The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-30

myself, is the paid servant Of the car"
"A paid servant Of the czari" Gordon ex-
claimed. overwhelmed with astonishment
"And the most trusted agent OF his excel
lency, the minister Of police"
A glimmcring Of the truth dawned upon
Gordon, and bis sterner nature taking the
ascendant he turned tercely upon me and
said:
"Are you. too. a servant Of the cara po
lice spyi"
bowed my head before his wrath. The
old gentleman answered for me:
"Unfortunately Mile. SoltikoR Is our
most determined adversary, AS you should
know who owe so much TO her."
Gordon regarded him and then me In
utter bewilderment Rudersdorf took up
the order OF arrest. again saying few
words in Russian.
IF you have no other evidence to offer,
Count Rudersdorf will proceed to read the
warrant Time presses"
Its farce. tell you. reading the thing
20 me- You have no power 10 arrest me-"
"The fact that you are prisoner proves
the contrary"
THAT is an abuse of power for which you
will be made TO pay dearly. You have no
authority to arrest even Taras on British
territory"
mo matter where we find the Prince
Borgensky, we need no higher authority TO
make him our prisoner than this" replied
the old gentleman, pointing to the seal on
the order.
II warn you again that am not the
prince, but British subject"
The old gentleman shrugged his shout
ders. raised his eyebrows and spoke TO Ru-
dersdorf, who gave short, derisiye laugh.
and then losing patience replied In a few
short, peremptory sentences which my linn
ited knowledge Of Russian did not enable
me to follow But he addressed Gordon
rather than his secretary.
"What does he sayi" Gordon demanded
with not less impatience.
Count Rudersdorf wishes to know IL you
expect him to take your simple denial
against the evidence Of his own senscs9 This
is not the first time you have met, and he Is
somewhat astonished that you do not rec
ognize him, as no further back than this
morning you passed him twice in walking
up and down the Adelphi terrace with Mr..
Kavanagh."
Gordon started. and fixing his eyes on
Rudersdorf seemed TO recall his face to
mind.
"And all thisr' expostulated the old gen.
tleman, raising the pile of identifying pa
pers. "For example," be added. picking
up photograph that slipped out. you
would not have US believe that this Is not
your portraitp
Gordon took up the photograph and re-
garded it In bewllderment. 1t YVES un-
doubtedly his own portrait, but mounted
on card, with the printed name and ad-
dress of photographer in Moscow. Tho
only explanation was that the photograph
had been removed from the English mount
and pasted on the Russian one. But for
what purpose was still an unfathomed mys-
tery to him.
You perhaps deny your own handwrit-
ingi" said the old gentleman, handing q
letter.
"rhis is not my hand. I cannot even
read the character in which It is written"
Here is one written by you in the ordt
nary European hand"
"That is hot my writing. lean prove IT.
Give me sheet of paper"
Writing material was given to him, and
he wrote couple Of lines quickly
Rudersdorf and the old gentleman ex-
amined 1t and exchanged few observar
tions.
"The prince has altered his hand evi-
IDENTIFY" said the old gentleman in a COM
plimentary tone; "but, as the count points
out that Ia slight achievement for one
whose skill of hand is known all over the
world"
Gordon dashed down the pen in rage
and thrust lis hands in his pockets.
A luminous idea seemed TO have occurred
TO Rudersdorf. and rapid dialogue ensued
between him and his secretary. at the end
of which the old gentleman. turning to Cor.
don, said;
Admirably as you have played this lit
tie scene, you cannot expect US to take that
exhibition as convincing proof that you
are not Prince Borgensky We are used TO
this sort OF thing and not easily to be de-
ceived. AT the same time, to remove even
the faintest trace OF doubt, we shall be
happy TO facilitate TO the utmost in our
power every means of Immediately proving
your identity II there il any reliable per
son with whom you wish to communi-
cate"--
"You shan't have line OF writing from
me-" said Gordon; mot scrap that can be
twisted into a snare TO serve your purpose"
'In that case, relying on the evidence be-
fore us and the perfect honesty of our con-
frere, Barry Kavanagh, we have only to
complete formalties and remove you to
Russia, where you will be dealt with in ac-
cordance with the pleasure Of the car"
"As you please"
At sign from the secretary, Rudersdorf
again took up the paper which he this time
read through without interruption. Com
ing to the end. he nodded TO the guard at
the door. who at once stepped forward and
laid hands upon Gordon. He made no re-
sistance, and without word passed out of
the cabin. apparently too absorbed in
thought to take heed OF immediate circum-
stances.
made movement to follow him. but
Rudersdorf. who had risen aud now stood
by the door, interposed.
We have not done with you yet" he
said sternly. ''Sit down there"
: seated myself In the chair he pushed to-
ward me.
/ For few minutes he and the old gentle
m m conversed in n jargon that could not
Understand. Then with the same brusque
manno- be addressed me again.
"Yoc don't feign ignorance, supposepv
ha cot,rtpuod rudaiv UXot, uudarutauI