitch, and he turned away. But in a few -moments he was the cold, passionless man once more.</p> - -<p>‘I have no other instructions,’ answered the Prince with -equal significance.</p> - -<p>‘And the letter?’</p> - -<p>‘I will keep it.’</p> - -<p>Danevitch bowed and withdrew.</p> - -<p>The following morning, early, a closed carriage, drawn -by four superb horses, left the Foreign Offices. The occupants -of the carriage were Prince Ignatof and the beautiful -Catarina. She was elegantly attired, and looked charming; -but there was an expression of some anxiety on her face, -and when she gave certain instructions to her maid, who -was to sit with the driver, there was a tremulousness in -her tone which was not natural to her.</p> - -<p>The carriage was driven to one of the Prince’s country -estates on the great Moscow road. It was an old-fashioned -mansion in the midst of pine-woods, and the extensive -pine-woods round about swarmed with game, fur and -feathered. The Prince often entertained large shooting-parties -there, but on this occasion he had no guests. The -servants in charge had been apprised of his coming, and -had the mansion in readiness.</p> - -<p>Two nights later a strange thing happened. The Prince -and Catarina were together in their chamber, when a shrill -scream resounded through the house. It was a woman’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span> -scream. A few minutes afterwards the Prince flung open -the door, and rang his bell for assistance. He was pale -and agitated. When the servants rushed up, he said, -‘Your mistress has been taken suddenly ill. Attend to -her,’ and at the same time he ordered a man-servant to -ride with all speed for a doctor from the neighbouring -village, six miles away.</p> - -<p>When the servants entered the room, they found Catarina -fully dressed, lying on the bed. Her face was ashen in -its hue. Her eyes seemed starting from her head. Foam -was oozing from her mouth; her limbs were convulsed. -The servants did what they could, but Catarina never -spoke. When the doctor came, she was dead. He examined -her, and said she had died from the effects of some -powerful poison. There was a strange smell in the room; -there was a broken glass on the floor. Before leaving the -house, however, he changed his opinion, and certified that -she had died from apoplexy.</p> - -<p>Some nuns were brought from a neighbouring convent -to pray and watch by the body. Three days afterwards -it was quietly and unostentatiously buried in a plain grave -in the little village cemetery. The Prince followed as -chief mourner. An hour later he was a changed man. -He seemed to have grown ten years older. About three -weeks later it was officially announced in the <i>Gazette</i> and -other papers that Prince Ignatof had retired from the -Foreign Office by the advice of his physicians, his health -having completely broken down.</p> - -<p>Some few particulars have yet to be told. The letter -which Danevitch intercepted and handed to the Prince -was written by Catarina. It was addressed to Madame -Kasin at Smyrna. There are reasons why the letter should -not be given <i>in extenso</i>, but its substance can be indicated. -The writer made it evident that Madame Kasin, who was -as strongly embittered against her father as he was against -her, conspired with her husband and Buroff and Catarina -to obtain the information contained in the secret treaty, -and sell it for a large sum of money to Turkey, to whom -it was of immense value. Kasin, it appeared, had learnt<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> -that a treaty was being negotiated; and though Buroff -would not undertake to purloin the document himself, -he was heavily bribed to inform Catarina that he had -brought it.</p> - -<p>Between Catarina and Madame Kasin a very strong -friendship existed. Catarina considered the daughter had -been very badly treated. This sympathy and friendship -had led to great ill-feeling between Catarina and the -Prince, who had threatened to send her adrift. She undertook -to abstract the document, but she went to work so -clumsily that, as the saying is, she gave herself away. -And her incautiousness in writing that condemnatory letter -showed that she had not in her the qualities of a trickster -and a thief. She told the whole miserable story in the -letter, and said that she herself would convey the precious -document to Smyrna. She did not mention Nicolayeff’s -name, but Danevitch felt certain that the Clerk of the -Keys had been corrupted in order that the key of the -Prince’s bed-chamber safe should be procured, and to put -his belief to the test he accosted the unfortunate porter in -the street in the way we have seen. His intention was, if -the porter betrayed himself, to place him at once under -arrest. He was not prepared, however, for the sudden -collapse of the wretched man, who did not long survive -the shock and the disgrace.</p> - -<p>The whole matter, of course, was hushed up as much as -possible. It was deemed advisable that the details should -not reach the ears of the public. It is perhaps needless -to say that the Kasins, who were ready to prove traitors -to their country, never again set foot on Russian soil. -Danevitch confesses that he was anxious, if possible, to -save the Prince the disgrace of having his own daughter -arrested, hence the telegram. He was sure that telegram -recalling Kasin would sound a note of alarm to him, and -he would take himself off. That proved to be the case. -When some months had elapsed, Buroff was quietly packed -off to Siberia.</p> - -<p>The Prince when he had sold off a large proportion of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span> -his estates, went abroad—to France, it is said—where he -spent the rest of his days in strict retirement. Before -leaving Russia, he erected a magnificent and costly marble -monument over the grave of the beautiful Catarina, the -mystery of whose death will never be solved until the secrets -of all hearts are known.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">HOW PETER TRESKIN WAS LURED TO DOOM.</h3> -</div> - - -<h4>THE FIRST ACT—THE PLOT.</h4> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> period was the reign of Alexander II. The time, the -afternoon of a day in early summer. The place, an office -in the huge building in St. Petersburg known as the -Palace of the Admiralty, one of the finest and most imposing -structures of the kind in the world. Its principal -front is more than a quarter of a mile in length, while its -wings, which extend to the Neva, are nearly seven hundred -feet long. In this palace an enormous number of people -are employed, including many women; and here the whole -business in connection with the Imperial navy is transacted.</p> - -<p>The office referred to was a large room lighted by several -long windows. Running the whole length of the room -was a flat-topped mahogany desk, on which were spread a -number of plans of vessels, tracing-papers, compasses, -squares, pencils, and other things of a like kind usually -found in the office of a draughtsman. To give the place -its official description, it was ‘Department H, Left Wing, -Second Floor, Room 12. Imperial Yachts.’</p> - -<p>It was under the control of a much-trusted Government -servant, one Samuel Snell. That was not a Russian name, -but an English one. Snell was an Englishman—a Cockney, -for he was born within sound of Bow bells. He had been -brought up as an engineer’s designer and draughtsman, and -was considered very clever. He left his native country -when he was three-and-twenty, and went to Russia, induced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span> -thereto by a Russian friend in trade in London, who -had taught him to speak the Russian language, and assured -him that his talents would find greater appreciation and a -better market abroad than at home. Samuel Snell was -influenced by this, and went. He was fortunate, through -his friend’s influence, in speedily obtaining employment, -and having marked ability, he made his way.</p> - -<p>In the course of time he obtained naturalization; -married a Russian lady, the daughter of a gentleman holding -an appointment in the naval construction department; -and ultimately, through his father-in-law’s influence, -obtained an appointment himself as assistant copyist in -the Admiralty Palace. His talents soon made him conspicuous; -he was singled out for gradual promotion, until -at last he was placed at the supreme head of the department -responsible for the building and repairs of the Imperial -yachts. It was no sinecure, but an important and -responsible position.</p> - -<p>In this room, on the day and at the hour in question, -two young women were seated. One had soft brown hair, -bright blue eyes, a delicate complexion, and regular -features. She was the daughter of Snell, and was just -twenty years of age. Her name was Catherine. She was -unmistakably of an English type, though born in Russia, -of a Russian mother, and had never been out of the -country in her life. Her companion was as unmistakably -Russian; she had dark eyes, black hair, olive complexion, -and was slightly older than the other girl. They were -both good-looking. The brunette was called Anna Plevski. -Her face indicated great strength of character. She had -a strong, determined mouth; intelligence beamed from her -eyes; her forehead spoke of brain-power.</p> - -<p>Their respective positions were as follows: Catherine -was a confidential clerk to her father. She had been -specially trained for the work, and had held the appointment -for over three years. Anna was in another department -altogether. She was what was termed ‘an indexer.’</p> - -<p>The two girls were friends. They had been to school -together. Anna had taken advantage of a little relaxation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> -to slip into Room 12 to have a chat with Catherine, for -she knew Mr. Snell was away; he had gone down to -Kronstadt on official business. But it wasn’t for the sake -of a purposeless chat that Anna went to Room 12. She -had a deep and dark design, as was destined to be revealed -at a later stage of this strange and tragic drama. Her -own department was a long way off, in another part of the -huge building, and she was at some trouble to reach her -friend’s office by a very circuitous and round-about route, -anxious, presumably, that it shouldn’t be generally known -that she had gone to Room 12.</p> - -<p>‘It’s a beautiful day, Catherine, isn’t it?’ said Anna, -after some preliminary greeting. ‘It’s a pity you and I -are not rich.’</p> - -<p>‘Why?’ asked Catherine, with a simple expression on -her pretty face.</p> - -<p>‘Surely you don’t need to ask why. If we were not -mere drudges, we should be able to taste some of the -pleasures of the world—go where we liked, stay as long -as we liked, and enjoy ourselves generally, instead of being -stewed up here when the sun is shining.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, you know, money doesn’t always bring happiness, -Anna, my dear,’ answered Catherine.</p> - -<p>‘It may not always do so; but as sure as eggs are eggs -there can be precious little happiness without it.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I don’t know. Contentment goes a long way,’ -Catherine said, with some timidity, for she knew that her -friend held very pronounced views, was unusually strong-minded, -and had an iron will, to say nothing of an unyielding -dogmatism, which occasionally, when stirred up, -became objectionable, and at times offensive. In short, -Anna had an aggressive spirit, and was disposed to find -fault with all constituted authority.</p> - -<p>‘Contentment!’ she echoed with a malicious sort of -chuckle; ‘how can one be contented with a lot that is -hard, toilsome, and irritating? It’s not pleasant to realize -every hour of your life that you are only a drudge. I ask -myself over and over again why wealth is so unequally -distributed. Why should it be in the hands of the few,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span> -while the vast majority of mankind are the slaves of those -few, and groan and sweat under the yoke of paid labour—for -what? merely to keep body and soul together.’</p> - -<p>Catherine had heard her friend express similar sentiments -before, so that she was not surprised at this bluntness of -speech; but as she herself did not consider she had any -particular cause to complain, and as the views she held -were not altogether in accordance with Anna’s, she ventured -to mildly express dissent from Anna’s doctrine. It only -seemed, however, to arouse that young woman to a more -vigorous display of her feelings, and with a pepperiness -that was distinctly characteristic of her, she exclaimed -scoffingly:</p> - -<p>‘Well, friend Catherine, I can’t help saying that I’ve no -patience with anyone who is willing to accept stripes and -lashes without a murmur. That’s not my spirit. I’ve got -brains, so have you, and yet we are forced to toil long -hours every day for bare sustenance, while thousands and -tens of thousands of brainless louts are rolling in riches. -Ugh! It makes me mad to think of it.’</p> - -<p>Catherine smiled prettily as she remarked:</p> - -<p>‘You seem to have been stirred up to-day, dear. Something -has put you out of temper.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes; I am out of temper. I’m dissatisfied. Why, -only to-day an order was issued in our department that we -are to work two hours extra every day owing to pressure -of work; but, as you know, the miserly Government take -precious good care they won’t pay us so much as an extra -copeck, no matter how long we work. I say it’s shameful!’</p> - -<p>‘But what’s the use of fretting about it if we cannot -alter it?’ asked Catherine.</p> - -<p>‘But I say we can alter it. The working classes of this -country are the bone, sinew, and brains of the country; -yet they are kept in shackles and ground into the dust.’</p> - -<p>‘And yet, after all, Anna, talent is always recognised, -and individualism will make its mark.’</p> - -<p>‘Great heavens!’ cried Anna, lifting her dark eyebrows -in amazement, while she looked at her friend with something -like pitying contempt, ‘is it possible that you can<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span> -cheat yourself into the belief that that is true? You know -as well as I do that talent and individualism are not worth -a rap without influence to advance them. Kissing goes by -favour in this world; and if you’ve no influence you may -starve, while some idiot is pitchforked into power and -authority. But, there, don’t let us wrangle any more at -present. Some day I shall convert you, and bring you -round to my views. By the way, I see that our Little -Father, the Czar, is to make a yachting cruise round the -coast of Finland next month, and that his yacht, the -<i>North Star</i>, is to be entirely overhauled and refitted.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, that is so.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s a very fine yacht, isn’t it, the <i>North Star?</i>’</p> - -<p>‘I should think so. I’ve never seen it, though.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s a wonder. I thought your father could have -taken you on board any of the Emperor’s yachts.’</p> - -<p>‘So he could, I’ve no doubt; though he has never done -so.’</p> - -<p>‘But you have the plans of the <i>North Star</i> in this department, -haven’t you?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes.’</p> - -<p>‘I should like to see them. Would you mind showing -them to me? I want to know what this grand vessel is -like.’</p> - -<p>Catherine hesitated; but failing to see that she would -do any harm by complying with her friend’s request, she -went to a huge safe, and took therefrom a large roll of -cartridge-paper, which she spread out on the desk, and -kept it in position by weights at the corners. And then -there was revealed to Anna a scale drawing, showing the -hull, the sections, the ground-plan, and general design of -the Imperial vessel, which was one of several used by his -Majesty for pleasure cruises.</p> - -<p>This particular one was then in the hands of the -Admiralty for refit and overhaul, and was under orders to -be at Kronstadt on the 20th of the following month; to -receive the royal party, including the Czar, for a trip up -the Gulf of Bothnia, and along the coast of Sweden, -returning by the coast of Finland.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>Anna looked at the plan attentively, critically. Indeed, -she studied it; and having an excellent memory, the result -of training as an ‘indexer,’ she was enabled to carry the -whole of the plan in her mind’s eye.</p> - -<p>She would have liked to have made some notes, but did -not dare do so, and so she fixed the details in her mind.</p> - -<p>‘The Little Father’s apartments seem very spacious,’ -Anna remarked carelessly, as though she meant nothing.</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes,’ said Catherine; ‘but they are all to be reconstructed, -and removed from the after-part of the vessel, -where they are now.’</p> - -<p>Anna’s dark eyes opened wide, and her ears were all -alertness.</p> - -<p>‘Indeed! Why?’</p> - -<p>‘Well, they are in the extreme stern of the ship now; -and as the vessel pitches very much, they are not comfortable.’</p> - -<p>‘Then, where are the Czar’s rooms to be placed?’ asked -Anna eagerly.</p> - -<p>‘A large deckhouse is to be constructed amidships. It -will be fitted up like a little palace.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! umph! I understand,’ Anna muttered thoughtfully. -‘Then I suppose that is where the rooms will be?’ -and she placed her finger in the centre of the plan.</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>Catherine made a movement to remove the weights -from the corners of the paper, when Anna exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘Stop a minute. I just want to look at something. -All right. Thanks. It’s most interesting. I wish I were -a rich person, that I could have a steam-yacht like that, -and go where I liked.’</p> - -<p>‘You should marry an emperor; then you would have -all you could desire,’ said Catherine with a laugh, as she -rolled the draft plan up and restored it to the safe.</p> - -<p>‘No; I wouldn’t be an empress if I had the chance,’ -Anna replied tartly. ‘Kings, queens, emperors, empresses, -and the like, are all tyrants. There should be no crowned -heads. I don’t believe in ’em. They are a curse to the -world.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span>‘Anna, you surprise me!’ said Catherine with a frightened -look. ‘I knew you were peculiar, and held remarkable -views, but I had no idea you were disloyal.’</p> - -<p>‘Hadn’t you, dear?’ answered Anna, with a laugh. -‘Well, well, don’t take me too seriously, you know. I say -some queer things sometimes.’</p> - -<p>Then, suddenly throwing her arms round her friend’s -neck, she kissed her on both cheeks and sped out of the -room.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The scene changes. In what is known as the St. Petersburg -quarter, which is situated on the north side of the -Neva, is an old and lofty house, not unlike some of the old -buildings in Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>The house is let out in tenements, and there is a common -stair for the use of all the tenants, who for the most part -are working men, artisans, and the like. At the very top -of the building, immediately under the tiles, is a long -room with a slanting roof. In this room three men are at -work, busily at work, though it is the dead of night. They -carry on their work by lamplight.</p> - -<p>Two are seated at a bench, which is covered with a -miscellaneous lot of tools—pliers, small hammers, pincers, -files, tiny saws, screw-drivers, chisels of various shapes, -punches, etc. There are also sets of mathematical instruments; -and before the men are carefully-prepared diagrams -and drawings to scale, and to these the men make constant -reference.</p> - -<p>They are fitting together an ingenious and clever piece -of mechanism in a small oblong box, lined with tin, and -divided into compartments. It is a sort of clockwork -arrangement they are engaged upon, and it is intended -that the motive power of this mechanism shall be a noiseless -spring, acting on a solid brass, notched wheel. In the -rim of this wheel are forty-eight notches. The wheel can -be made to revolve slowly or quickly, as may be desired. -As the wheel revolves, every time a notch reaches a given -point, mathematically determined, a tiny, but powerful, -steel lever drops into it, and this causes a steel rod, something<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span> -like a miniature shaft of a screw-steamer, to advance -at right angles with the wheel towards a partition at the -end of the box.</p> - -<p>When this rod or shaft has been pushed forward a stage, -the lever rises again, until the next notch is reached, when -the same thing occurs, and the rod gets a little nearer to -the partition, in which, immediately facing the point of -the rod, is a circular hole corresponding in circumference -to the rod itself, so that ultimately the rod must pass -through the hole into a recess between the partition and -the end of the box.</p> - -<p>The object of this will presently be seen. The two men, -who are evidently skilled mechanics of a high class, are both -young. Neither of them has yet numbered thirty years.</p> - -<p>A third man is engaged in a totally different occupation. -He is an old man, tall and thin, with a grave, professional -face, small, keen eyes, and a high forehead. He is dressed -in a long, dark blouse, and wears a black silk skull-cap. -He has a square table before him in the centre of the room; -on it are retorts, crucibles, phials, mortars, and pestles.</p> - -<p>In a retort, beneath which burns a spirit-lamp, he is compounding -something from which most obnoxious vapours -arise, but immediately above is a skylight, which is open -to give egress to the fumes.</p> - -<p>The man watches the retort anxiously and nervously, -and every few minutes he plunges a small thermometer -into the boiling liquid, and then, withdrawing it, reads by -the light of an Argand lamp what the figures indicate. -At last he suddenly extinguishes the flame of the spirit, -utters a sigh of relief, and straightens his aching back. -As he does so, one of the two young men turns towards -him, and says:</p> - -<p>‘Well, Professor, have you finished?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, thank God, I have, and I am glad.’</p> - -<p>It seemed like blasphemy that he should have thanked -God, having regard to the deadly objects of his work. -But the phrase was either uttered carelessly, or he was a -fanatic who believed that what he was doing was blessed -of Heaven.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>Presently there were three light taps on the door. The -men paused in their labours and listened. Then the -Professor advanced noiselessly to the door, and gave -three raps himself.</p> - -<p>This was followed from outside by two quick raps, then -two deliberate ones. Instantly on receiving this signal the -professor turned the key, opened the door, and admitted a -man, who wore a large cloak, which, on entering the room, -he threw off, and a handsome, striking young man was -revealed, with a strongly-marked face, and a well-shaped -head covered with dark, curly hair.</p> - -<p>It was a face full of intellectuality. The mouth, which -was shaded by a carefully-trimmed moustache, was well -shaped, but the lower jaw was heavy, and destroyed the -general symmetry of the features. His eyes were almost -coal-black, restless, and full of fire. They indicated an -intense nervous energy.</p> - -<p>There was something—it is really difficult to define it—about -the man’s whole appearance which suggested the -masterful, commanding spirit—the leader of men. And -when he spoke, the full, resonant voice, the rich, decisive -tones, accentuated and emphasized this something, and -proclaimed that he was one to be feared, to be obeyed. -Peter Treskin—that was his name—was in every way a -remarkable man. And even at the present day there are -parts of Russia where he is referred to with sorrow, and -spoken of with reverence.</p> - -<p>Peter Treskin came of good family. He was intended -for the law, and had studied hard and acquired an immense -amount of general knowledge. But somehow he had been -attracted to a set of malcontents, who were for revolutionizing -everything and everybody.</p> - -<p>They believed, or fancied they believed, which was much -the same thing, that it was their mission to set the world -right; to alter this and change that, to pull down thrones -and set up their own forms of government, which would -be so perfect, so just, so equitable, that every human -wrong and every human sorrow would be done away -with.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>It was the Utopian dream of lotus-eaters; but fools -have dreamed it through all time; they will go on dreaming -it until time closes, and instead of ending sorrow, they -will, as they have ever done, increase it manifold.</p> - -<p>However, these men thought differently, and Peter -Treskin’s vanity was gratified, his ambition found a -channel, his fiery disposition a means of satisfying it; and -as he never played second fiddle to anyone, he was raised -to a height, from which he commanded.</p> - -<p>In other words, he became the head of a vast conspiracy -which had for its object the destruction of the rulers who -then ruled. In short, Peter, at the head of a mob, so to -speak, opposed himself to the constituted forces of law and -order.</p> - -<p>It is true those forces were not what they might, and -perhaps ought to, have been. They were stern, in many -ways oppressive, in some respects unjust, and often ungenerous; -but Peter Treskin’s methods were not calculated -to change them.</p> - -<p>It was astonishing, however, how he was enabled to -enlist clever and intellectual men of all sorts and conditions -under his banner, which, figuratively speaking, was -inscribed with one word of ghastly import—Revolution!</p> - -<p>‘Well, friends, how does the work go on?’ he asked, as -he entered the room, wiped his perspiring forehead with -his handkerchief, and then, with a quick, nervous touch, -rolled a cigarette and lit it.</p> - -<p>‘We’ve nearly finished,’ answered one of the two men. -‘By to-morrow night the machine will be ready.’</p> - -<p>‘Good! excellent! bravo!’ said Treskin. ‘And you, -Professor?’</p> - -<p>‘My part is also nearly completed. It has been a -dangerous operation, but will be successful.’</p> - -<p>The man who spoke was Professor Smolski, a clever -chemist, whose researches and knowledge, if properly -applied, might have been of immense benefit to the world, -and have earned him a niche in the gallery of worthies. -But he had ranged himself on the side of the malcontents, -and for the sake of his craze he was willing to sacrifice the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span> -prospects of fame, if not fortune, and to run the almost -certain risk of a shameful death. Truly human nature is -a mystery.</p> - -<p>The other two men were brothers—Jews, Isaac and Jacob -Eisenmann. They were born in Russia, but their parents -had fled from Germany to avoid persecution, though, in -flying from the hornets, they had encountered the wasps; -that is to say, they had found no peace in Russia. They -had been oppressed, persecuted, harried, and their offspring -had vowed vengeance. Isaac and Jacob were sworn foes of -the Government. They were clever mechanics, and their -cleverness was used to build up a destructive instrument of -death, contrived with devilish ingenuity and diabolical -cunning.</p> - -<p>These men represented a large party, which included -women as well as men; but Treskin was the head, the -leading light, the impelling spirit. His influence, his -restless energy, his ambition, his vanity, made him one of -the most dangerous men in all Russia. He seemed able -by some extraordinary power he possessed of swerving men -from the paths of rectitude into the tortuous ways of -crime. He led women like lambs to the slaughter; he -bent even strong men to his will.</p> - -<p>Strangely enough, however, up to the time that he is -brought under the reader’s notice, he had managed to -escape falling under suspicion. It is difficult to say what -this immunity was due to; possibly some superior cunning, -some extraordinary cautiousness. But whatever it was, -Peter was not wanting in courage, and was quite ready to -take his share of risk.</p> - -<p>His co-conspirators now proceeded to explain to him -the result of their labours and their ingenuity. The -empty recess at the end of the mechanical box was to be -filled with a novel preparation containing a latent explosive -power of immense force. This latent power, however, -could only be aroused into activity by the combination of -a chemical fluid, and in order to bring this about, the -mechanism had been arranged with wonderful precision -and cleverness. Professor Smolski had produced the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> -necessary fluid, and the two Jews had, between them, constructed -the machinery. At the end of the rod or shaft -already described a glass tube, hermetically sealed, would -be attached by fitting into a socket. As the rod was -advanced by the revolving notched wheel, which could be -set to do its work in one hour or forty-eight, the glass -tube would ultimately be thrust through the hole in the -partition, where, coming in contact with an opposing rigid -bar of iron, it would break, and then instantly something -like a cataclysm would follow.</p> - -<p>This, of course, only describes the machine in rough -outline, and that is all that is intended to be done. Those -who are curious to learn the details of the strange instrument -of death and destruction will find drawings of it -preserved in the police archives of St. Petersburg. It was, -at the time, the most perfect and certain thing of its kind -that man’s devilishness had been able to create. And in -some respects it is doubtful if it has been improved upon -up to the present day.</p> - -<p>Four o’clock was striking when Peter Treskin stole forth -from that reeking den of evil designs, and made his way -into the sweet, fresh air. Overhead the stars burned with -an effulgency only seen in a Northern climate. Peace and -silence reigned in the sleeping city. The clear, pellucid -waters of the Neva glistened and glinted as they flowed to -the sea, emblematic of the Stream of Time, which silently -but surely sweeps all men into the great ocean of eternity, -and obliterates even their memory.</p> - -<p>Man’s life is a little thing indeed when compared with -the stupendousness of Time and Eternity. The bright -stars shine, the rivers roll for ever; but man is born to-day; -to-morrow he is dust and forgotten. No such feeling or -sentiment, however, stirred Peter Treskin’s emotion as he -hurried along to his lodgings. He was elated, nevertheless, -and full of a fierce, wicked joy, for his designs seemed -to be going well. He had that night seen the completion, -or almost the completion, of an instrument of destruction -which was calculated and intended to strike terror into the -hearts of tyrants, and he even believed that the hour was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span> -at hand when constituted power and authority, as it then -existed, would be shattered into the dust, and from its -ruins a new order of things would arise, in which he would -figure as a supreme ruler.</p> - -<p>Fools have dreamed these dreams before, and awakened -with the curses of their fellow-men ringing in their ears; -and then, having died a shameful death, have been thrust, -unhonoured and unwept, into a nameless grave. But -Treskin was not disturbed by any gloomy forebodings, and -having reached his lodgings, he hurried to bed.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The scene shifts once more, and shows us Kronstadt, a -busy, thriving seaport, arsenal, and naval and military -town, at the head of the Gulf of Finland, exactly thirty-one -miles west from St. Petersburg. The town is built on -an island, and is so strongly fortified that it is called the -‘Malta of the Baltic.’ The greater portion of the Imperial -navy assembles here, and there are armour and appliances, -not only for repairing vessels, but building men-of-war. -There are three great harbours. Two are used exclusively -for the Imperial ships, and the third is a general harbour -capable of accommodating seven hundred vessels. In the -winter no trade with the outer world is carried on, owing -to the ice; but during the summer months the flags of -various nationalities may be seen, but by far the largest -number of foreign vessels visiting Kronstadt sail under the -British flag.</p> - -<p>At this place, one summer afternoon, a man and woman -arrived, and made their way to a tavern near the entrance -to the general harbour. The woman was young, good-looking, -very dark, but her features wore a careworn expression, -and she seemed to glance about her with a -nervous fear, as though she was in dread of something. -The man was of middle height; he had an iron-gray beard -and iron-gray hair. Judging from his grayness, he was -advanced in years; but his step was firm, his eyes, which -were very dark, were the eyes of youth—they were restless -and full of fire. He carried a leather hand-bag, which he -deposited on a chair beside him as he and the woman<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span> -seated themselves at a table outside of the tavern and -ordered refreshment, which was served by the tavern-keeper -himself. The stranger got into conversation with the -landlord, and asked him many questions.</p> - -<p>‘Where is the Little Father’s yacht, the <i>North Star</i>, -lying?’ he asked.</p> - -<p>‘Out there, moored to that big buoy. You will see she -has the Imperial flag flying.’ As he spoke, the landlord -pointed to the outside of the harbour, where a large steam-yacht, -painted white, was moored. A thin film of smoke -was issuing from her funnels, and a little wreath of steam -from her steam-pipes. ‘She has been outside into the -roadstead this morning to adjust her compasses. I see a -bargeload of stores has just gone off to her.’</p> - -<p>‘At what hour will the Imperial party arrive to-morrow?’</p> - -<p>‘They are timed, I understand, to be here at nine o’clock,’ -said the landlord.</p> - -<p>‘The Czar is a stickler for punctuality, isn’t he?’ asked -the stranger.</p> - -<p>‘Yes. I understand he is seldom behind time if he can -help it. Well, his Majesty will have a good trip, I hope. -The weather promises to be fine. God protect him!’</p> - -<p>‘She is a fine yacht, is the <i>North Star</i>, I suppose?’</p> - -<p>‘Splendid! Magnificent! I once had the honour of -going on board by the courtesy of one of the officers, who -gave me an order. But she was laid up then, and partly -dismantled. Now would be the time to see her, when she -is all ready for the Little Father’s reception. But that is -impossible. No one not connected with the vessel would -be allowed on board.’</p> - -<p>The stranger smiled, as he remarked:</p> - -<p>‘I am not connected with the vessel, and yet I am going -on board.’</p> - -<p>‘You are!’ cried the host in astonishment. ‘Impossible!’</p> - -<p>‘By no means impossible. I have official business.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, well, of course, that’s another thing. Well, I -envy you.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>When the landlord had gone about his affairs, the girl -said to her companion, speaking in low tones:</p> - -<p>‘You are a fool to talk about your intentions in that -way. You are simply directing attention to yourself.’</p> - -<p>‘Tut! hold your tongue! What does it matter? -There is nothing to fear from this thick-headed publican.’</p> - -<p>‘But you ought to be more careful—you ought indeed,’ -urged the girl tearfully. ‘You are far too reckless. Remember -the tremendous risks you are running—we are -running—for if you sacrifice yourself you sacrifice me too.’</p> - -<p>‘Are you beginning to funk?’ asked the man irritably.</p> - -<p>‘No. But there is no reason why the risks should be -made greater than they are. We have a great task to -accomplish, and every possible caution should be exercised.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, now what have I done that is wrong?’ demanded -the man angrily.</p> - -<p>‘You told the landlord you were going on board the -yacht. It was foolish to do that. You drew attention to -yourself.’</p> - -<p>‘Possibly you are right—possibly you are right,’ her companion -returned thoughtfully. ‘It was a little bit of vanity -on my part, but it slipped out. However, all will be well. -Our plans are so well laid it is impossible for them to -miscarry.’</p> - -<p>‘Nothing is impossible; nothing should be counted upon -as certain until it is accomplished,’ the girl said.</p> - -<p>‘You are a nice sort of Job’s comforter. Do, for -goodness’ sake, keep quiet!’ answered the man snappishly. -He was evidently in a highly nervous state, and very -irritable. ‘Well, I must go. Be sure, now, that you -don’t stir from here until I return.’</p> - -<p>‘I understand,’ said the girl. ‘But, remember, the -suspense will be awful. Don’t be away from me a minute -longer than you can help.’</p> - -<p>He promised that he would not. Then, taking up his -hand-bag, he embraced his companion and went out. -Making his way down to the quay, he hired a boat, and -instructed the boatman to row him to the Imperial yacht.</p> - -<p>On reaching the vessel, he was challenged by the sentry<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span> -on duty at the gangway, and he replied that he had come -on official business, and had a Government order. Whereupon -he was allowed to get on to the lower grating of the -steps, where an officer came to him, and he produced a -Government document, stamped with the official seal, and -setting forth that his name was Ivan Orloff, that he was -one of the naval clockmakers, and had been sent down to -adjust all the clocks on board the <i>North Star</i> preparatory -to the Czar’s arrival. Such an order could not be gainsaid, -so he was admitted on board, but an armed sailor was told -off to accompany him about the ship, and show him where -the various clocks were situated. There were a good many -clocks, as every officer had one in his cabin.</p> - -<p>The man came at last to the Czar’s suite of apartments -in the newly-constructed deckhouse. The sailor paused -at the entrance to cross himself before a sacred picture -that hung on the bulkhead, but Orloff pushed on, and, -passing beneath costly and magnificent curtains, he reached -the Czar’s sleeping-cabin, which was a dream of splendour. -With quick, hurried movements he took from his bag an -oblong box, turned a handle on an index dial, and placed -the box beneath the royal bed. He scarcely had time to -recover his position, and get to a chest of drawers on which -stood a superb clock, when the sailor entered, and said -gruffly:</p> - -<p>‘You ought to have waited for me.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m in a hurry, friend,’ said Orloff. ‘I want to get my -work finished and return to St. Petersburg to-night.’</p> - -<p>As he lifted the glass shade off the clock, his hands -trembled and his face was as white as marble, but the -sailor did not notice it.</p> - -<p>Half an hour later Orloff had completed his task, and -took his departure, and landing once more on the quay, he -made his way to the tavern and joined the girl.</p> - -<p>‘Have you succeeded?’ she asked anxiously.</p> - -<p>‘Yes. But a sailor kept guard over me, and I was -afraid the plan would have miscarried; I racked my brains -trying to find an excuse for freeing myself from him. But -fortune favoured me. He stopped to mumble a prayer<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span> -before an ikon, and I seized the opportunity to get into -the Tsar’s bed-chamber, where I planted the machine. It -is set for thirty-three hours, and will go off to-morrow -night when the Tsar has retired to his couch.’</p> - -<p>The girl looked frightened, and said nervously:</p> - -<p>‘Well, let us leave here, and get back without a moment’s -delay.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t worry yourself, my child; there is plenty of time. -I am going to dine first.’</p> - -<p>He ordered dinner for two and half a bottle of vodka -beforehand by way of an appetizer, and, having drunk -pretty freely, he and the girl strolled out while the dinner -was being prepared.</p> - -<p>It was a glorious evening. The sun was setting. The -heavens were dyed with crimson fire. In the clear atmosphere -the masts and rigging of the vessels stood out with -a sharpness of definition that was remarkable. There was -no wind. The water of the gulf was motionless.</p> - -<p>Suddenly there was a tremendous shock as if a great -gun had been fired, and in a few moments a cry arose from -a hundred throats that something had happened on board -the Imperial yacht. The air about her was filled with -splinters of wood. Men could be seen running along her -decks in a state of great excitement, and she appeared to -be heeling over to the starboard side. ‘Her boilers have -burst,’ cried the people, as they rushed pell-mell to the -quay, while from all parts of the harbour boats were -hurriedly making their way to the <i>North Star</i>, as it was -thought that she was foundering.</p> - - -<h4>THE SECOND ACT—THE UNRAVELLING OF THE PLOT.</h4> - -<p>When the explosion on board the Imperial yacht occurred, -Orloff and the girl were strolling along one of the quays -which commanded a full view of the harbour, and, attracted -by the tremendous report, they turned their eyes seaward<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span> -to behold a dense column of vapourish smoke rising upwards, -and wreckage of all kinds filling the air. The girl -staggered, and reeled against her companion, and he, -clapping his hand suddenly to his forehead, exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘My God! what have I done? The machine has -gone off before its time. I must have set the index -wrong.’</p> - -<p>The excitement both on shore and in the harbour was -tremendous, otherwise Orloff and the woman would surely -have drawn attention to themselves by the terror and -nervousness they displayed.</p> - -<p>‘We are lost! we are lost!’ wailed the woman.</p> - -<p>At this the man seemed to suddenly recover his self-possession.</p> - -<p>‘Peace, fool!’ he muttered savagely between his teeth. -‘We are not lost.’</p> - -<p>He glanced round him anxiously for some moments; -then, seeing a boat containing a solitary boatman about to -put off from the quay, he said hurriedly to his companion, -‘Stop here for a little while; I will return shortly.’</p> - -<p>She was so dazed and stupefied that she made no attempt -to stop him, and he hurried away, rushed down a flight of -stone steps, and hailed the boatman.</p> - -<p>After a few words of haggling and bargaining, Orloff -sprang into the little craft and the boatman rowed rapidly -out towards the <i>North Star</i>.</p> - -<p>The girl waited and waited in a fever of anxiety and -impatience. She paced the quay—up and down, up and -down. To and fro she went. Her face was as white as -bleached marble. Her dark flashing eyes bespoke the fear -she felt. Her hands opened and shut spasmodically from -the extreme nervous tension she felt.</p> - -<p>All the light of day faded out of the sky. A blood-red -streak did linger in the western sky for a time, but was -suddenly extinguished by the black robe of Night. The -girl still paced the quay, but Orloff did not return. She -heard the gossip of people as they returned to the shore -from the harbour, and from this she gathered that the -Imperial yacht had been partially destroyed, and many<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> -lives had been lost. The prevailing opinion was that the -mischief was due to the bursting of a boiler.</p> - -<p>Unable longer to endure her misery, the girl went back -to the tavern. The landlord came to her, and asked if -she had been off to the wreck.</p> - -<p>‘No,’ she answered. ‘My husband has gone. It’s an -awful business, isn’t it? They say the boiler of the steamer -blew up, and that there have been many lives lost.’</p> - -<p>‘I heard that half the crew are killed,’ said the landlord. -‘God be praised that the accident occurred before our -Little Father arrived! It’s a Providential escape.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ answered the girl sullenly.</p> - -<p>The landlord asked her if she would have dinner, as it -was all ready. She replied that she would wait for her -husband. She drank some vodka, however, to steady her -nerves, and smoked a cigarette.</p> - -<p>Presently she went forth again, and paced the quay, -going back to the tavern after a time to learn that Orloff -had not returned. It was then a little after nine. And -as the last train to St. Petersburg started at half-past nine, -she settled the bill at the tavern, and, taking the leather -bag with her, hurried to the station and got back to town. -She was full of nervous apprehension, and puzzled to -account for the strange disappearance of Orloff. Had he -deserted her? Had he been apprehended? The suspense -was horrible. It almost drove her mad.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When the news of the disaster on board the Czar’s yacht -reached St. Petersburg, the consternation was tremendous, -and a special train filled with Government officials, including -Michael Danevitch, started at once for Kronstadt -to investigate the affair on the spot.</p> - -<p>Several bodies had been recovered and brought on shore. -They were laid out in a shed on the quay. The shed was -lighted by oil-lamps, and their feeble glimmer revealed a -ghastly sight. The bodies were all more or less mutilated. -Some were unrecognisable. There were nine altogether, -including the chief officer and the chief engineer.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span>The captain arrived with the Government officials. He -had been in town, and was to have travelled down the -next day in the Emperor’s suite.</p> - -<p>In mustering his ship’s company, he found that twenty-three -were missing altogether. Nine of that number were -lying in the shed. The rest were being searched for by -boats. Several were recovered, but some drifted out with -the currents and were seen no more.</p> - -<p>Investigations soon proved that the destruction was not -due to the bursting of a boiler. The boilers were intact. -The cause of the disaster, therefore, was a mystery, until -somebody on board, having recovered his presence of mind -after the dreadful shock, referred to the visit of the Government -clock-winder.</p> - -<p>That sounded suspicious. As far as the officials knew, -no one had been sent down to wind the clocks. But still, -as the fellow had come furnished with Government-stamped -credentials, it was probably all right.</p> - -<p>Owing, however, to some strange oversight or stupid -blunder, nothing could be ascertained then, as no one was -at the telegraph-office in St. Petersburg to receive messages, -and so the night wore itself out, and many hours’ start was -given to Orloff and his co-conspirators.</p> - -<p>During this time Danevitch was not idle. He knew, -perhaps better than anyone else, how the Emperor was -encompassed round about with enemies who sought his -destruction, and the wily detective smelt treason in the -air.</p> - -<p>Although it was night, Kronstadt kept awake, for people -were too excited to sleep, and a messenger was despatched -to St. Petersburg on an engine, whose driver was ordered -to cover the distance in an hour—a fast run for Russia. -The messenger was furnished with a description of Orloff—at -this time it was not known that a woman had been -with him; it will be remembered she did not go on board—and -was told to lose not a moment in circulating that -description.</p> - -<p>Then Danevitch began inquiries on his own account in -Kronstadt. From the survivors on board the yacht he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span> -ascertained at what time Orloff went on board; an hour -and a half before he presented himself a train had arrived -from St. Petersburg.</p> - -<p>He had probably arrived by that train. The boatman -who took him off to the yacht was found. He said the -supposed clock-winder carried a black bag with him both -going and coming.</p> - -<p>After his return to the shore only two trains left for -St. Petersburg. By neither of those trains did he travel, -so far as could be ascertained.</p> - -<p>The sailor who had been told off to accompany Orloff -over the vessel was amongst the missing; but it was -gathered that when the clock-winder had gone the sailor -mentioned to some of his companions that he had been -much annoyed by the stranger rushing forward to the -Emperor’s bed-chamber, while he (the sailor) was mumbling -a prayer before an ikon (sacred picture) which hung at -the entrance.</p> - -<p>When he got into the room, he noticed that the stranger -was pale and flurried, as if he had received a shock. Those -who heard the story thought the sailor’s imagination had -run away with him, and so no importance or significance -was attached to what he said.</p> - -<p>The destructive force of the explosion on board the -<i>North Star</i> had been tremendous. Not only had the -whole of the Czar’s rooms been completely destroyed, but -a large section of the ship’s decks and bulwarks had been -shattered, and one of her plates started, so that the water -came in so fast that the pumps had to be kept going, -while preparations were made to tow her into the docks, -for her own engines being damaged, they would not work.</p> - -<p>Soon after six in the morning, the engine that had been -sent to the capital returned and brought some more -officials. They stated that, from inquiries made, no one -by the name of Orloff had been sent down to regulate the -clocks on board the Czar’s yacht.</p> - -<p>All the clocks on board the Imperial fleet were kept in -order by contract, and no special warrant had been supplied -to anybody of the name of Orloff.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span>This information made it clear that a dastardly conspiracy -was at work, and it was easy to surmise that the -explosion on board the yacht was premature. The intention -evidently was that it should take place after the -Czar had embarked; but the cowardly wretches, by some -blundering, had allowed their mine to go off too soon, and -though many innocent people had been sacrificed, and -immense damage done to valuable property, the life of the -Emperor had been spared.</p> - -<p>It was not long before Danevitch found out that the -man calling himself Orloff, and a female companion, had -put up at a tavern near the quay, and the landlord gave -all the information he could.</p> - -<p>He stated that Orloff told him he was going on board -the vessel, and started off for that purpose, leaving the -woman behind him. He returned later, and ordered -dinner, and then he and the woman went off again for a -stroll.</p> - -<p>After the explosion the woman returned alone, and -hurried away by herself, taking the black bag with her, to -catch the last train.</p> - -<p>This was instructive, but it was also puzzling. It was -established that the woman did go up by the last train, -but not Orloff. What had become of him?</p> - -<p>Danevitch took measures to have every outlet from -Kronstadt watched. Then he set off for St. Petersburg. -In reasoning the matter out, it was clear to him that -several, perhaps many, persons had had a hand in the -conspiracy.</p> - -<p>The infernal machine carried on board the <i>North Star</i> -by the man calling himself Orloff was hardly likely to be -the work of one man. Any way, a woman was mixed up in -the business.</p> - -<p>The official document that Orloff had presented was -written on Government paper, and it bore the Government -seal. The officer of the <i>North Star</i> who had -examined it before admitting the pseudo-clock-regulator, -and who was amongst those who escaped without hurt -from the explosion, testified to that.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span>Such being the case, and the order being written on -what was known as ‘Admiralty’ paper, it followed that it -must have been stolen from the Admiralty office. It -struck Danevitch that the thief was probably a female -employé in the Admiralty Palace, and that it was she who -accompanied Orloff to Kronstadt.</p> - -<p>This was a mere surmise, but it seemed feasible, and -with Danevitch all theories were worth testing. Whoever -it was, in the hurry of leaving the tavern at that town -she had left behind her a glove.</p> - -<p>It was a black silk-thread glove, ornamented at the -back with sprigs worked in white silk. With this glove -in his possession, Danevitch proceeded to the Admiralty -Palace. But as soon as he arrived he learnt that Miss -Catherine Snell had made a statement about Anna Plevski -having visited Room 12 and requested to look at the -plans of the <i>North Star</i>.</p> - -<p>Anna was at once confronted with Danevitch. Asked -where she had been the night before, she replied indignantly, -‘At home, of course.’</p> - -<p>Did she know a person named Orloff? No, she did not. -Why did she go to Catherine Snell and ask her to show -her the plans of the <i>North Star?</i> Simply to gratify her -curiosity, nothing else. She was next asked if she had -worn gloves the day previous. She replied that she had. -What sort were they? Kid gloves, she answered. Had -she those gloves with her? No; she had left them at -home, and had come to the office that morning without -gloves.</p> - -<p>After a few more inquiries she was allowed to return to -her duties, but was kept under strict surveillance, while -poor Catherine Snell was suspended for dereliction of -duty.</p> - -<p>In the meantime Danevitch proceeded to Anna’s lodgings, -and a search there brought to light the fellow to the glove -left in the tavern at Kronstadt. It had been thrown carelessly -by the girl on the top of a chest of drawers. This -glove was a damning piece of evidence that Anna had -accompanied Orloff to Kronstadt the day before, and that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span> -established, it was a logical deduction that she had stolen -the stamped paper on which he had written, or caused to -be written, the order which had gained him admission on -board of the <i>North Star</i>. All this, of course, was plain -sailing. Catherine Snell’s statement had made matters -easy so far. But there was a good deal more to be learnt, -a great deal to be sifted before the truth would be revealed.</p> - -<p>When a person in Russia is suspected of crime, the law -gives the police tremendous power, and there are few of -the formalities to be gone through such as are peculiar to -our own country; and in this instance Danevitch was in a -position to do almost absolutely whatever he thought fit -and proper to do.</p> - -<p>The finding of the glove carried conviction to his mind -that Anna Plevski was mixed up in this new plot for the -destruction of the Emperor. So, without any ceremony, -he proceeded to rummage her boxes and drawers for further -evidence. The want of keys did not deter him; chisels -and hammers answered the same purpose. His search was -rewarded with a bundle of letters. These were hastily -scanned; they were all, apparently, innocent enough; the -majority of them were love letters. A few of these were -signed ‘Peter Treskin’; the rest simply bore the initial ‘P.’ -There was nothing in any of these letters calculated to -cause suspicion, with the exception of the following somewhat -obscure passage in a letter written a few days before -the explosion:</p> - -<p>‘The time is at hand when your faith and love will be -put to a great test. The serious business we have in hand -is reaching a critical stage, and success depends on our -courage, coolness, and determination. You and I must -henceforth walk hand-in-hand to that supreme happiness -for which we have both toiled. We love each other. We -must unite our destinies in a bond that can only be severed -by death.’</p> - -<p>Having learnt so much, Danevitch once more confronted -Anna. She confessed she had a lover named Peter Treskin; -they had quarrelled, however, and he had gone away; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span> -she knew not where he had gone to, and she did not care -if she never saw him again.</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps you will be able to remember things better in -a dungeon,’ suggested Danevitch, as he arrested Anna, and -handed her over to the care of a gendarme.</p> - -<p>She turned deathly white, but otherwise appeared calm -and collected, and declared that she was the victim of a -gross outrage, for which everyone concerned would be made -to suffer.</p> - -<p>Danevitch’s next move was to go to Treskin’s lodgings. -He found that gentleman had been absent for three days. -Here also a search was made for compromising papers. A -good many letters from Anna Plevski were brought to -light. They all breathed the most ardent love and devotion -for the man; and the writer declared that she could -not live a day without him, that for his sake she was -prepared to peril her soul. But there were other letters—love -letters—written to Treskin by a woman who signed -herself Lydia Zagarin. This person not only betrayed by -her writing that she was desperately, madly in love with -Treskin also, but from her statements and expressions it -was obvious that he had carried on an intrigue with her, -and was as much in love with her as she was with him. -She wrote from a place called Werro, in the Baltic -provinces. Danevitch took possession of these letters, and -continued his search, during which he came across a slip of -paper which bore the printed heading, ‘The Technical -School of Chemistry, St. Petersburg.’ On it was written -this line: ‘Yes, I think I shall succeed.—<span class="smcap">Smolski</span>.’</p> - -<p>Apparently there was not much in this, but what there -was was quite enough for Danevitch under the circumstances, -and he had Professor Smolski arrested. It was a summary -proceeding, but in times of excitement in Russia anyone -may be arrested who may possibly turn out to be a guilty -person. It is not necessary that there should be a shadow -of a shade of evidence of guilt in the first instance; it is -enough that there is a possibility of the police being right. -But if they are wrong what does it matter? The person -is released, and the police are not blamed. Danevitch,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span> -however, did not often go wrong in this respect; and in -this instance, Smolski being a Professor in the Technical -School of Chemistry, there were probabilities that he -might be able to afford some valuable information respecting -Treskin.</p> - -<p>Smolski was one of those extraordinary types of men -who, having conceived a certain thing to be right, are -willing to risk fame, fortune, life itself, for the sake of their -opinions. Smolski was undoubtedly a gentle, high-minded -man; nevertheless he believed that the ruler of his country -was a tyrant; that his countrymen were little better than -slaves, whose social and political rights were ignored; -that the ordinary means—such as are familiar to more -liberally-governed countries—being useless to direct attention -to their wrongs, violent measures were justified, and -the removal of the tyrant would be acceptable in God’s -sight. Holding these views—and though he was a family -man and one respected and honoured—Smolski had allied -himself with a band of arch-conspirators, whose head was -Peter Treskin. He was calm, dignified, and collected -under his arrest, and when he was interrogated, in accordance -with Russian law, by a judge of instruction, he -frankly admitted that he had been concerned in an -attempt to bring about a better form of government; but -he steadfastly refused to denounce any of his accomplices. -He could die bravely, as became a man, but no one should -say he was a traitor.</p> - -<p>All this would have been admirable in a nobler cause; -as it was, he simply proved that he had allowed his extreme -views to blind him to the difference between legitimate -constitutional agitation and crime—crime that, whether -committed in the name of politics or not, was murder, and -an outrage against God’s ordinance. Smolski, in common -with most men, neglected the safe rule that letters should -be destroyed when they are calculated to compromise one’s -honour or betray one’s friends. And thus it came about -that when the Professor’s papers were examined, not only -were Isaac and Jacob Eisenmann brought into the police -net, but many others; and in a diary he had kept there<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span> -was a record of his experiments with the deadly compound -which was destined to blow the monarch of the Empire -into eternity, but which, owing to an accident or a blunder, -had failed in its object so far as the Czar was concerned, -though it had cruelly cut short the lives of many hard-working -and worthy men. Under any circumstances, even -if the Czar had been involved in the destructive influences -of the infernal machine, many others must have perished -with him. Such conspirators never hesitate to destroy -nine hundred and ninety-nine inoffensive people if they -can only reach the thousandth against whom they have a -grievance.</p> - -<p>Piece by piece the whole story as set forth in the first -part of this chronicle was put together, and the plot laid -bare; but though many had been brought under the iron -grip of the law, the arch-conspirator, to whose ruling spirit -and genius the plot was due, was still at large, and no trace -of him was at that time forthcoming; but Danevitch did -not despair of hunting him down, of bringing him to his -doom. And no one whose mind was not distorted could -say his life was not forfeited. His whole career had been -one of plotting and deceit. His commanding presence -and masterful mind had given him such an influence over -many of those with whom he came in contact—especially -women—that he had proved himself more than ordinarily -dangerous, while his reckless and cowardly wickedness in -carrying the infernal machine on board the Czar’s yacht, -and thereby causing the sudden and cruel death of something -like two dozen people, stamped him at once as a -being against whom every honest man’s hand should be -raised.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, while Danevitch was trying to get a -clue to Treskin’s whereabouts, his co-conspirators—they -might truly be described as his dupes—were tried, found -guilty, condemned, and executed. Smolski, the two Eisenmanns, -and four others, were ignominiously hanged in the -presence of an enormous crowd. Smolski met his end with -a perfect resignation, a calm indifference. He firmly -believed he was suffering in a good cause. He died with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span> -the words ‘Khrista radi’ (For Christ’s sake) upon his -lips. He posed as a martyr.</p> - -<p>Anna Plevski had been cast for Siberia, but before starting -upon the terrible journey, the prospects of which were -more appalling than death, she would have to spend many -months in a noisome dungeon in the Russian Bastile, -Schlusselburgh, in Lake Ladoga.</p> - -<p>But a circumstance presently arose which altered her -fate. Danevitch had kept his eye on Lydia Zagarin, of -Werro. He found she was the daughter of a retired ship-master, -who had purchased a little property in the small -and pleasantly-situated town of Werro. He was a -widower. Lydia was his only daughter. On her father’s -death she would succeed to a modest fortune. Treskin -had borrowed money from her, and it was probable that -he had singled her out from his many female acquaintances -as one to whom he would adhere on account of her money. -Four months after the fateful day when the Czar’s yacht -was partially destroyed and many people were killed, -Treskin wrote to this young woman, renewing his protestations -of regard for her, and asking her to send him money, -and to join him with a view to his marrying her. He -gave his address at Point de Galle, Ceylon, where, according -to his own account, he had started in business as a -merchant. He stated that, though he had taken no active -part in the destruction of the <i>North Star</i>, he happened to -be in Kronstadt on the night of the crime, and as he knew -he was suspected of being mixed up in revolutionary movements, -he deemed it advisable to go abroad; and so he -had bribed a boatman to convey him to a Swedish schooner -which was on the point of leaving the Kronstadt harbour -on the night of the explosion, and he bribed the captain -of the schooner to convey him to the coast of Sweden. -By this means he escaped. From Sweden he travelled to -England; from England to Ceylon, where he had a cousin -engaged on a coffee plantation.</p> - -<p>This letter came into the hands of Danevitch before it -reached Lydia. How that was managed need not be -stated; but Danevitch now believed he saw his way to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span> -capture Treskin. He knew, of course, that, as a political -refugee, claiming the protection of the British flag, he -could not be taken in the ordinary way. The British flag -has over and over again been disgraced by the protection -it has afforded to wretches of Treskin’s type, and it was so -in this instance. To obtain his extradition was next to -impossible. He was a wholesale murderer, but claimed -sanctuary in the name of politics, and he found this -sanctuary under the British flag.</p> - -<p>Danevitch, however, resolved to have him, and resorted -to stratagem. He visited Anna Plevski in her dungeon. -She knew nothing at this time of the fate of her lover, -though she did know that he had not been captured. -Danevitch, by skill and artifice, aroused in her that -strongest of all female passions—jealousy. He began by -telling her that Treskin had deserted her in a cowardly -and shameful manner on the night of the crime, and did -not care whether she perished or lived. Then he laid -before her Lydia Zagarin’s letters to Treskin, which had -been seized at Treskin’s lodgings, and he watched the effect -on the girl as she read them. Finally he showed her the -letter sent from Ceylon.</p> - -<p>That was the last straw. Her feelings burst from the -restraint she had tried to impose upon them, and she -cursed him again and again. She declared solemnly that -she was his victim; that she was innocent and loyal until -he corrupted her, and indoctrinated her with his revolutionary -ideas. He had sworn to be true to her, and used -to say they would live and die together. On the night of -the crime he had persuaded her to go with him to Kronstadt, -because he declared that he could not bear her to be out -of his sight. They had arranged that on the morrow they -were to quit St. Petersburg, and travel with all speed to -Austrian soil. But not only had he basely deceived her, -but treacherously deserted her. She was furious, and -uttered bitter regrets that she could not hope to be -revenged upon him.</p> - -<p>In this frame of mind she was left for the time. A -week later, however, Danevitch once more visited her.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span> -She was still brooding on her wrongs and her hard fate. -To suffer Siberia for the sake of a man who had so cruelly -deceived her and blighted her young life was doubly hard.</p> - -<p>‘Would she be willing, if she had the chance, to bring -him to justice?’ Danevitch asked.</p> - -<p>Her dark eyes filled with fire, and her pale face flushed, -as she exclaimed with passionate gesture that she would -do it with a fierce joy in her heart, and laugh at him -exultingly as he was led to his doom.</p> - -<p>She was told that the chance would be given to her to -betray him into the hands of justice. She would be set -free on sufferance, and allowed to proceed to Ceylon, and, -provided she succeeded in her task and was faithful to the -trust reposed in her, she would, on returning to Russia, -receive a full pardon, and be supplied with a considerable -sum of money to enable her to live abroad if she -desired it.</p> - -<p>In setting her free, however, in the first instance, the -Government intended to retain a hold upon her, and to -that end her youngest and favourite brother, who was an -invalid, and to whom she was devoted, had been arrested -on suspicion of being mixed up with revolutionary movements. -If she did not return within a fixed time, the -brother would be sent to the Siberian quicksilver-mines. -While she was away he would be treated with every kindness, -and on her return he would be set at liberty. His -fate therefore was in her hands. If she allowed the false -lover to prevail over her she would sacrifice her brother. -If, on the other hand, she was true to her trust, she would -save her brother, gratify her revenge, and be provided for -for life.</p> - -<p>She was allowed a week in which to make up her mind; -but in two days she gave her decision. She would go to -Ceylon. She would lure Treskin to his doom. To prepare -the way she wrote a letter to dictation. In it she stated -that she had been tried and found not guilty. No sooner -was she released than she had been visited by a wretch of -a woman named Lydia Zagarin, who abused her fearfully -for having corresponded with Treskin, whom she claimed.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span> -And in her mad passion she had disclosed his whereabouts, -but vowed that she hated him, knowing that he had been -false to her, and that all he wanted now was her money. -Anna, however, had no such thoughts about him. She -loved him to distraction, and could not live without him. -She intended, therefore, to go to Ceylon; and she had -managed to secure some money, which she would take to -him. She was perfectly sure, she added, that he loved her, -and that they would be very happy together.</p> - -<p>This letter was duly despatched, and a fortnight later -Anna set out on her strange mission, having first had an -interview with her brother, though she was cautioned -against telling him or any living soul where she was going -to. She found him almost broken-hearted, for he declared -he was as innocent of revolutionary ideas as a babe unborn; -but he knew that when once a man fell into the hands of -the police as a ‘suspect’ he had very little to hope for. -Anna endeavoured to cheer him up by saying she would do -all that mortal could do to prove his innocence; and as -the Government had failed to substantiate their charge -against her, she was sure they would not succeed in his -case.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The scene changes again for the final act, and shows the -beautiful island of Ceylon and the wide, sweeping bay of -Point de Galle, with its splendid lighthouse, its great -barrier reef, and its golden sands. Anna Plevski had -landed there from a P. and O. steamer, and had been met -by Treskin, who, while he declared he was delighted to -see her, showed by his manner he was annoyed.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, he hoped for Lydia Zagarin, but -Anna Plevski had come to him instead. But there was -another cause for his annoyance, as Anna soon discovered. -He had a native mistress; but in a little time Anna had -so far prevailed over him that he put the dusky beauty -away. He had commenced in business as a commission -agent and coffee merchant; but so far success had not -attended his efforts. He had neither the energy, the -perseverance, nor the patience necessary if one would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span> -succeed in business, so that he very eagerly inquired of -Anna what money she had brought. She told him that -she had not very much with her, but in a few weeks would -receive a remittance. In the meantime there was enough -to be going on with. She thus won his confidence. Indeed, -he never for a moment suspected her mission. There was -nothing whatever to arouse his suspicions. It all seemed -perfectly natural and he believed that under the ægis of -the British flag he was perfectly safe. So he would have -been if Danevitch had not played such a clever move to -checkmate him.</p> - -<p>A little more than two months passed, during which -Treskin knew nothing of the sword that swung above his -head. Then Anna complained of illness. She thought -Point de Galle did not agree with her; she wanted a -change; she had been told that Colombo was a very pretty -place; she would like to see it; and as she had received -a remittance of thirty pounds they could afford the -journey. He must take her there. To this he consented, -and they travelled by gharry. It was the first step towards -his doom. With the remittance came another letter to -Anna giving her secret instructions.</p> - -<p>Colombo was duly reached. It was the best season. -The days were tranquil and brilliant. The nights were -wordless poems. The third night after their arrival Anna -expressed a desire to go out in a native boat on the water. -The sea was motionless. It was like a sheet of glass. The -night was glorious; a soft land-breeze blew, laden with -rich scents. The heavens were ablaze with stars, and a -dreamy languor seemed to pervade the delicious atmosphere. -Accordingly, a native boat and two stalwart -rowers were hired, and Treskin and Anna embarked. It -was the second step towards his doom.</p> - -<p>The boatmen pulled from the land. The calm water -and tranquil night made rowing easy, and presently a little -bamboo sail was hoisted, which helped the craft along. -Treskin lay back in the stern and smoked; Anna sat -beside him, and sang softly snatches of plaintive Russian -airs.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span>When about five miles from the shore, they saw a small -steamer creeping slowly along. She came close to the -boat, and an English voice hailed her and asked if anyone -in the boat spoke English.</p> - -<p>Treskin answered. The voice then inquired if the -occupant of the boat would kindly take some letters on -shore. The captain of the steamer did not want to go -into the port.</p> - -<p>Treskin gladly consented, and he was asked to order -his boatmen to pull alongside the steamer, which proved -to be a pleasure-yacht.</p> - -<p>Without a shadow of suspicion in his mind, Treskin did -so, and he was politely invited to step on board, a ladder -being lowered for that purpose. He turned to Anna, and -asked her if she would go. Of course she would. So she -preceded him up the ladder.</p> - -<p>As soon as he was on the deck the gangway was closed, -and a man in uniform directed him to the little saloon, -where some wine and biscuits stood on the table. The -engines of the steamer were started, though that did not -alarm him; but in a few minutes a stern, determined man -entered the cabin. He wore the uniform of a lieutenant -of the Russian Navy, and had a sword at his side.</p> - -<p>‘Peter Treskin,’ he said in Russian, ‘you have been -cleverly lured on board this boat, which is owned by a -Russian gentleman, and flies the Russian flag, in order -that you may be taken back to Russia to answer for your -great crime.’</p> - -<p>Treskin’s face turned to an ashen grayness, and, springing -to his feet, he rushed to the door, but found his exit barred -by armed men. In another instant he was seized, and -heavily ironed. He knew then that his fate was sealed, -and his heart turned to lead with an awful sense of -despair.</p> - -<p>Steaming as hard as she could steam, the yacht rounded -Point de Galle, and when about fifteen miles due east of -Ceylon she suddenly stopped. A Russian gunboat was lying -in wait. To this gunboat the prisoner was transferred, -but Anna remained on board the yacht.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span>The gunboat steamed away at once, and shaped her -course for Manilla, where she coaled; and that done she -proceeded under a full head of steam for the sea of Japan -and Vladivostock.</p> - -<p>The yacht went in the other direction, making for the -Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and after a pleasant and -uneventful voyage she sailed by way of the Bosphorus to -the Crimea. She made many calls on the way, and at -every port she touched at she was supposed to be on a -pleasure cruise, and Anna was looked upon as the owner’s -wife.</p> - -<p>As Anna Plevski entered Russia in the west, her false -lover entered it in the far east, and thence under a strong -escort he was conducted through the whole length of -Siberia to St. Petersburg, a distance of something like -five thousand miles.</p> - -<p>It is an awful journey at the best of times. In his -case the awfulness was enhanced a hundredfold, for he -knew that every verst travelled placed him nearer and -nearer to his shameful doom.</p> - -<p>He was six months on the journey, and when he reached -the capital his hair was white, his face haggard and drawn, -his eyes sunken. He was an old and withered man, while -the terrible strain had affected his mind; but as he had -been pitiless to others, so no pity was shown for him. He -had brought sorrow, misery, and suffering to many a home. -He had made widows and orphans; he had maimed and -killed, and he could not expect mercy in a world which he -had disgraced.</p> - - -<h4>THE DÉNOUEMENT.</h4> - -<p>It is a typical Russian winter day. The sun shines -from a cloudless sky. The air is thin and transparent, -the cold intense; the snow is compacted on the ground -until it is of the consistency of iron.</p> - -<p>On the great plain outside of St. Petersburg, where the -public executions take place, a grim scaffold is erected. It -is an exposed platform of rough boards, from which spring<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span> -two upright posts, topped with a cross-bar, from which -depends a rope with a noose.</p> - -<p>It is the most primitive arrangement. The scaffold is -surrounded with troops, horse and foot. There are nearly -two thousand of them; but the scaffold is raised so high -that the soldiers do not obscure the view.</p> - -<p>The plain is filled with a densely-packed crowd; but on -one side a lane is kept open, and up this lane rumbles a -springless cart, guarded by horsemen with drawn swords. -In the cart, on a bed of straw, crouches a man, bound -hand and foot. His face is horrible—ghastly. It wears a -stony expression of concentrated fear.</p> - -<p>A priest sits with the man, and holds a crucifix before -his eyes. But the eyes appear sightless, and to be starting -from the head.</p> - -<p>The cart reaches the foot of the ladder which leads to -the platform. The bound man is dragged out, for he is -powerless to move. He is pushed and dragged up the -ladder, followed by the priest. As soon as he reaches the -platform and sees the noose, he utters a suppressed cry of -horror, and shrinks away.</p> - -<p>Pitiless hands thrust him forward again, and he is placed -on some steps; the noose is adjusted round his neck. No -cap is used to hide his awful face. At a given signal the -steps are drawn away, and the man swings in the air and -is slowly strangled to death. A great cheer rises from the -crowd, but it is mingled with groans.</p> - -<p>Thus did Peter Treskin meet his doom. He lived like -a coward; he died like a coward. He had talents and -abilities that, properly directed, would have gained him -high position, but he chose the wrong path, and it ended -in a dog’s death.</p> - -<p>He well deserved his ignominious fate, and yet, even at -the present day, there are some who believe he was a -martyr. But these people may be classed amongst those -who believe not, even though an angel comes down from -heaven to teach.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">THE CLUE OF THE DEAD HAND<br /> - - -<small>THE STORY OF AN EDINBURGH MYSTERY</small></h2> - - -<h3 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.<br /> - - -<small>NEW YEAR’S EVE: THE MYSTERY BEGINS.</small></h3> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">A strange</span>, weird sort of place was Corbie Hall. There -was an eeriness about it that was calculated to make one -shudder. For years it had been practically a ruin, and -tenantless.</p> - -<p>Although an old place, it was without any particular -history, except a tradition that a favourite of Queen Mary -had once lived there, and suddenly disappeared in a -mysterious way. He was supposed to have been murdered -and buried secretly.</p> - -<p>The last tenant was one Robert Crease, a wild roisterer, -who had travelled much beyond the seas, scraped money -together, purchased the Hall, surrounded himself with a -number of boon companions, and turned night into day. -Corbie Hall stood just to the north of Blackford Hill, as -those who are old enough will remember.</p> - -<p>In ‘Rab’ Crease’s time it was a lonely enough place; -but he and his brother roisterers were not affected by the -solitude, and many were the curious tales told about their -orgies.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span>However, Rab came to grief one night. He had been -into the town for some purpose, and, staggering home in a -storm of wind and rain with a greater burden of liquor -than he could comfortably carry, he missed his way, pitched -headlong into a quarry, and broke his neck.</p> - -<p>He left the place to a person whom he described as his -nephew. But the heir could not be found, nor could his -death be proved. Then litigation had ensued, and there -had been fierce wrangles; bitterness was engendered, and -bad blood made. The place, however, remained empty -and lonely year after year, until, as might have been -expected, it got an evil reputation. People said it was -haunted. They shunned it. The wildest possible stories -were told about it. It fell into dilapidation. The winter -rains and snows soaked through the roof. The window-frames -rotted; the grounds became a wilderness of weeds.</p> - -<p>At last the heir was found. His name was Raymond -Balfour. He was the only son of Crease’s only sister, who -had married a ne’er-do-weel of a fellow, who came from no -one knew where, and where he went to no one cared. He -treated his wife shamefully.</p> - -<p>Her son was born in Edinburgh, and when he was little -more than a baby she fled with him and obtained a -situation of some kind in Deeside. She managed to give -her boy a decent education, and he was sent to Edinburgh -to study law.</p> - -<p>He seemed, however, to have inherited some of his -father’s bad qualities, and fell into disgrace. His mother -dying before he was quite out of his teens, he found himself -friendless and without resources.</p> - -<p>His mother in marrying had alienated herself from her -relatives, what few she had; and when she died no one -seemed anxious to own kindredship with Raymond, whose -conduct and ‘goings on’ were described as ‘outrageous.’ -So the young fellow snapped his fingers at everyone, -declared his intention of going out into the world to seek -his fortune, and disappeared.</p> - -<p>After many years of wandering in all parts of the world, -and when in mid-life, he returned to Edinburgh, for he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span> -declared that, of all the cities he had seen, it was the most -beautiful, the most picturesque.</p> - -<p>He was a stalwart, sunburnt, handsome fellow, though -with a somewhat moody expression and a cold, distant, -reserved manner. He had heard by mere chance of his -inheritance, and, having legally established his claim, took -possession of his property.</p> - -<p>Although nobody could learn anything at all of his -affairs, it was soon made evident that he had plenty of -money. He brought with him from India, or somewhere -else, a native servant, who appeared to be devoted to him. -This servant was simply known as Chunda.</p> - -<p>He was a strange, fragile-looking being, with restless, -dreamy eyes, thin, delicate hands, and a hairless, mobile -face, that was more like the face of a woman than a man. -Yet the strong light of the eyes, and somewhat square -chin, spoke of determination and a passionate nature. -When he first came he wore his native garb, which was -exceedingly picturesque; but in a very short time he donned -European clothes, and never walked abroad without a -topcoat on, even in what Edinburgh folk considered hot -weather.</p> - -<p>When it became known that the wanderer had returned, -apparently a wealthy man, those who years before had -declared his conduct to be ‘outrageous,’ and declined to -own him, now showed a disposition to pay the most servile -homage.</p> - -<p>But he would have none of them. It was his hour of -triumph, and he closed his doors against all who came to -claim kinship with him.</p> - -<p>Very soon it was made manifest that Raymond Balfour -was in the way to distinguish himself as his predecessor -and kinsman, Crease, had done.</p> - -<p>Corbie Hall was turned into a place of revel and riot, -and strange, even startling, were the stories that came into -currency by the vulgar lips of common rumour. Those -whose privilege it was to be the guests at Corbie Hall -were not people who, according to Edinburgh ethics, were -entitled to be classed amongst the elect, or who were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span> -numbered within the pale of so-called ‘respectable society.’ -They belonged rather to that outer fringe which was considered -to be an ungodly Bohemia.</p> - -<p>It was true that in their ranks were certain young men -who were supposed to be seriously pursuing their studies -in order that they might ultimately qualify for the Church, -the Law, and Medicine.</p> - -<p>But their chief sin, perhaps, was youth, which, as the -years advanced, would be overcome. Nevertheless, the -frowns of the ‘superior people’ were directed to them, -and they were solemnly warned that Corbie Hall was on -the highroad to perdition; that, as it had always been an -unlucky place, it would continue to be unlucky; in short, -that it was accursed.</p> - -<p>Raymond Balfour’s guests were not all of the sterner -sex. Ladies occasionally graced his board. One of them -was a Maggie Stiven, who rejoiced in being referred to as -the best hated woman in Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>She was the daughter of a baker carrying on business -in the High Street; but Maggie had quarrelled with her -parents, and taken herself off to her only brother, who -kept a public-house in College Street.</p> - -<p>He, too, had quarrelled with his people, so that he not -only welcomed Maggie, but was glad of her assistance in -his business.</p> - -<p>Maggie bore the proud reputation of being the prettiest -young woman in Edinburgh. Her age was about three-and-twenty, -and it was said she had turned the heads of -half the young fellows in the town. She was generally -regarded as a heartless coquette, a silly flirt, who had brains -for nothing else but dress.</p> - -<p>She possessed a will of her own, however, and seemed -determined to shape her course and order her life exactly -as it pleased her to do.</p> - -<p>She used to say that, if ‘the grand folk’ turned up their -noses at her, she knew how to turn up her nose at them.</p> - -<p>When she found out that a rumour was being bandied -from lip to lip, which coupled her name with the name of -Raymond Balfour—in short, that he and she were engaged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span> -to be married—she was intensely delighted; but, while she -did not deny it, she would not admit it. It was only in -accordance with human nature that some spiteful things -should be said.</p> - -<p>‘It’s no for his guid looks nor his moral character that -Maggie Stiven’s fastening herself on to the reprobate of -Corbie Hall,’ was the sneering comment. ‘It’s his siller -she’s thinking of. She’s aye ready to sell her body and -soul for siller. Well, when he’s married on to her he’ll -sune find that it taks mair than a winsome face tae make -happiness. But fules will aye be fules, and he maun gang -his ain way.’</p> - -<p>It is pretty certain that Maggie was not affected by this -sort of tittle-tattle. She knew the power of her ‘winsome -face,’ and made the most of it. She knew also that the -scathing things that were said about her came from her -own sex.</p> - -<p>She could twist men round her little finger. They -were her slaves. That is where her triumph came in. -She could make women mad, and bring men to their -knees.</p> - -<p>Whether or not there was any truth in the rumour at -this time, that she was likely to wed the master of Corbie -Hall, there was no doubt at all that she was a frequent -visitor there.</p> - -<p>Sometimes she went with her brother, who supplied -most of the liquor consumed in the Hall—and it was a -pretty good source of income to him—and sometimes she -went alone.</p> - -<p>Scarcely a night passed that Mr. Balfour was without -company; and Maggie was often there three or four nights -a week. She had even been seen driving about with him -in his dogcart.</p> - -<p>It seemed, therefore, as if there was some justification -for the surmise as to the probable match and the ultimate -wedding.</p> - -<p>These preliminary particulars about Maggie and the -new owner of Corbie Hall will pave the way to the series -of extraordinary events that has now to be described.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span>It was New Year’s Eve. Raymond Balfour had then -been in possession of his property for something like nine -months, and during that period had made the most of his -time.</p> - -<p>He had gone the pace, as the saying is; and the old -house, after years of mouldiness and decay, echoed the -shouts of revelry night after night. There were wild -doings there, and sedate people were shocked.</p> - -<p>On the New Year’s Eve in question there was a pretty -big party in the Hall. During the week following -Christmas, large stores of supplies had been sent out -from the town in readiness for the great feast that was -to usher in the New Year.</p> - -<p>Some fifteen guests assembled in the house altogether, -including Maggie Stiven and four other ladies, and in -order to minister to the wants of this motley crowd, three -or four special waiters were engaged to come from Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>The day had been an unusually stormy one. A terrific -gale had lashed the Firth, and there had been much loss -of life and many wrecks. The full force of the storm was -felt in Edinburgh, and numerous accidents had occurred -through the falling of chimney-cans and pots. Windows -were blown in, hoardings swept away, and trees uprooted -as if they had been mere saplings.</p> - -<p>The wind was accompanied by hail and snow, while the -temperature was so low that three or four homeless, starving -wretches were found frozen to death.</p> - -<p>As darkness set in the wind abated, but snow then began -to fall, and in the course of two or three hours roads and -railways were blocked, and the streets of the city could -only be traversed with the greatest difficulty. Indeed, by -seven o’clock all vehicular traffic had ceased, and benighted -wayfarers despaired of reaching their homes in safety.</p> - -<p>The storm, the darkness, the severity of the weather, -the falling snow, did not affect the spirits nor the physical -comfort of the guests assembled at Corbie Hall.</p> - -<p>To the south of Edinburgh the snow seemed to fall -heavier than it did in the city itself. In exposed places<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span> -it lay in immense drifts, but everywhere it was so deep -that the country roads were obliterated, landmarks wiped -out, and hedges buried.</p> - -<p>In the lonely region of Blackford Hill, Corbie Hall was -the only place that gave forth any signs of human life. -Light and warmth were there, and the lights streaming -from the windows must have shone forth as beacons of -hope to anyone in the neighbourhood who might by chance -have been battling with the storm and struggling to a -place of safety.</p> - -<p>But no one was likely to be abroad on such a night; -and the guests at the Hall, when they saw the turn the -weather had taken, knew that they would be storm-stayed -at the Hall until the full light of day returned. But that -prospect did not concern them.</p> - -<p>They were there to see the old year out and the new -one in; and so long as the ‘meal and the malt’ did not -fail they would be in no hurry to go.</p> - -<p>From all the evidence that was collected, they were a -wild party, and did full justice to the stock of eatables -and drinkables—especially the drinkables—that were so -lavishly supplied by the host.</p> - -<p>When twelve o’clock struck there was a scene of wild -uproar, and everyone who was sober enough to do so -toasted his neighbour. During the whole of the evening -Balfour had openly displayed great partiality for Maggie -Stiven.</p> - -<p>He insisted on her sitting next to him, and he paid her -marked attention. When the company staggered to their -feet to usher in the new year, Raymond Balfour flung his -arms suddenly round her neck, and, kissing her with great -warmth, he droned out a stanza of a love-ditty, and then -in husky tones exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘Maggie Stiven’s the bonniest lass that ever lived, and -I’m going to marry her.’</p> - -<p>About half-past one only a few of the roisterers were -left at the table. The others had succumbed to the too-seductive -influences of the wine and whisky, and had -ceased to take any further interest in the proceedings. -Suddenly there resounded through the house a shrill,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span> -piercing scream. It was a scream that seemed to indicate -intense horror and great agony.</p> - -<p>Consternation and silence fell upon all who heard it. -In a few moments Raymond Balfour rose to his feet and -said:</p> - -<p>‘Don’t be alarmed. Sit still. I’ll go and see what’s -the matter.’</p> - -<p>He left the room with unsteady gait, and nobody showed -any disposition to follow him. Something like a superstitious -awe had taken possession of the revellers, and they -conversed with each other subduedly.</p> - -<p>Amongst them was a tough, bronzed seafaring man, -named Jasper Jarvis. He was captain of the barque -<i>Bonnie Scotland</i>, which had arrived at Leith a few weeks -before from the Gold Coast with a cargo of palm-oil and -ivory.</p> - -<p>Jarvis, who seems to have been quite in his sober senses, -got up, threw an extra log on the fire, and in order to put -heart into his companions, began to troll out a nautical -ditty; but it had not the inspiriting effect that he expected, -and somebody timidly suggested that he should go in search -of the host.</p> - -<p>To this he readily assented, but before he could get -from his seat, Maggie Stiven jumped up and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>‘You people all stay here. I’ll go and look for -Raymond.’</p> - -<p>Captain Jarvis offered no objection, and no one else -interposed, so Maggie hurriedly left the room. From this -point the narrative of what followed can best be told in -the skipper’s own words.</p> - - -<p class="ph1">THE STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN JASPER JARVIS.</p> - -<p>When Maggie had gone we were six all told. The four -ladies had previously gone to bed. Two out of the six were -so muddled that they seemed incapable of understanding -anything that was going on.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span>The other three appeared to be under the spell of fear. -They huddled together round the fire, and all became -silent.</p> - -<p>It is curious that they should have been so affected by -the scream; and yet, perhaps, it wasn’t, for somehow or -other it didn’t seem natural at all. But the fact is, we -had all been so jolly and happy, and the cry broke in -upon us so suddenly, that it impressed us more than it -would have done otherwise.</p> - -<p>And then another thing was, it was difficult to tell -whether it was a woman or a man who had screamed. It -was too shrill for a man’s cry, and yet it wasn’t like the -scream of a woman.</p> - -<p>When Maggie Stiven had been gone about ten minutes—it -seemed much longer than that to us—Rab Thomson, -who was one of three men who sat by the fire, looked at -me with white face, and said:</p> - -<p>‘Skipper, you go and look after them. I don’t feel -easy in my mind. I’ve a sort of feeling something queer -has happened.’</p> - -<p>On that I rose, saying I would soon find out, and went -to the door. As I opened it I heard a sigh, and then a -sort of prolonged groan, and I saw, or fancied I saw, a -shadowy figure flit up the stair.</p> - -<p>The hall was in darkness, save for the light that fell -through the doorway as I held the door partly open. I’m -ashamed to say it, but when I saw—if I did see it—that -ghostly figure glide up the stairs, and heard the sigh and -the groan, I shut the door quickly and drew back into the -room.</p> - -<p>Like most sailor men, I’m not without some belief in -signs, omens, wraiths, and those kind of things; though -nobody can say, and nobody must say, I’m wanting in -pluck.</p> - -<p>I’ve been at sea for thirty-two years, and during that -time I’ve faced death in a thousand forms, and never had -any feeling of fear. But, to be straight, I don’t like anything -that’s uncanny. I like to be able to get a grip of -things, and to understand them.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span>When I started back into the room, Rab Thomson rose -to his feet and asked me what I’d seen. I told him I had -seen a shadowy figure glide up the stairs, and had heard a -sigh and a groan.</p> - -<p>He laughed, but it wasn’t a real kind of laugh. He -was as white as death, and I heard his teeth chatter, and -with a sudden movement he went to one of the long -windows, pulled aside the heavy curtain, and, pressing his -face to the glass, peered out.</p> - -<p>I think his intention was to get out of the window and -go home; but he saw what an awful night it was. The -snow was still falling heavily; it was piled up against the -window, and no one but a madman or a fool would have -dreamed of going forth in such a storm, for it was all but -certain he would have lost his life in the drifts.</p> - -<p>Rab let the curtain fall, and, drawing back, filled -himself a measure of whisky, and, tossing it off, said -to me:</p> - -<p>‘Why don’t you go and see what’s the matter, man? -Surely, you are no’ frightened?’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ I said, ‘but you are.’</p> - -<p>And I walked to the door again, flung it open wide, so -that the light streamed forth, and as I did so I saw a -woman lying huddled up on the mat at the foot of the -stairs.</p> - -<p>I recognised her at once by the dress, which was a kind -of pink silk, with a lot of fluffy lace all round the neck -part of it, as Maggie Stiven, and, thinking she had fainted, -I rushed forward, lifted her up with ease—for I am a powerful -man, and she was a lightly-built little woman—and -carried her to a big chair that stood empty near the fire. -As I put her in the chair I noticed that her head fell -forward on to her bosom with a strange kind of limpness, -and her face was of a greenish, chalky kind of hue.</p> - -<p>I felt frightened, and called out to the others to rouse -up James Macfarlane, who had been studying medicine, -but had nearly finished his course, and expected to get -his diploma the next session.</p> - -<p>Jamie had stowed away too much liquor in his hold in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span> -the early part of the evening, and had foundered, so somebody -had rolled him up in a rug and put him on a couch, -where he had been sleeping for hours. Notwithstanding -that fact, it took a long time to waken him.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile I chafed Maggie’s hand, and Rab -tried to get brandy down her throat, but it flowed out of -her mouth again.</p> - -<p>When James Macfarlane realized that something was -wrong, he pulled himself together at once, and having felt -Maggie’s pulse, he exclaimed with a horrified expression -on his face:</p> - -<p>‘My God, boys, she’s dead!’</p> - -<p>This was only a confirmation of my own fears; nevertheless, -the definite assertion by one who was qualified to -tell was an awful shock to us.</p> - -<p>A little more than a quarter of an hour before, Maggie, -radiant with health and spirits, and looking very bonnie—she -was one of the prettiest girls I think I’ve ever seen—had -run out of the room; and now she was there in the -chair, dead.</p> - -<p>At Macfarlane’s suggestion we laid her flat on her back -on the rug before the fire, and he tried to force a little -brandy down her throat, but failed; and as he rose to his -feet again, he said sadly:</p> - -<p>‘There’s no mistake about it, boys: she’s dead as a -herring.’</p> - -<p>Our first thought now was of our host. What had -become of him? I and Rab, who had recovered from his -fright by this time, undertook to go in search of him. -We lit the swinging lamp in the hall, and, taking candles -with us, went upstairs to his room; but he was not there, -and there were no signs of his having been there. Then -we went to the room of the black fellow, Chunda.</p> - -<p>The door was locked, and we had to shake and hammer -it pretty hard before we roused him up. As he opened -the door and stood before us in his night-clothes, he -looked dazed, as one does when just wakened from sound -sleep.</p> - -<p>He did not speak English, but I could manage a little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span> -Hindustani, having been much in India, and I asked him -if he had seen his master lately, and he answered ‘No.’ I -told him he must come with me and look for him, as he -knew the run of the house better than I did.</p> - -<p>He only stopped to slip on some of his clothes and wrap -a heavy rug round his shoulders, for he felt the cold very -much.</p> - -<p>Then we roused up the other three house-servants and the -temporary servants, who had retired soon after midnight, -and we went from room to room, passage to passage; in -fact, we searched the house from top to bottom, but all in -vain; not a trace of our friend could we get.</p> - -<p>Our next step was to ascertain if he had gone out. But -all the doors and windows were fastened. Nevertheless, I -undertook to search the grounds, and, having been provided -with a horn lantern, we got the big hall door -opened; but the snow had drifted against it to such an -extent that a great mass of it fell into the hall.</p> - -<p>The night was pitch-dark, the air thick with snow. I -made some attempt to go forth, but sank up to my waist, -and was forced to return.</p> - -<p>We then tried the back of the house, where there was a -stable-yard. The snow was pretty heavy there, but not so -heavy as in the front. Two men slept over the stable. I -roused them up, got the keys of the stable, and went in. -Balfour kept three horses, and they were in their stalls all -right.</p> - -<p>The stable-yard gate was barred, and it was very clear -no one had been out that way.</p> - -<p>I returned to the house, half frozen and very depressed. -We then consulted together, and decided that nothing -could be done until daylight.</p> - -<p>It was an awful ending to our merry meeting, and the -mystery of the whole affair weighed upon us like a nightmare.</p> - -<p>The ladies of our party, who had gone to bed soon after -we had drunk in the New Year, got up and dressed themselves. -In the meantime we carried Maggie Stiven’s body -into another room, where it was laid out on a table.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span> -James Macfarlane’s opinion was that she had died from a -sudden shock of fright; and when that was taken in connection -with the eldritch scream which had so startled us, -and the mysterious disappearance of our host, we felt that -there was something uncanny about the whole business.</p> - -<p>The rest of the night was wearily passed. The others -of our party, having been o’er fu’ when they went to sleep, -continued to sleep through it all, and knew nothing of the -tragic ending until they awoke in the morning.</p> - -<p>With the coming of the morning our spirits revived a -little, though we still felt miserable enough. It had -almost ceased to snow, but the whole country was buried, -and round about the house the drift was piled up until it -reached to the lower windows.</p> - -<p>As soon as it was broad daylight we made another careful -search of the house, but not a sign of Raymond -Balfour could we see.</p> - -<p>Chunda helped us in our search. He was terribly cut -up, and became so ill from grief and the cold that he was -obliged to go to bed.</p> - -<p>The only reasonable theory that we could find to -account for Balfour’s strange disappearance was that, by -some means we could not determine, he had managed to -leave the house, and had perished in the snow.</p> - -<p>As it had continued to snow all night, and at eight -o’clock was still falling lightly, all traces were, of course, -obliterated.</p> - -<p>Every one of the visitors was now anxious to get away, -but before anyone went, I drew up a statement which was -duly signed. James Macfarlane and I then undertook to -report the matter to the police in Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>Before any of us could leave, we had to clear the snow -away from the door and dig a path out. And even then -it was no easy matter to get clear.</p> - -<p>We were a sorrowful enough party, as may be imagined, -and we all felt that the New Year had commenced badly -for us.</p> - -<p>The death of Maggie Stiven was a terrible business, and -I confess to feeling surprised that she should have died<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span> -from fright, for she was by no means a nervous girl. -Indeed, I think she was as plucky as any woman I have -ever known, and I was certain that if fright had really -killed her she must have seen something very awful.</p> - -<p>With reference to this, nobody, I think, liked to put -his thoughts into words, but somehow we seemed to -divine that each believed Satan had spirited Raymond -Balfour away and frightened poor Maggie to death. Any -way, the mystery was beyond our solving, and we were -silent and melancholy as we straggled into Edinburgh, -where armies of labourers were busy clearing the streets -of snow.</p> - -<p>It was an awful day. The cold was intense, and overhead -the sky was like one vast sheet of lead. Except the -labourers, few people were abroad, and those few looked -pinched up, draggled, and miserable.</p> - -<p>God knows, we were miserable enough ourselves! I -know that my heart was like a stone; for I was not so -wanting in sense as not to see that trouble was bound to -come out of the business, and I fairly shuddered when I -thought of poor Balfour’s end, for it seemed impossible to -hope that he was still alive.</p> - -<p>Look at the matter whichever way I would, it was a -mystery which absolutely appalled me, and it had all come -about with such awful suddenness that, speaking for myself, -I felt stunned.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.<br /> - - -<small>THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.—THE NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY<br /> -PETER BRODIE, OF THE DETECTIVE SERVICE.</small></h3> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">I was</span> in Liverpool, engaged on a rather delicate matter, -when I received a telegram from the chief of the police in -Edinburgh, telling me to return by the next train. I -wasn’t at all pleased by this recall, for it was wretched -weather, and the prospect of a night journey to the North -was far from agreeable.</p> - -<p>The date was January 3. During the whole of New -Year’s Eve there had been a violent storm, which seems to -have been general all over the country. The result was a -breakdown of telegraph-wires and serious interruption to -traffic.</p> - -<p>The telegram sent to me was five hours on the road; -and as the ‘next train’ meant the night mail, I had no -alternative but to bundle my traps together and start.</p> - -<p>When we reached Carlisle a thaw had set in, and on -arriving at Edinburgh I thought I had never seen Auld -Reekie look so glum and dour. The streets were ankle-deep -in slush.</p> - -<p>Snow was slipping from the roofs everywhere in -avalanches, necessitating considerable wariness on the -part of pedestrians.</p> - -<p>Horses panted, groaned, and steamed as they toiled -with their loads through the filthy snow, and overhead -the sky hung like a dun pall.</p> - -<p>On reaching the head office, I was at once instructed -to proceed to Corbie Hall to investigate a case of murder, -and endeavour to trace the whereabouts of one Raymond -Balfour, who, according to the statement of a Captain -Jasper Jarvis, corroborated by James Macfarlane, medical -student at the Edinburgh College, had mysteriously disappeared<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span> -soon after midnight on January 1. The remarkably -sudden and unaccountable death of Maggie -Stiven necessitated a legal inquiry, and Dr. Wallace Bruce -was sent to examine the body and report on the cause -of death.</p> - -<p>On removing the clothes, he noticed that the linen that -had been next to the chest was slightly blood-stained, and -an examination revealed a very small blue puncture, -slightly to the left of the sternum, and immediately over -the heart.</p> - -<p>On probing this puncture with his finger, he felt something -hard. He therefore proceeded to open the chest, -assisted by a colleague, Dr. James Simpson, the well-known -Edinburgh surgeon. To their astonishment, they -found the puncture was due to a thrust from a very fine -stiletto, which had pierced the heart on the left side. -The stiletto had broken off, and four inches of the steel -remained in the wound. This, acting as a plug, had -prevented outward bleeding to any extent, but there had -been extensive internal hæmorrhage. There was nothing -else to account for death.</p> - -<p>The girl was exceedingly well developed, well nourished, -and without any sign or trace of organic disease. As she -could not have driven the stiletto into her chest in such -a way herself, it was obviously a case of murder.</p> - -<p>When I reached Corbie Hall, the country round about -was still white with snow, and Blackford Hill was like -a miniature Alp, although the thaw was making its -influence felt.</p> - -<p>The Hall was a curious, rambling sort of place, with -every appearance of age. It was a stone building, flanked -by a small turreted tower at each end. It stood in about -an acre of ground that was partly walled and partly fenced -round. Two cast-iron gates of good design, hung on -pillars, each surmounted by a carved greyhound, admitted -to a carriage-drive that swept in a semicircle to the main -entrance.</p> - -<p>Passing through the doorway—the door itself was a -massive structure—I found myself in a large square, paved<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span> -hall, and immediately in front a broad flight of oak stairs -led up to the first landing, where there was a very fine -stained-glass window.</p> - -<p>On the left was a long dining-room, which communicated -by means of folding doors with another room of almost -equal dimensions.</p> - -<p>On the opposite side of the passage, and close to the -foot of the stairs, was the door of the drawing-room, which -was a counterpart almost of the dining-room.</p> - -<p>Between the banisters of the stairs and the partition -wall of the dining-room, the passage was continued to -a door that gave access to a passage communicating with -the kitchen and back premises.</p> - -<p>The recess underneath the stairs was used for hanging -up coats, hats, and other things. From the second landing -the stairs struck off at an acute angle, and rose to the -second story, where there were at least a dozen rooms, -large and small.</p> - -<p>Under the guidance of Chunda, the black servant, who -seemed very ill and much depressed, I made a thorough -inspection of the house. As he could not speak English, -we had to communicate in signs, which was rather awkward. -In addition to this Indian, Mr. Balfour had kept a cook -and a small girl to help her, also a housemaid. Besides -these, he employed a groom and a coachman. The coachman -lived over the stables at the back with his wife and -daughter, a girl of eighteen, and she and her mother both -assisted in the house when necessary. The groom had a -room to himself above the coach-house.</p> - -<p>I questioned each of these servants individually and -apart from the others as to whether they had heard the -scream alluded to by Captain Jarvis. The three women -living in the house said that they heard it, but those who -lived over the stables did not. The ones who heard it -slept in the right-hand tower. They did not retire until -after the New Year had come in. Although the master -had given them some hot drink, they were quite sober -when they went upstairs.</p> - -<p>As they were in the habit of doing every night, they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span> -extinguished the hall lamp and a lamp that stood on the -bracket at the top of the stairs, thus leaving that part -of the house in darkness. They did not attach any importance -to the scream, as they thought it was some of -the visitors larking, for they had all been very frisky -during the evening.</p> - -<p>The cook, however—her name was Mary Kenway—opened -her door, which commanded in perspective a full -view of the corridor leading to the top of the stairs, and -she saw, or thought she saw, a shadowy figure standing -in this corridor near the top of the stairs. Feeling a bit -nervous, she shut the door hurriedly, and said to her -fellow-servants, who shared the room with her:</p> - -<p>‘One of those fools is playing at ghosts or something. -Well, when the wine’s in, the wit’s out.’</p> - -<p>She and her companions then got into bed, and some -time afterwards were startled by a loud knocking at their -door. The cook hurriedly procured a light, and on asking -who was there, and being informed it was Captain Jarvis, -and that he was searching for the master, who had disappeared, -she slipped on her clothes and opened the door.</p> - -<p>The temporary servants, of whom there were three, were -sleeping in a room above her. They had indulged somewhat -too freely, and it was a considerable time before they -could be made to understand that something dreadful had -happened.</p> - -<p>With these details, and the statement of Captain Jarvis, -I felt I was in a position to begin my researches.</p> - -<p>If Captain Jarvis’s statement was true, and there wasn’t -the slightest reason to doubt it, for it was in the main -corroborated by Robert Thomson and others, the whole -affair was shrouded in considerable mystery. Indeed, I -think it was one of the strangest cases I ever had to do -with. Maggie Stiven had been foully done to death by -some subtle, deft, and treacherous assassin. She had been -struck with great force, and the breaking of the weapon -showed the fury with which her murderer had done his -damnable work.</p> - -<p>The skipper’s statement that when he opened the dining-room<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span> -door he heard a sigh and sort of groan was compatible -with the nature of the wound, for though the -heart was injured, the fact of the piece of steel remaining -in the wound would prevent a sudden emptying of the -heart, and she might have lived after being struck five -to ten minutes. The shadowy figure which Jarvis said -he saw ‘gliding’ up the stairs was no doubt the assassin, -although Jarvis—his imagination having been fired—thought -it a supernatural appearance.</p> - -<p>The cook also spoke of ‘a shadowy figure,’ and thought -that some of the guests were ‘playing at ghosts.’ This -independent testimony suggested that there was something -curious and out of the common about the figure, and I -was led to infer that the person who had done the deed -was small, light of foot, and agile of movement. When -he struck Maggie down he had probably been lurking in -the drawing-room, the door of which, as I have already -described, was just at the foot of the stairs, or he may -have been concealed in the recess under the stairs. Whichever -way it was, the girl had not mounted the stairs, and -must have been stabbed the moment she reached the mat -where the body was found, and before she had time to -get her feet on the stairs to go up.</p> - -<p>Now came the question, Why was she killed? Her going -in search of Raymond Balfour was quite unpremeditated, -and the assassin could hardly have known that she was -coming out of the room.</p> - -<p>Why, then, did he kill her? On the face of it, it -seemed to be an unprovoked and brutal crime without any -reason. But a little pondering, and a careful weighing of -all the pros and cons, led me to the conclusion that the -deed was not as purposeless as it seemed. If it was the -result of madness, there was certainly method in the -madness.</p> - -<p>Some people expressed the opinion that Balfour himself -had murdered the girl, but that opinion would not hold -water.</p> - -<p>Firstly, he himself was induced to leave the room by a -scream or cry that was described as ‘uncanny.’ Did he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span> -arrange for that cry to be uttered in order that he might -have an excuse for going out, knowing that the girl would -follow him?</p> - -<p>Secondly, if he was the slayer, why did he choose to kill -the girl in his own house? for very little reflection must -have shown him that to escape detection would be an -impossibility.</p> - -<p>No. It was only too evident that he did not kill -Maggie Stiven, and his extraordinary disappearance led -me to believe that he also had fallen a victim to the -assassin. But if that was so, where was his body? It -was, of course, of the highest importance that he should -be discovered, dead or alive.</p> - -<p>I caused a search to be made of the house from top to -bottom. There wasn’t a room missed, not a cupboard -overlooked, not a recess but what was scrutinized. Every -box or trunk large enough to contain a man’s body was -opened without result.</p> - -<p>Every hole and corner, every chimney, every likely and -unlikely place, was examined, but not a trace, not a sign, of -the missing man was brought to light.</p> - -<p>His bedroom was the largest and most important room -in the house. It was panelled with dark oak panelling. -The ceiling was carved wood, and there was a very large -carved oak mantelpiece, which was considered a work of -art. Two lattice-paned windows were in keeping with the -place, which had also been furnished with a view to its -character.</p> - -<p>A massive four-post bedstead occupied one corner, and -near it was an unusually large clothes-press of oak. This -press was spacious enough to have held the bodies of three -or four men, but Balfour’s body was not there.</p> - -<p>From this room a small door gave access to a short, -narrow passage, leading to another door at the foot of a -stone staircase of about twenty steps, by which the top of -the tower at that end of the building was gained. From -the roof of the tower a very beautiful view was obtained. -I need scarcely say I critically examined the doors, the -passage, the stairs, the tower itself.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span>The locks of both doors were very rusty, and it was -evident they had not been opened for some time. In the -one at the foot of the tower stairs there was no key, and it -was only after considerable search that one was found to -fit it. And even then the lock could not be turned until -it had been well oiled.</p> - -<p>The dust on the stone stairs was the accumulation of -months, and bore not the faintest trace of footprints. It -was obvious that no one had passed that way for a very -long time.</p> - -<p>Having thus exhausted the interior of the building, I -now proceeded to search outside.</p> - -<p>Skipper Jarvis declared that, when he and Bob Thomson -went through the house on the night of the tragedy, they -looked to every door and window, but all were properly -secured, and unless Balfour had squeezed himself through -a keyhole or a cranny, he could not have left the building. -Nevertheless, it seemed to me that the man must have got -out in some way; otherwise, if he were dead, how was it -we had failed to find his body in the house? So thorough -had been the search that a dead mouse could not have -escaped me.</p> - -<p>There was still a great deal of snow on the ground, -especially in the hollows and ravines; but it was soft and -slushy owing to the rise in temperature.</p> - -<p>Aided by half a dozen men—mostly gamekeepers—and -several dogs, we commenced systematically to examine the -grounds, the country round about, the burns, the woods, -but all to no purpose. Every inch of Braid Glen was gone -over; what is now the Waverley curling pond was dragged; -the Jordan and Braid streams examined; all the quarries -in the neighbourhood—of which there are many—were -looked into; the Braid Hill and all round about the Braid -Hill was paced; but the result was the same. Raymond -Balfour was not found.</p> - -<p>When our failure became known, the excitement increased -greatly, especially amongst ignorant and stupid -people, who stoutly maintained that the master of Corbie -Hall had been spirited away by the Evil One, who had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span> -also killed Maggie Stiven. These good folks failed to -explain why the Evil One should have stabbed Maggie -with a stiletto, and have left more than half the blade -in the wound, when he might have deprived her of life so -much more easily. I found that even Captain Jarvis was -not without some belief in this absurd theory.</p> - -<p>‘If there is not something uncanny about the whole -business, how is it you have failed to get trace of the -man?’ asked Jarvis, with the air of one who felt he was -putting a poser which was absolutely unanswerable. ‘You -see,’ pursued the skipper, with an insistency of tone that -was very amusing—‘you see, we were a bad lot. We’d -just come there for an orgie, and the meat and drink that -we wasted would have kept many poor wretches from -starving on that awful night.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you consider that Raymond Balfour was an exceptionally -wicked man?’ I asked Jarvis.</p> - -<p>‘Well, no,’ he answered seriously; ‘I shouldn’t like to -say that. But he was a wild fellow.’</p> - -<p>‘What do you mean by wild?’</p> - -<p>‘Well, he was a little too fond of liquor and the -ladies.’</p> - -<p>‘Have you known him long?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, several years. I first met him in Madras. I saw -a good deal of him later in Calcutta. He was a very wild -boy then, I can tell you.’</p> - -<p>‘But still no worse than tens of thousands of other -people?’ I suggested.</p> - -<p>‘Oh no; I don’t say he was,’ Jarvis answered quickly, -and in a way that suggested he was anxious his friend -should not be painted too black.</p> - -<p>‘Now, I want you to tell me this, Captain Jarvis,’ I said -somewhat solemnly, as I wished to impress him with the -importance of the question: ‘was there any love-making -between Raymond Balfour and Maggie Stiven?’</p> - -<p>The skipper did not answer immediately. He seemed -to be revolving the matter in his mind. Then, with a -thoughtful stroking of his chin, he replied:</p> - -<p>‘Balfour was fond of Maggie.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span>‘Did he allow that fondness to display itself before -others?’</p> - -<p>‘When he was a bit gone in his cups he did,’ answered -the captain, with obvious reluctance.</p> - -<p>‘And was she fond of him?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes—I think so’—the same reluctance showing itself.</p> - -<p>‘Did she show her partiality?’</p> - -<p>‘Sometimes.’</p> - -<p>‘Maggie wasn’t considered to be very stanch to anyone, -was she?’</p> - -<p>‘Well, she’d a good many admirers. She was an awful -good-looking lass, you see. And lads will always run after -a pretty girl.’</p> - -<p>‘That scarcely answers my question, captain,’ I said. -‘I want to know if she openly—that is, before others—showed -that she liked Balfour better than any other body?’</p> - -<p>‘You see, Mr. Brodie, I’m not altogether competent to -answer that,’ said the skipper, as though he was anxious -to shirk the question.</p> - -<p>‘But did she do so on the New Year’s Eve, when you -were all so jovial?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘How did she display her liking?’</p> - -<p>‘She sat on his knee several times. She kissed him, and -he kissed her.’</p> - -<p>‘That was before the company?’</p> - -<p>‘It was.’</p> - -<p>‘Did he make any remark, or did she? I mean, any -remark calculated to engender a belief that this spooning -was serious, and not a mere flirtation, the result of a -spree?’</p> - -<p>‘Well—I—I heard him say two or three times, “Mag, -old girl, I’m going to marry you.”’</p> - -<p>‘He had been drinking then, I suppose?’</p> - -<p>‘He had, a good deal.’</p> - -<p>‘And what did she reply?’</p> - -<p>‘As near as I mind, she said, “All right, old man. -We are just suited to each other, and we’ll make a match -of it.”’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span>‘I must now ask you one or two other questions, -captain. There were several men present, were there -not?’</p> - -<p>‘There were.’</p> - -<p>‘They were all young men?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes.’</p> - -<p>‘And belonged to Edinburgh or its immediate neighbourhood?’</p> - -<p>‘They did.’</p> - -<p>‘Consequently they were all more or less well acquainted -with Maggie?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes. I don’t think there was a man there who didn’t -ken her. You see, in her way she was a kind of celebrity -in Edinburgh. Certain folk said hard things about her, -and that made her mad sometimes, so that she took a -delight in just showing how she could lead the lads by -the nose.’</p> - -<p>‘Now, I want you to give me an answer to this question, -captain. Is it within your knowledge that out -of her many admirers there was one who had been -emboldened by her to think that he had the best claim -upon her?’</p> - -<p>‘I couldn’t say for certain; but it’s likely enough.’</p> - -<p>‘Has it occurred to you to ask yourself if that favoured -one was among Raymond Balfour’s guests on New Year’s -Eve?’</p> - -<p>The question seemed to startle Captain Jarvis. He -looked at me searchingly and inquiringly, and it was -some moments before he spoke, while his expression gave -every indication that he fully understood the drift of -my inquiry. At last he replied, hesitatingly and cautiously:</p> - -<p>‘You see, Mr. Brodie, I wasn’t the keeper of Maggie’s -conscience. She didn’t make me her confidant. Nor was -I one of her favoured suitors. I’m an old married man, -and she preferred young fellows.’</p> - -<p>‘You’ve avoided my question now,’ I remarked, a -little sharply, as it seemed to me he was prevaricating.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span>‘I’m trying to think,’ he said, with a preoccupied air. -Then, after a pause, he added: ‘I can’t answer you, -because I don’t know. What your question suggests is that -some chap who was madly jealous of her murdered her.’</p> - -<p>‘You are correct in your surmise,’ I answered.</p> - -<p>‘Then, all I’ve got to say is this: It was impossible for -anyone to have left the room and committed the crime -without my being aware of it. I say again, it would -have been impossible. She couldn’t have been out of the -room two minutes before she was struck. You see, she -had even been unable to get up the stair. Her going out -was quite unpremeditated; and until she jumped up from -her seat, and said she would go and look for Balfour, -nobody knew she was going out of the room. No, Mr. -Brodie, I’m convinced that no man of that company did -the deed.’</p> - -<p>I had every reason to think that Captain Jarvis was -perfectly right in his conclusions. The logic of his argument -was unanswerable. I had already taken means to -ascertain some particulars about every person who had -been present on the fateful night, including the extra -servants; and I saw nothing and heard nothing calculated -in any way to justify a suspicion being entertained against -any particular individual. Nevertheless, I had them under -surveillance.</p> - -<p>What I had to deal with was the broad, plain, hard -fact that Maggie Stiven had been brutally and suddenly -murdered, while Raymond Balfour had disappeared as -effectually as if the earth had suddenly opened and -swallowed him, leaving not a trace behind. If he went -forth from the house after quitting his guests, where had -he gone to?</p> - -<p>The state of the country, owing to the snow, made -it physically impossible that he could have travelled far on -that awful night; and had he perished in the snow near -the house, his body must have been discovered, so thorough -had been our search.</p> - -<p>Then, again, assuming that he had got away, there -would surely have been some indication of his mode of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span> -exit—an unfastened window, an unlocked door. But the -most exhaustive inquiry satisfied me there was neither one -nor the other.</p> - -<p>But if Balfour was not out of the house, he must be in -the house; and if he was in the house, it was as a dead -man. And where was his body?</p> - -<p>It seemed unreasonable to suppose that a human body -could be disposed of so quickly and so effectually as to -leave not a trace behind.</p> - -<p>Then, again, granting that he was murdered, who murdered -him, and why was he murdered? Who raised the -unearthly cry, and was it raised purposely to draw him -from the room in order that he might be immediately -struck down?</p> - -<p>Such was the problem with which I was confronted, and -I freely confess that at this stage I felt absolutely baffled. -I saw no clue, and nothing likely to lead me to a clue; but -though baffled, I was not beaten. The mystery was profound, -and the whole case so strange, so startling, that I -was not surprised at ignorant people attributing it to -supernatural agency. It had about it all the elements of -some wild, weird story of monkish superstition, lifted from -the pages of a mediæval romance. It was no romance, -however, no legend, but a hard, dry fact of the nineteenth -century that had to be accounted for by perfectly human -means.</p> - -<p>There was one point, however, which made itself clear -through the darkness. It was that the author of the deed -was a person of such devilish cunning, such brutal ferocity, -such crafty ingenuity, that he would occupy a niche all to -himself for evermore in the gallery of criminals.</p> - -<p>As I have already said, though I was baffled, I was -not beaten, and I felt sure I should ultimately succeed in -the task set me. I had in my possession the broken blade -of the stiletto, and I knew that might prove of value as a -clue; and having done all that it was practical to do for -the moment, I set to work to define a motive for the crime, -and to construct a theory that would aid me in my efforts -to solve the problem.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span> - -<h3 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.<br /> - - -<small>THE DEAD HAND SMITES.</small></h3> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Peter Brodie</span> stood very high in his profession. He had -made his mark as a detective, and had solved some very -complicated problems. In recalling him from Liverpool, -whither he had been sent on important business, the -authorities felt that if the Corbie Hall mystery was to be -cleared up he was the man to do it. They saw from the -first that it was a very difficult case, when all the circumstances -were considered, but they were sure that Brodie -was the one man likely to tackle it successfully.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if the evil reputation of Corbie Hall was -never to pass away, and after this new tragedy people -recalled how Peter Crease, the drunken owner of it, and -uncle of Balfour, had broken his neck in a quarry; how, -following that, the gloomy house had fallen into dilapidation, -until it was shunned as a haunted place. When the -rightful heir turned up, they thought he would put things -right; but instead of that he proved himself to be as big a -reprobate as his relative had been: and now his mysterious -disappearance, and Maggie Stiven’s murder, realized the -croakings of the wiseacres, who had said that a curse hung -over the house, and that anyone who went to live in the -Hall would come to grief.</p> - -<p>Of course, the tradition that a favourite of Queen Mary’s -who had once lived there mysteriously disappeared, and -was never heard of again, was also recalled; and the sages -predicted that as that mystery was never cleared up, so -would Balfour’s disappearance go down to posterity as an -unsolved mystery. Possibly it might have done if Peter -Brodie had not brought his intellect to bear upon it.</p> - -<p>On the fourth day after his arrival the thaw had been -so thorough that the land was quite clear of snow, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span> -a second search was made for Balfour, but it only ended in -failure, as the first had done.</p> - -<p>Brodie was now convinced that the unfortunate man had -never left the house; and yet, having regard to the critical -way in which it had been examined from top to bottom, it -was difficult to conceive where he could be hidden. Nevertheless, -Peter stuck to his guns; for as Balfour had not -gone out of the house, he must be in it, and if so, time and -patient search might reveal his hiding-place.</p> - -<p>With a view to learning as much as possible about -Balfour’s habits, Brodie had a long talk with Chunda, -Captain Jarvis acting as interpreter. The native stated -that he had travelled with his master extensively through -India. He had found him rather a peculiar man. He was -very secretive, and given to fits of moodiness. Although -Chunda was exceedingly fond of him, he did not wish to -accompany him to Scotland, but yielded on the master -pressing him. Now he bitterly regretted having come, for -not only did he feel crushed by his master’s strange disappearance, -but the cold and dampness of the climate -made him very ill, and he intended to leave immediately -for Southampton, so as to get a ship for India, as he -yearned to return to his own warm, sunny land. He was -dying for the want of sun and warmth.</p> - -<p>Asked if his master was much given to flirtations, -Chunda, with flashing eyes and an angry expression in his -dark face, said that he was, and he had frequently got into -trouble through it.</p> - -<p>After this interview, Brodie came to the conclusion that -the motive of the crime was undoubtedly jealousy. That -is to say, someone had been jealous of Balfour, someone -who considered Maggie a rival.</p> - -<p>If this was correct, the someone must be a woman—no -ordinary woman, for no ordinary woman would have been -capable of carrying out such a terrible revenge. Besides -Maggie Stiven, there had been four other young women in -the party.</p> - -<p>One was a married woman named MacLauchlan. Her -husband kept a grocer’s shop in the High Street, but he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span> -and his wife didn’t get on well together. He had no idea, -however, that she was in the habit of visiting at Corbie -Hall.</p> - -<p>Brodie dismissed her from suspicion. He felt sure she -didn’t commit the deed. She was rather good-looking, -but a mild, lackadaisical, phlegmatic, brainless creature, -without the nerve necessary for such a crime.</p> - -<p>Another of the ladies was Jean Smith. She was twenty -years of age, and Maggie Stiven’s bosom friend, and since -the night of the crime had been seriously ill in bed from -the shock.</p> - -<p>A third was Mary Johnstone. Until New Year’s Eve -she had never met Balfour before in her life. She had -gone to the Hall in company with her sweetheart, James -Macfarlane, the medical student.</p> - -<p>The fourth was Kate Thomson, cousin to Rab Thomson. -She was a woman about thirty years of age, strong and -well knit, but was a good-tempered, genial sort of creature. -She, too, was almost a stranger to Balfour, and was -engaged to be married to a man named Robert Murchison, -who was factor to a Mr. Rennie of Perth.</p> - -<p>Brodie was absolutely certain, after studying them all, -that not one of these four women had done the deed. -Nor was there the slightest reason for harbouring a -suspicion against the female servants.</p> - -<p>He was, therefore, puzzled, but not disconcerted, and he -stuck to his theory that a jealous woman had committed -the crime.</p> - -<p>That, of course, only made the mystery more mysterious, -so to speak. For who was the woman? Where did she -come from? How did she get into the house? Where -did she go to?</p> - -<p>These questions were inevitable if the theory was maintained. -It did not seem easy then to answer them.</p> - -<p>As Brodie revolved all these things in his mind, he -remembered that, though he had subjected the house to a -very careful search, he had done little more than look into -Chunda’s room, the reason being that the native was ill in -bed at the time.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span>The room adjoined Balfour’s, and at one time was connected -by a communicating door, but for some reason or -other the door had been nailed up and papered over. -While less in size than Balfour’s, it was still a fairly large -room, also wainscoted, and with a carved wooden ceiling. -It was lighted by one window, which commanded a good -view over Blackford Hill.</p> - -<p>To this room Brodie went one evening when Chunda -happened to be absent from it. It reeked with the faint, -sickly odour of some Indian perfume.</p> - -<p>On a sideboard stood a small gilt Indian idol, and -various Indian knick-knacks were scattered about. As in -Balfour’s room, there was a massive carved oak mantelpiece, -with a very capacious fireplace; and on each side of -the fireplace was a deep recess.</p> - -<p>The floor was oak, polished, and dark in colour either -by staining or time. The only carpet on it was a square -in the centre. A clothes-press stood in a corner. It was -the only place in which a man could be concealed. Brodie -opened the door, and found nothing but clothes there. -The mystery, therefore, was as far from solution as ever, -apparently, as now there wasn’t a corner of the house that -had not been examined thoroughly and exhaustively.</p> - -<p>As Brodie was in the act of leaving the room, his eye -was attracted by something glittering on the hearthstone, -where the cold, white ashes of a wood-fire still remained. He -stooped down and picked from the hearth a scrap, a mere -morsel of cloth. It was all burnt round the edges, and -was dusty with the ash; but he found on examination -that it was a fragment of Indian cloth, into which gold -threads had been worked; and it was these gold threads -which, in spite of the dust, had reflected the light and -attracted his notice.</p> - -<p>Taking out his pocket-book, he deposited that scrap of -charred cloth carefully between the leaves, then went -down on his knees and subjected the ashes to critical -examination, with the result that he obtained unmistakable -evidence of a considerable amount of cloth having been destroyed -by fire. There were patches here and there of white,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span> -or rather gray, carbonized, filmy fragments of cobweb-like -texture. As everyone knows, cloth burnt in a fire leaves -a ghost-like wrack behind, that, unless disturbed, will remain -for some time.</p> - -<p>Brodie rose and fell into deep thought, and he mentally -asked himself why the cloth had been burnt. It was -reasonable to presume it was some portion of clothing, -and if so, why should anyone have been at the trouble -to consume it in the flames unless it was to hide certain -evidences of guilt.</p> - -<p>‘What would those evidences of guilt be?’ Brodie -muttered to himself, as he reflected on the singular discovery -he had made. And suddenly it seemed to him—of -course, it was purely fancy—that a voice whispered in -his ear:</p> - -<p>‘Blood! blood!’</p> - -<p>Although but fancy, the voice seemed so real to him -that he fairly started, and at that instant the door opened -and Chunda entered. He seemed greatly surprised to -find the detective in the room, and muttered something -in Hindustani.</p> - -<p>As Brodie did not understand him and could not converse -with him, he made no response, but passed out, -and, hurrying to Edinburgh, called on Professor Dunbar, -the eminent microscopist, and asked that gentleman to -place the fragment of cloth found on the hearthstone -under a powerful microscope.</p> - -<p>The Professor did as requested, and, after a careful -examination, he said he could not detect anything suggestive -of blood. The cloth was evidently of Indian -workmanship, and the bright threads running through it -were real gold.</p> - -<p>Brodie did not return to Corbie Hall until the following -day. By that time Maggie Stiven’s body had been -removed by her friends for burial, and he was informed -by the servants that Chunda had gone out to attend the -funeral. He was rather surprised at that, and still more -surprised when he found, on going to Chunda’s room, that -the door was locked.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span>He hurried back to Edinburgh, and was in time to be -present at Maggie’s burial in the Greyfriars Churchyard, -but he saw nothing of Chunda; the native was not there, -and nobody had seen him. Captain Jarvis was amongst -the mourners, and when the funeral was over he and -Brodie left together.</p> - -<p>‘Do you know how long Chunda has been in Balfour’s -service?’ the detective asked, as they strolled along.</p> - -<p>‘I believe a considerable time, but I don’t know from -absolute knowledge. As I have already told you, Balfour -was a curious sort of fellow, and particularly close in -regard to his own affairs. He was one of those sort of -men it is difficult to get to the bottom of. You may -try to probe them as much as you like, but nothing comes -of it.’</p> - -<p>‘You possibly were as familiar with him as anyone,’ -suggested Brodie.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I should say I was.’</p> - -<p>‘And if he had wanted a confidant, he would probably -have chosen you?’</p> - -<p>‘I think it is very likely he would. So far as such -a man would make a confidant of anyone, he made one -of me.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you know why he brought Chunda from India -with him?’</p> - -<p>‘No. What I do know is this: Chunda had been with -him for some time, and when Balfour returned to Scotland, -he thought he was only going to make a temporary -stay here.’</p> - -<p>‘Was he fond of Chunda?’</p> - -<p>‘I cannot tell you whether he was or was not.’</p> - -<p>‘Can you tell me this: Has Chunda been in the habit -of always wearing European clothes since he came to -Edinburgh?’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know that. You see, I only came into port -with my vessel four weeks ago. When I first called at -Corbie Hall, the fellow was wearing European clothes.’</p> - -<p>‘Did you see much of Chunda on New Year’s Eve?’</p> - -<p>‘He came into the room now and again. In fact, I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span> -think he was in and out pretty often. Balfour used -occasionally to smoke an opium pipe, and Chunda always -filled it for him.’</p> - -<p>‘How was the native dressed that night?’</p> - -<p>‘He had trousers and vest, and wore a sort of fancy -Indian jacket.’</p> - -<p>‘Was there gold embroidery on it?’</p> - -<p>‘I believe there was a sort of gold thread, or something -of that kind. But, really, I didn’t take much notice. We -were all pretty jolly, and I didn’t look to see how anyone -was dressed.’</p> - -<p>‘But, still, you have no doubt that Chunda did wear -a jacket or robe similar to that you describe?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes, I’m sure about that part of the business. It -was conspicuous enough.’</p> - -<p>When Brodie parted from the skipper, he felt that -he had struck a trail, although he could not make much -of it just then. But it will readily be gathered that he -had begun to suspect Chunda of having committed the -crime.</p> - -<p>It was difficult to understand why Chunda should have -burnt his gown or jacket unless it was to destroy traces of -guilt. If there was blood on his jacket, and it was the -blood of one of the victims, he would know that it might -prove a ghastly piece of evidence if detected; and so he -had committed it to the flames as the most effectual means -of getting rid of it.</p> - -<p>Now, assuming this surmise of Brodie’s was correct, it -was obvious that it was not Maggie Stiven’s blood, because -the nature of the wound that brought about her death was -such that there was only very little outward bleeding. -But if Balfour, when he went upstairs to ascertain the -cause of the scream, was suddenly attacked and stabbed to -death by the native, was it not reasonable to suppose that -he bled so profusely as to dye the garments of his -murderer?</p> - -<p>This chain of reasoning threw a new light on the affair, -and Brodie, who had made up his mind that he would read -the riddle if it could be read, returned once more to Corbie<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span> -Hall. He learnt that Chunda had been back about half -an hour, and had given the other servants to understand -that he was ill and half frozen, and was going to bed. -Whereupon the detective furnished himself with a lamp, -and proceeded to carefully examine the stair carpet and -the landings for suggestive stains, but saw nothing that -aroused his suspicions. As he could not talk to Chunda, -he did not disturb him, but the next morning, quite -early, he went down to the Hall again in company with -Jarvis.</p> - -<p>Chunda told the skipper, in answer to questions put to -him, that he had not gone out on the previous day to -attend the funeral, as stated, but to make arrangements -for taking his departure from the country. He could not -endure the climate; it made him very ill. Besides that, -he felt that he would go mad if he stayed there, for there -wasn’t a soul he could talk to, and his loneliness was -terrible. He therefore intended to start on the following -day for Southampton, and two days later would sail in a -P. and O. steamer for India.</p> - -<p>All that he had said seemed very feasible, and that he -was ill and did suffer from the cold was evident.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, Brodie’s suspicions were not allayed. It -was not easy to allay them when once they were thoroughly -aroused; and having reasoned the case out from every -possible point of view, he had come to the conclusion that -Chunda was in a position to let in light where there was -now darkness if he chose to speak. That is to say, he -knew something of the crime, though, of course, at this -stage there wasn’t a scrap of evidence against the native -that would have justified his arrest. Moreover, Brodie -found himself confronted with a huge difficulty in the way -of making his theory fit in. If Chunda had really murdered -Balfour, how had he managed to dispose of the -body? That question was certainly a poser, and no -reasonable answer could be given to it.</p> - -<p>It must not be forgotten that, from the moment of the -scream being first heard to the discovery of Maggie -Stiven’s body on the mat at the foot of the stairs, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span> -more than half an hour at the outside had elapsed. In -that brief space of time Balfour had been so effectually got -rid of that there was not a trace of him. It was bewildering -to try and understand how that disappearance had -been accomplished, unless it was with the aid of some -devilish art and unholy magic. But as Brodie had no -belief in that kind of thing, he was convinced that, sooner -or later, what was then an impenetrable mystery would be -explained by perfectly rational, though probably startling, -causes. Be that as it might, having got his fangs fixed, -to use a figure of speech, he held on with bulldog tenacity, -and he was not disposed to exonerate Chunda until he felt -convinced that his suspicions were unfounded.</p> - -<p>‘Do you know, captain, if there are any balls of any -kind in the house?’ he asked abruptly of Jarvis, who -looked at him with some astonishment, for the question -seemed so irrelevant and out of place.</p> - -<p>‘What sort of balls?’ said Jarvis, expressing his surprise -by his manner and voice.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, any sort—billiard-balls, golf-balls, balls of any -kind.’</p> - -<p>‘There are plenty of golf-balls. But why do you ask?’</p> - -<p>‘I want you to get two or three of the balls,’ said -Brodie for answer. ‘Put them into your pocket, ask -Chunda to accompany you into the dining-room, and -make him sit down in a chair opposite to you. Engage -him in conversation for a few minutes; then, suddenly -taking the balls from your pocket, tell him to catch them, -and pitch them to him. Do you understand me?’</p> - -<p>Captain Jarvis stared at the detective as though he -could hardly believe the evidence of his ears. Then, as he -broke into a laugh, he asked:</p> - -<p>‘Do you mean that seriously?’</p> - -<p>‘Of course I mean it.’</p> - -<p>‘And what’s the object?’</p> - -<p>‘Never mind the object. Do what I ask you.’</p> - -<p>‘And where will you be?’</p> - -<p>‘In the dining-room, too. But take no notice whatever -of me.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span>‘Well, it’s a daft-like sort of proceeding, any way; but -I’ll do it.’</p> - -<p>Then, having procured some golf-balls, he addressed -himself to Chunda in Hindustani, and in a few moments -they went together into the dining-room.</p> - -<p>Brodie followed shortly after, and, taking a book from -a little shelf that hung on the wall, he threw himself on to -a lounge and appeared to be reading.</p> - -<p>In a short while Jarvis took the balls from his pocket, -and, saying something to Chunda, who sat on a chair by -the window, he threw one ball after another at him, and -the native held forth his hands to catch them; but, not -being in a playful humour, he did not cast the balls back, -but very soon got up and went out, looking very much -annoyed.</p> - -<p>‘Well, what does that tomfoolery mean?’ asked Jarvis.</p> - -<p>‘A good deal to me. I’ve learnt a startling fact by it.’</p> - -<p>The skipper would have been glad to have had an -explanation, for naturally his curiosity was greatly aroused, -and he couldn’t conceive what the ball-throwing could -possibly have indicated. But Brodie resolutely refused to -satisfy him.</p> - -<p>‘You have rendered me a service,’ he said. ‘Now, that’s -enough for the present. If I succeed in fitting the pieces -of this strange puzzle together, you shall know what my -motive was. Rest assured I do nothing without a motive. -But I am going to exact a further service from you now. -I want you to stay here all night, as I myself intend to -stay. Chunda talked of leaving to-morrow. He must not -leave, and, if necessary, you must find some means of -detaining him.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you mean to say you suspect Chunda of having -committed the crime?’—his amazement growing.</p> - -<p>‘Frankly, I do.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, all I’ve got to say, Brodie, is this,’ answered the -skipper decisively: ‘you are on the wrong tack.’</p> - -<p>‘How do you know I am?’</p> - -<p>‘I am sure of it.’</p> - -<p>‘Give me your reasons for being sure.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span>‘Why, I tell you, man,’ exclaimed the skipper warmly, -‘the nigger is as harmless as a kitten, and no more likely -to commit a crime of this kind than a new-born baby.’</p> - -<p>‘That is simply your opinion, Captain Jarvis.’</p> - -<p>‘It is my opinion, and it’s a common-sense one. You -are doing the fellow a wrong. I never saw a native servant -so attached to Balfour as Chunda was to his master. I -tell you, Brodie, you are on the wrong scent.’</p> - -<p>‘All right, we shall see,’ he said carelessly.</p> - -<p>‘But in the name of common-sense,’ cried Jarvis, who -was argumentatively inclined, ‘if there’s any reason in -your suspicions, how on earth do you suppose this nigger -chap got rid of Balfour? Where has he stowed him, do -you think? Do you suppose he swallowed him?’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! an answer to that question is not easily framed. -Perhaps before many hours have passed I may be able to -tell you.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you think because he’s black he’s the devil, and has -spirited Balfour away?’ pursued the skipper, with a defiant -air, for he honestly considered that Chunda was being -wronged, and he was ready to champion him.</p> - -<p>‘No, I don’t think so,’ answered Brodie, with a smile, -‘because if he had been the devil he wouldn’t have committed -such a clumsy crime as this.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, clumsy as it is, it’s defied you,’ said Jarvis, by no -means satisfied or convinced.</p> - -<p>‘For the time being it has. But it won’t continue to do -so much longer, unless I’m very much mistaken. But it’s -no use continuing the argument. A man is judged by his -acts, not by his words. If I am wrong, I must abide by -the penalty which attaches to failure. If I am right, I -shall take credit for some amount of cleverness. You will -stay here to-night, won’t you?’</p> - -<p>The skipper scratched his head, and looked as though -he wasn’t comfortable.</p> - -<p>‘Well, upon my word! I don’t know what to say. I’m -not a coward, but I’m blowed if I like the idea of passing -another night in this uncanny place.’</p> - -<p>‘Why?’ Brodie asked with a smile.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span>‘I should be afraid of seeing Maggie Stiven’s ghost.’</p> - -<p>‘And what if you did? A ghost couldn’t do you any -harm.’</p> - -<p>‘Perhaps not, but I’d rather not see one.’</p> - -<p>‘Nor are you likely to, except as a product of your -own heated imagination. However, to cut the matter -short, you’ll stay, won’t you? You’ve got your pipe and -tobacco, and I’ve no doubt the cook will be able to provide -us with some creature comforts. We’ll have another -log put on the fire, and make ourselves comfortable; and, -if you like, I’ll give you a hand at cribbage.’</p> - -<p>The skipper yielded, and the matter was settled.</p> - -<p>‘Before we settle down, I want you to entertain Chunda -here for half an hour during my absence,’ continued -Brodie.</p> - -<p>‘You are not going out, are you?’ asked Jarvis -quickly, and with some nervousness displaying itself in his -manner, indicating evidently that he did not wish to be -left alone.</p> - -<p>‘Well, no, not out of the house. But you understand, -Captain Jarvis, I am doing my best to unravel this -mystery; you must let me act in my own way, and take -such steps as I think are necessary to the end I have in -view. You can aid me, and I want you to aid me; but -you can best do that by refraining from questioning, and -in doing exactly as I request you to do.’</p> - -<p>‘All right,’ said Jarvis. ‘I’ve nothing more to say. -You must sail your own ship, whether you come to grief -or whether you don’t.’</p> - -<p>‘Precisely. Now, I’ll send one of the servants up for -Chunda, and you’ll keep him engaged in talk for half -an hour, or until I come back into the room. Don’t -talk about the crime, and don’t say a word that would -lead him to think I suspect him. Do you understand -me?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, of course I do.’</p> - -<p>‘And will carry out my wishes? It is most important -that you should.’</p> - -<p>‘To the letter.’</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span>The business being thus arranged, Brodie left the room, -and ten minutes later Chunda entered it. Brodie was -absent nearly three-quarters of an hour before he returned. -There was a look of peculiar satisfaction on his face. -Chunda was dismissed; and the two men, having, through -the cook, secured something in the way of eatables and -drinkables, satisfied their wants in that respect, and then -engaged in cribbage, and continued their game until a late -hour.</p> - -<p>At last Jarvis retired. It was arranged he was to sleep -in Balfour’s bedroom, but Brodie said he would stow -himself on a couch in the dining-room, which was warm -and comfortable.</p> - -<p>He dozed for three or four hours, and exactly at five -rose, and made his way to the stable-yard, where, according -to prearrangement, the groom was ready with a horse and -trap, and Brodie drove rapidly into Edinburgh. He was -back again soon after eight, with two constables in plain -clothes, who were for the time confined to the kitchen, -until their services might be required.</p> - -<p>Jarvis did not rise until after nine. He was a good and -sound sleeper, and neither ghosts nor anything else had -disturbed him. He was kept in ignorance of Brodie’s -journey into Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>A few minutes before ten Chunda made his appearance. -He was ready to start, and he enlisted the aid of the other -servants to bring his luggage down into the hall. Again -Brodie requested the skipper to detain the native in -conversation, while he himself went upstairs to Chunda’s -room, where he shut himself in and locked the door. -Then he began to tap with his knuckles the wainscoted -walls, going from panel to panel.</p> - -<p>When he reached the deep recess near the fireplace, -already described, he started, as his taps produced a -hollow sound. He tapped again and again, putting his -ear to the woodwork. There was no mistake about it. -The wall there was hollow. He tried to move the hollow -panel, but only after many trials and much examination -did he succeed. The panel slid on one side, revealing a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span> -dark abyss, from which came a strange, cold, earthy, -clammy smell.</p> - -<p>He closed the panel, went downstairs, and told the -constables the time for action had come. They filed into -the dining-room, and Jarvis was asked to tell Chunda that -he would be arrested on a charge of having murdered -Raymond Balfour and Maggie Stiven.</p> - -<p>If it is possible for a black person to turn pale, then -Chunda did so. Any way, the announcement was like an -electric shock to him. He staggered; then clapped his -hands to his face, and moaned and whined.</p> - -<p>Brodie went upstairs once more—this time in company -with one of the constables. They were provided with -lanterns, and when the panel in Chunda’s room was opened -again, the light revealed a narrow flight of stone steps -descending between the walls; and at the bottom of the -steps lay something huddled up. It was unmistakably -a human body, the body of Raymond Balfour.</p> - -<p>Chunda was at once conveyed to Edinburgh, and other -men were sent out from the town to the house. Then the -decomposed body was got up. It was Balfour, sure -enough. He had been stabbed in the chest, and the heart -had been pierced through.</p> - -<p>At the bottom of the stone steps there was also found -the other portion of the long stiletto.</p> - -<p>All this, however, was not proof that Chunda had done -the deed. But there was something else that was.</p> - -<p>The dead man’s right hand was tightly clenched, and when -it was opened by the doctor who was called in to examine -the remains, a piece of cloth was released from the death -grip. It was a piece of Indian cloth, interwoven with gold -threads, and identical with the scrap that Brodie had -found in the ashes.</p> - -<p>The dead hand afforded the necessary clue; it forged -the last link. The dead hand smote the destroyer. It -proved beyond doubt that Chunda was the murderer. He -had by some means discovered the secret panel. He had -inveigled Balfour into the room. There he had stabbed -him. In his dying agony the wretched man had clutched<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span> -at his murderer, and had torn out a piece of the gold-threaded -jacket he was wearing. That jacket must have -been deeply stained with blood, and Chunda had cast -it upon the fire. But murder will out, and the unconsumed -fragment gave the sharp-eyed Brodie the <span class="allsmcap">FIRST</span> clue. -The dead hand itself of the murdered man afforded the -<span class="allsmcap">LAST</span>.</p> - -<p>Chunda was the murderer, or, rather, the murderess; for -Chunda was a woman. Brodie had begun to suspect this -from a peculiarity of voice, from the formation of her neck -and shoulders, and from other signs, and his suspicions -were confirmed when he resorted to the ball test.</p> - -<p>When the balls were thrown, Chunda did not, as a man -would have done, close his knees, but spread them open. -A woman invariably does this when she is in a sitting -posture and anything is thrown at her lap.</p> - -<p>Chunda subsequently proved to be a woman, sure -enough, and the murder was the result—as Brodie had also -correctly divined—of jealousy.</p> - -<p>The wretched creature succeeded in strangling herself -before she was brought to trial, and she left behind her a -paper written in excellent English, in which she confessed -the crime. She declared that she was the wife of Balfour, -who had espoused her in India. She represented a very -old and high-caste family. Her father was a Rajah, and -Balfour had been in his employ. He succeeded in winning -her affections, and when he returned to his own country -she determined to accompany him. He treated her very -badly, and twice he attempted to poison her. His flirtation -with Maggie Stiven excited her to madness, but it -was, nevertheless, a very cunning madness. She had previously -discovered by chance the sliding panel and the -secret stairs.</p> - -<p>On New Year’s Eve she opened the panel, went to the -top of the stairs, and uttered that eerie screech or scream -that had so alarmed the company. She felt sure it would -bring her husband to her. She told him that she had -received a horrible fright in her room; that part of the -wall had opened, revealing a dark abyss, from which strange<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span> -noises issued. As soon as he was in the room she stabbed -him with a long Indian stiletto. It then suddenly struck -her that, when he didn’t return, it was very likely Maggie -Stiven would go in search of him. So she hurried down -the stairs and hid underneath them, and as soon as Maggie -appeared she sprang upon her and stabbed her with such -fury that the blade of the dagger broke.</p> - -<p>Although her husband had treated her so badly, she had -yielded to his earnest entreaties to conceal her identity and -continue to pass as a man. She spoke and wrote English -fluently, although he had made her promise not to let this -fact be known.</p> - -<p>Such was the story she told, and there was no doubt it -was substantially correct. She considered that she had -managed the crime so well that suspicion would never rest -upon her, and, having carried out her deed of awful -vengeance, she would be able to return to her own sun-scorched -land.</p> - -<p>That she would have succeeded in this was likely enough -had Peter Brodie not been brought upon the scene. He had -worked out the problem line by line, and at last, when it -struck him that if Balfour was murdered he must have -been murdered in Chunda’s room, he proceeded to examine -the floor carefully on the night when he asked Jarvis to -keep Chunda in conversation for half an hour. That -examination revealed unmistakable traces of blood on the -boards. Then it occurred to him that, as the house was -an old one, it was more than likely there was some secret -closet or recess in which the body had been hidden.</p> - -<p>Chunda had evidently been well educated. In a postscript -to her confession she said that, out of the great love -she bore the man who had so cruelly deceived her, she -had, at his suggestion, consented to pass herself off as his -servant. He had assured her that it would only be for a -short time, and that when he had his affairs settled, and -sold his property, he would go back with her to India, -and they would live in regal splendour to the end of their -days.</p> - -<p>That she loved him was pretty certain. That he shamefully<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span> -deceived her was no less certain; and that love of -hers, and that deception, afforded some palliation for her -bloodthirsty deed of vengeance.</p> - -<p>For some time after the double crime Corbie Hall -remained desolate and lonely. It was now looked upon -as a doubly-accursed place, and nobody could be found -who would take it, so at last it was razed to the ground, -and is known no more.</p> - -<p>In pulling it down it was discovered that in Balfour’s -room was a secret panel corresponding to the one in the -next room, and that the stone stairs had at one time led -to a subterraneous passage, which had an opening somewhere -in Blackford Glen. It had no doubt originally -been constructed to afford the inmates of the house means -of escape in the stormy times when the building was first -reared.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - -<hr class="tiny" /> - -<p class="center">BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="ph1">FOOTNOTES:</p> -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[A]</a> This name is a fictitious one, for obvious reasons, but the -incidents related in the story are well authenticated.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[B]</a> This was quite true. The contingency of war was even less -remote than the Prince’s words suggested. As a matter of fact, it -is now well known that the treaty had been formed between Russia -and another country against Turkey, and had Turkey become aware -of it, there is little doubt she would have flown at Russia’s throat, -with results less disastrous to herself than those which befell her at -a later period, when the legions of Russia crossed the Pruth, and -commenced that sanguinary struggle which entailed such enormous -loss of life, the expenditure of thousands of millions of money, -and human agony and suffering beyond the power of words to -describe.</p> - -</div> - - -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - - - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> - -<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> -</div></div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF MICHAEL DANEVITCH OF THE RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. -</div> - -<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person -or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the -Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when -you share it without charge with others. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work -on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the -phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: -</div> - -<blockquote> - <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most - other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions - whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms - of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online - at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you - are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws - of the country where you are located before using this eBook. - </div> -</blockquote> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg™ License. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format -other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain -Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -provided that: -</div> - -<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation.” - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ - works. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. - </div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right -of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread -public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. -</div> - -</div> -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/68123-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/68123-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ba69eab..0000000 --- a/old/68123-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68123-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/old/68123-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f525f41..0000000 --- a/old/68123-h/images/coversmall.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68123-h/images/title.jpg b/old/68123-h/images/title.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index be0aff0..0000000 --- a/old/68123-h/images/title.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68123-h/images/titlelogo.jpg b/old/68123-h/images/titlelogo.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1c7fba5..0000000 --- a/old/68123-h/images/titlelogo.jpg +++ /dev/null |
