The Dickinson press., 1892-10-15
CHAPTER XII,
HOUR OF RETALIATION

bElOlc IdClel IedCIleu MUSEUM Lllo CuleI
of the Police had so far recovered as to be
able to resume his official duties. But he
Was terribly distigured, and over his sight
less eye he wore a closely fitting dark green
shade. Although lie did not know it then,
a cabal had formed against him during his
illness with a view OF ousting him IRON of
flee. He was not considered a successful
man, and i'll no country in the world is nom
success regarded with such contempt as it
is in Russia. But apart from this, as all
people know who have been i'll Russia,
every official, no matter what his position
is, is bound to have a host of enemies, for
the plums of Office are so coveted, and
there is SO much cliquism and Intriguing,
that Jealousy is rampant. and the man who
is your sworls friend to-day will become
your bitterest foe to-morrowifyou are elect
ed to office.
Peter Alexieff, however, might have liv-
ed down all this had it not been for the
error he committed in splitting in Aaron
Arama face, an act that led to the %retalia-
Of al eye and d%isignred him for life. This
fact, which; i'll the first heat of passion and
anger, had been vigorously suppressed, had
leaked out; and the influential Jews got up
an agitation, and made the wrong Aaron
had suffered the subject OF a petition to the
unfortunate mans punishment might be
mitigated, and Peter Alexietf deposed from
office.
Russias is nominally an autocrat
and ruler of the land, no more
pitiable ,puppet exists. He is gov
erned and ruled by bis MOBILES, whose
yond doubt that by that power alone Is the
Russian Emperor kept upon his throne.
When the petition reached him, which it
did in due course, lie was advised" which
vas tantamount to q command, to ignore
it. Nevertheless. it had all effect, for there
were those about the Court who had rela-
tives and friends they We're anxious to pro-
vide for. and they availed themselves of the
opportunity to enlarge on Alexieft's short
comings, and to insist that he was so lack
ing in tact aad discretion that he was un-
fitted Tor his office; and that he could serve
the State better by being appointed to the
~governorship of a prison in some far dis
was not lost upon the Cars advisers. who
saw in it q means Of getting out of a diem
ma; and the seed thus sown was destined
to iructity and bear fruit in the fullness of
time. But when that time would come it
would nave been hard to say, for things
Gus country, and everything in connec-
ton with its working and administration
is ponderous. while hurry and speed,
especially in judicial matters, are not only
deprecated but unknown. thus it comes
about that prisoners charged with offences
may languish for years in prison before
being brought to trial.
But matters were precipitated in Alex
ieft's case by another act of folly and out
age which he was guilty Of and which
alienated from him some of his warmest
supporters. And this very act, strangely
enough, by the keenest irony Of fate, was
the result OF Rachel Arama's resolution
which she made in Moscow. That resolu-
ton was nothing moro nor less than to
seek a personal interview with the Chief Of
Police, and, throwing herself at his feet,
plead to him for her father.
1t is perhaps hardly necessary to say
that if she had had more worldly knowl.
edge, and had understood better what
Alcxieti's true position was, she would
rather have suffered death than
haye begged a boon of him. and nave
her Ignorance of all Safe matters. she
accredited the Chief of the Police with an
authority that was equal to the Chief of the
Army, and only a little less than that Of
the Gar himself, whom she would have
approached had she known how to have
done so. But no subject in Russia, unless
he be of high rank and great influence, has
the slightest possible chance of reaching
His Majesty's private ear. For he is guard.
ed about with u triple Gordon, II the out
side world is to him almost a terra incog-
nita.
For one who had always been secluded
as Rachel had. and who had scarcely evel
known what it was to be dependent upon
herself, it was a great undertaking that o.
going to See the Chief of the Police. She
had mentioned her project to her friend tht
Chief Rabbi oil Moscow. who seemed dis
posed to discountenance it. but Rachel
, was infexible. Beyond the Rab'
hi however Sha told M ono roi
even Ivan. VINO had secretly paid
! a visit to herin Moscow. During the inter
!, view he had enewed his protesta'ions o
love, but she had emphatically declared
that so long as he was the son of Pete
Alexieff she could not listen to him if he
sought her love, which-was tantamount Il
, saying that his suit was absolutely hope
= = less, for lie would never be anybody els,
: but the son OF Peter; and SO he had gon,
AWAY. somewhat disheartened, but still