The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-22

THAT is not enough. Was there not on
your part a promise and some encourage
ment on the part of your daughter"
No" said Vladimir with indignation.
The president passed on to other cues.
lions to which Vladimir replied in the same
calm way. When the interrogatory was
ended Darine once more asked permission
to question the accused.
Do you remember that once before I
had to investigate your affairs because Won
had been accused before my tribunal?
speak OF the anonymous letter which I re-
celved in December. ! was informed that
a crime was then committed in your
house."
This time Vladimir was d~umfounded:
What Mr.. Procurator, you dare refer to
that! mentioned it during my examinu-
ton and if you had not questioned me, I
would"
Accused" said the president. won
speak to the attorney general of the en-
pre-"
But you retracted when my wife handed
society"
Darine interrupted him. "We are
accuse tt the p''s imp p = you pra seam TO
But never mind, l will answer
you. The letter did not emanate from a
secret society, but from the Nabob Dowgal
Sah1b. the president of a benevolent society
of which / am a member. He is a man
known as a most honorable man. My duty
concerns only crimes committed and net to
previous crimes. Prince Gromoff was still
alive then, the duel had not yet been proven
ana l stopped the proceeding against you,
hoping that you would be warned and Yield
ing to the request of the nabob of Gavin
pore, who interceded for YOU"
Vladimir, exasperated by this impulent
falsehood, cried out:
what! You are amon my enemies?
These two months that l have been left in
prison have kept silence, but this plot
"Accused'' he said, you compel me to re
mn you of the respect due to this high
officer. Sit down. The nterropatory is
ended. 1t is very unluckv for you that
Dakouss canno be foundI'
Vladimir looked in despair. The jury
socialists were radiant, the three noblemen
hung their heads, the remaining three
looked stern.
Next came the hearing of witnesses. This
ceremony is more solemn in Russia than
elsewhere. A pulpit is erected at the bar,
on it lies n Bible Catholic, Protestant or
orthodox, according to the creed of the wit
nessl, with n tall cross. A priest, invited
for the purpose and dressed in his sacer.
dotal garments, takes each witness to the
sncred volume and assists him, after having
made him repeat a solemn oath of some
length, till he finally kisses the cross and
''the words Of the Savior"
The examination of the witnesses began,
led by the servants in Count Lahin's pal
ace. All testified in the same way. They
Lad been present at the scene when Arsen-
ieff and parine had accused Lanin of an
attempt at poisoning. They had seen moth
ing, but they declared that the whole house
bore q strange and mysterious aspect from
the time when Prince Gromoff had been
brought to the house. lana had been right
when she begged her daughter not to lot the
servants see her grief too nearly. All of
them now mentioned it and all, without ex-
ception seemed to think their master guilty!
Louise de Schelmberg appeared. in her
turn, befo 9 the oruciiix and the priest and
after having recited the facts men,
toned before:
I'VE loved each other. Prince Gromoff |
and l. and in our minds wo were deter
mined to marry ench other. This marriage, |
however, WAS not pleasing to the Count