The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-11
CHAPTER H.-(Continued. J

CHAPTER H.-(Continued.)
A quarter of an hour after tho departure
Of tins last guest the nal,ob stretched on his
reclining chair and, wrapped in q cashmere
gown, appeared TO be waiting for some ono.
Suddenly he sat up, huttOned Ills dressing
gown. leaned on his elbow. and succeeded
in giving to his face an expression Of the
utmost indifference. The doOr WAS just
opening. A lackey in full livery appeared
IN the threshold, glanced about for the
nabob, perceived him. came slowly forward,
took up a N unoccupied chair as ne nd
vanced, drew II mp TO the table, cOoIly gazed
ht the Indian prince and sat down, crossing
his legs.
"What do you wan Of me?" he asked tho
nabob.
The East Indian had not been able to
keep from frOwninR at the familiar way in
which this servant introduced himself to
him. His eyebrows contracted rs he fol-
lowed with an dissatisfied look all the
movements Of the lackey, and when he saw
him seated quite mt his ease and had heard
his question he exclaimed in Russian:
"Ah, this is strange! Are you n Kussian?"
"What! nothing?'
Nothing. am 10 more a Russian than
n man, no more u man than a dog. no more
q dog than a n %archanRel. And you, who
arc you and what do you want OF me! 1
have served you. You have paid me. What
CHI tkEIG O0 Ill GDlIlbJOu OtLWG6ll ubs
The nabob showed that he was impatient.
The lackey wearing his livery. presenting
himself before him as an equal, coolly sit
ting down II crossing his legs before him,
irritated his nerves. In India the strange
ness Of the phenomenon might, perhaps,
have made hin excuse its improperly, but
in Europe it was not boldness, it WIS inso-
lence. Since the abolition of serfdom the
nabob thought Russia like the rest of
Europe. He might, perhaps, have rewarded
such boldness in q slave; he eyed the iDsO-
lent hireling from head to foot and said:
1T l have sent for you it Is probably be-
cause / wanted to see you. Wait till ] ques-
ton you. and behave as a servant is bound
to do before his master. M a lackey should
do before a prince. Get up. 90 to the door
and wait there for my orders"
This was said in a dry, cool tone. The
ners had neither provoked excessive aston
ishment nor wrath, but his confusion did
not last long. He sat back in his chair,
raised his shoe, which bore the arms of the
nabob in silver on the buckle, as high as the
knee of the latter, and replied:
II am not your lackey and / think I nm
a. good as you are. We are equal"' 7
'"rell me, my friend" asked the nabob,
smiling. "are there many mon like you in
Russia?'
The lackey gave q proud gesture.
No, not yet; but they will come in the
Y UkGLlCIbLIOIs ~ bAAuO ~ LuG
legends of slavery; but they will soon be
forgotten"
:" call myself nothing. since l am moth
ing. Others call me co."
DO you know my steward!"
"Yes.'
"Where have you met him!"
ASK him. l have nothing to say on that
head"
The liabob smiled.
You are both members of the Associa-
ton Of Friends Of Liberty and your lodge is
"Since you know it, why do you ask
me?''
"My steward" said the nabob. "~proposed
to you to earn ten roubles by donning my
livery during the ball. l am surprised that
you accepted"
I'VE must eat"
"Ah! you know that. too"
II know everything!'
Poleno gave q scornful smile.
We'll, what do you WANT"
THAT young man whom You recon-.
mended to my steward: is he your son, your
brother or your friend!"
What is that to youY"
1T is a great deal to me. Idesire to Know
what claims you have upon him, for / shall
beg you to give him up to me-"
All h!" said the other. F." it Is useless; l
shall not give him up"
1Hdb ACDCboS utOl tnO COllultlOuSs
II shall not give him up"
mot if ! were to offer You a fortune?
Say a hundred Thousand roubles?"
II have no use for money!"
Eyes, you nave, since you don a livery to
earn sonnet
Poleno shrugged his shoulders contempt
uously.
II can live on ten roubles a month, I
shall always earn that much. ] mover take
bribes."
well" said the nabob, II want this
child"
You will have to do without him!'
No.. my will cannot be resisted. l offer
to buy your rights; but can take him from
you"
PoIeno shook his head.
u doubt it,"
He is neither your son nor your broth
er?''
mo"
s much the better. 1 can order your,
"Order me?'
YES said the nabob. Then, Suddenly
raising and extending his hand, 'Poleno
Astorah. No. III; have you no duties to
f~ulfilll'
At first amazed, Poleno now arose in his
turn.
"Ah. All! you are one of us! Very we'll,
] might tell you that l am bound by no
onth, but / have preserved my freedom of
action. that ] owe obedience only to the
supreme head because ] took a number to
fight, not to obey"
There is no lighting without obedience
"Yes. but Andrew has been entrusted to
my care. ] am his master; he is mine, you
know. You have no right to take him from
me-"
DougalI reached toward the bell. .sYou
must do me justice. / have acted as n
brother should. have tried to make you
rich"
You have tried to treat me as your
lackey."
"Was I obliged to disclose myself? Could
j. after / was once known to you, make the
offer you have heard! Do not the laws for
bid this?"
who are you?"
"Nihil. How can you ask such a ques-
tioni"
What is your number, your name among
us! l have never seen you ut the lodge"
None of you will ever see mt there"
Then we are under your orders? Do
you belong to the Mystery? Are you a
leader?"
"Nihiir' replied the nabob.
At this moment the door opened and An
drcw appeared. The nabob said TO Poleuo
in a low voice: us he initiatedY"
"No."
"Pupil!'
"Yesr'
Andrew drew near. At sight OF Poleno
he could not refrain from an angry gesture,
which Immediately changed into a ~scosnfui
smile.
Overcome by his meeting with Mile. do
SchelmbcYQ. and aireadv inclined In rbnroa