The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-05-24

win hear all tonight :; " and with that A.
surance he closed the door, and seixing
the reins we drove of ut rapid pace, 90
rapid that l saw my blackeyed &C
quaintance of the railway carriage gazing
after rs in surprise until we were out Of
sight.
| / thought over the whole matter as we
| logged along in that abominable spring
less conveyance.
| They say the mobiles are tyrants in
Russia" unused "but it seems to ne
to be the other way about, for here's this
poor Mr.. DimadoE who evidently thinks
exserfs viii rise and murder him if he
raises the price of grain m the district by
exporting some out Of it. Fancy being
obliged to have recourse to all this mys-
terry and deception in order to sell ones
own property! Why, it's worse than an
Irish landlord. 1t is monstrous! Well,
he doesn't seem to live in very aristo-
cratic quarter, either," I soliloquized, as /
gazed out at the narrow, crooked streets
and the unkempt, dirty Muscovites whom
we passed. " l wish Gregory or some
one was with me, for it's . cut-throat
looking shop! By jovc, he's pulling up !;
We must be there!"
We we're there to all appearance for
the droschky stepped, and my drivers
shaggy head appeared through the
aperture.
8" 1t is here, most honored master" he
said, as he helped me to alight.
Is Mr.. Dimi-" began but he in
terrupted me again.
60 Anvfh;un, bu< unv,az - Lo -bie0a-oI
anything but that You are too used to
a land that ID free. Caution, o sacred
one. p" and he ushered me down a stone
tagged passage and up q stair at the end
Of it. ''Sit for few minutes in this
ROOM" he said, opening door, "and a
repast will be served for you; and with
that he left me to my own reflections.
WELL. thought l. whatever Mr..
Dimidoff7s house may be like, his servants
are undoubtedly well trained % sacred
one and reverend master!' wonder
what he'd call old Dickson himself, if he's
80 polite to the clerk. suppose it
wouldn't be the thing to smoke in this
little crib; but l could do pipe nicely.
By the way, how ccnfoundedly like a
cell it looks "
1t certainly did look like cell The
door was An iron one and enormously
strong, while the single window was
closely barred. The floor was Of wood,
and sounded hollow and insecure as /
strode across il. Both floor and walls
were thickly splashed with coffee or some
other dark liquid On the whole it was
far from being a place where one would
be likely become unreasonably festive.
l had hardly concluded my survey
when l heard steps approaching down
the corridor, and the door was opened by
my old friend Of the droschky. He an
nounced that my dinner was ready, and,
with many vows and apologies for leav-
ing me in what he called the " dismissal
room," he led me down the passage and
into large and beautifully furnished
apartment. A table was spread for two
in the centre Of it, and by the fire was
standing man very little older than my
self He turned as l came in and stepped
forward to meet me with every symptom
of profound respect
So young and yet SO honorable y he
exclaimed; and then, seeming to recollect
himself, he continued Pray sit at the
head of the table. You must be fatigued
by your long and arduous journey. We
dine tete-d-tete, but the others assemble
aherward"
"Mr. Dimidof, presume - said |.
No, Sir" said he, turning his keen
gray eyes upon me. My name is Petro-
kline you mistake me, perhaps, for one
of the others. But now, not a word of
business until the council meets. Try
your chefs soup; you will find it excel
lent, think"
Who Mr.. Petrokine and the others
might be l could not conceive. Land
steward of Dimidoff7s perhaps; though
the name did not seem familiar to my
companion. However, as he appeared to
shun any business questions at present l
gavein to his humor, and we conversed
on social life in England subject in
which he displayed considerable knowl-
edge and acuteness. His remarks, too,
on Malthus and the laws of population
were wonderfully good, though savoring
somewhat of radicalism.
"By the way" he remarked, as we
smoked cigar over our wine, 1--WE should
never have known you but for the English
labels on your luggage. 1t was the luck
lest thing in the world that Alexander
noticed them. We had had no personal
description of you indeed, we were pre-
pared to expect somewhat older man.
You are young indeed, Sir, to be intrusted
with such q mission"
Ny employer trusts me-" replied:
" and we have learned in our trade that
youth and shrewdness are not incompati
ble."
Your remark is true, Sir" returned
my newly-made friend, but am sur
prised to hear you call our glorious as
sociation trade Such term is gross,
indeed, to apply to body Of men band
ed together to supply the world with
that which is yearning for, bat which
without our exertions it can never hope
to attain A spiritual brotherhood would
be more fitting term"
@By Jove - thought /, show pleased
the bcss would be to hear him He must
have been in the business himself, who
ever he may be."
| 6 Now, SIR said Mr.. Petrokine, the
clock points to 8 and the council must be
already sitting. Let us go up together
and viii introduce you. / need hardly
say that the greatest secresy ID observed
and that your appearance is anxiously
awaited"
| turned over in my mind as / followed
him how might best fulfll my mission
| ard a~,~sxwo TIA Yv,oaf a1vMrf aUNoua tprufa