The morning call., 1890-04-06

-hdIlu, VIII dlG lIlNblNGu III u GOuSDgTdEy
against the Emperor"
Sehelm sprang up, and, forgetting his
usual cautiOuSuess, beat the table SO that
several papers fell to the floor.
Again. he exclaimed.
Palkin's smile was sweeter still.
What will you have?' he continued.
"The police must watch over the life of the
Gar when they have no time to do so in the
Ministry OF the Interior. This is now the
fifth cons tracy which we have discovered
without your knowledge and your assist
ance.'
Schelm turned pale; he was furious and
entirely lost his sell-control.
"Or which you pretend TO have discoY-
ered," he sneered.
"A1r. Schelmp' exclaimed the officer,
The head Of division replied in the same
mir. Palkin!"
Their eyes glowed with hatred aud thus
they measured each other for some minutes
At the same time the folds OF one of the
portieres moved gently and for a second the
face OF curious official peeped in. The two
adYersarIes saw nothing; they were on the
point Of falling one upon the other. The
Colonel, however, resumed his seat and
laughed aloud.
Your insults do not reach me and |
should be foolish indeed to feel annoyed.
1t proyokes you to find that we are cleverer
than you! l understand your anger and can
easily explain itp'
80 Cleverer" repeated Schelm; say,
rather, greater intriguants~
"Oh, call it what you choosew replied
Palkin, Struggling his shoulders; Il will
not discuss that with you. [ have been or
dered to deliver that message to Count
Perowski, and as this affair concerns you
hkewiSe-Or rather mainly-I have done my
duty as promptly as l could. Your criti-
ciSm does not concern me. | repeat, there
fore, that | have been ordered to report
Last night the police occupied the house of
Prince Marin; after long search docu-
ments were found there which strongly
commit the Prince as well as Count Prosoff.
Both have been arrested forthwith; the ex-
animation Will take place next Monday.
The conspiracy seems, however, to extend
over the whole province, and hence the
head Of gendarmes requests the Minister of
the Interior to take charge Of this matter as
soon as possible. The papers and dOeu-
ments ON the question VIII be sent to-day"
How can conspiracy that never eX-
listed extend to the province? Marin is
known to be drunkard, PrOsoff a philOs-
opher. The whole affair reminds me Curl
ously of your last conspiracy, which ended
in sending twelve young men to Siberia,
who every week gave a dinner to ballet
dancers. -FOUR reports stated at the time
that the regularity of these meetings looked
very suspicious and little was wanting or
you would have convinced yourself that the
ballet dancers talked politics.
That was only plausible pretext," said
Palkin. 'The Agent Black himself heard
how one of those men said the Gar ought
to give Russia constitution"
Schelm clapped his hands in apparent in
dignation.
"And that was enough for you to send
twelve men 10 Siberia. And you have the
face to acknowledge it?"
Palkin laughed bitterly.
This holy indignation is exceedingly be-
hi 81.
fess, however. that you would be very glad
to hear something of the kind yourself in
order to discover behind it a grand con-
spiracy. But MOI You are too well known
Nobody would speak aloud in your pres
ence. We, we have our secret agents. whom
nobody fears because nobody knows them.
And that is what grieves your chivalrous
head Of division"
Schelm gave him poisonous look.
"A nice craft, no doubt" murmured
Sehem to himself. THAT was the way
Kaloff got into the Senate, had high decora-
tiOns, etc. One Of these days Count Palkin
also will make brilliant career; lie VIII be
made Colonel of regimen: In distant
garrison, where the echo of his deeds has
never reached. After while his original
profession will be forgotten, and then the
spy will be made a General"
And you consider already In your mind,
hon0red friend, how you may denounce me?
l warrant you 1t viii be useless. The Gar is
high above US, as the eagle above the toad
He knows nothing of us and if he ever
should hear anything his contempt would
hurl both OF US into eternal oblivionl Our
superiors do not wish to soil their hands
with this profession and bear with us. be-
cause they must have tools-tools that ara
very vulgar but also very necessarv-tooIs
that are too much despise1 to be easily re-
placed. Your possible report passes
through the hands of my superior, as mine
passes through your hands. Where others
would be punished we receive a reward.
But that you must know even better than
do"
Suddenly an official interrupted them.
opening the door and announcing
Count Lanin. Aid-de-Camp of his
Majesty the Emperor"
Schelm and Pakin rose quickly and
bowed deeply.
The Imperial Adjutant noticed their sub
missiye bows with contempt, and said in
naughty tone;
Glad to find you here together. as |
have Important orders for both of you from
the Emperor"
Schelm and Palkin, who had risen again.
bowed once more to the ground.
Too much grace and happiness" they
exclaimed.
The imperial aid. hearing the two voices