Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-15
CHAPTER xxxIII.
WE SET OFT.


! knew that the poor fellow, despite his SAN
/ guine temperament, could find but little
I ground TO base hope upon.
About an hour after my arrival / was
taken down to an Office, where the minister
Of police sat at the head of writing table.
| The only other persons present were Ru-
dersdorf and the old gentleman. Their man
her was obsequiously deferential toward
their chief, sharp and severe toward me.
| With slight inclination of the head he
told me to take chair, and fixing his dark,
penetrating eyes upon me said:
"Mademoiselle, do you deny that Taras,
Prince Borgensky, is your friend"
"No, / replied proudly; she is the dear
est friend | have in the world These
words brought tears into my eyes, so that
] saw everything as in mist, but brushed
them away impetuously and met the min
ister's eyes firmly, and with the resolve to
keep my emotion down.
Then how comes it, the minister asked
shat you have aided in bringing him
heres"
II have done no such thing. TIE man
you have here is not Taras, but George
Gordon. If you are the minister o. police,
you will know that when you see him."
Assuming that this is George Gordon,
why did you aid in bringing him heres"
ITO save Taras from being murdered by
your agent, Rudersdorf."
rs this the first time you have endea-
vored to save your friendW
No; have baked Kavanagh in two if
not three attempts to carry him away
"And you hoped to save Taras fourth
time by substituting George Gordon, to
misead our agents.
"Yesn
"You thought to throw off the pursuit
by making us believe that we had captured
Tarasg"
"Yes."
"Then why are you so anxious now to
make us believe that we have not got
Tarasf"
Because Ksvanagh made me believe
that the moment you discovered the mis-
take Rudersdorf would be banished in dis
grace, while public cutlery would compel
you TO abandon any further effort to re-
move Taras from England
You are candid, at any rate, - said the
minister. after exchanging a swift glance
with Rudersdorf
II want you TO know the whole TRUTH
I'm that case, will you be good enough
TO give me the particulars of the attempts
made by Mr.. Kavanagh to kidnap Tarasfp
| narrated the events as simply as /
could When came to an end, the minis
ter wrote a few lines, handed the paper 10
Rudersdorf, and rising took up his hat
What are you going to do with mes'' |
asked
During the inquiries which must neces-
sarily be made to ascertain the truth of
your statement you will be detained You
will be provided with every available COM
fort and in consideration of the straight
forward manner in which you have given
information, if there is any reasonable con-
cession / can make''-
George Gordon-I want to see him.
said l. for felt the need Of a companion.
The chief looked grave; then, after giving
some instructions to Rudersdorf, he said
TO me:
"You shall see him tomorrow morning."
and with slight bow left the Office
WAS taken back to the cell, and as the
door closed with a clang, and | looked
round the four bare whitewashed walls,
with their one barred window high up,
showing but few inches of leaden sky, /
asked myself where was the comfort that
had been promised me.
In the evening the warder brought me
bundle of thick serge clothes and greasy
sheepskin coat, telling me that | should
have TO wear them for my journey and that
must get up when l was called. This
was the first intimation had received that
we were to be removed from St. Peters
burg. The minister had spoken only of
detention. He had said that l should see
Gordon the next morning, but was it only
TO say ''goodbysn
Before it was light the war.ler entered
my cell, and seeing a candle on the shelf
which served as table told me must be
dressed in 10 minutes. In 10 minutes was
dressed in my i'll fitting clothes, looking
more like "A white bear than human crea-
ture in the great sheepskin coat which
touched the ground at my feet and was
furnished with hood and a collar band,
which left nothing visible of my face ex-
cept my nose and eyes. A pair of enormous
boots lined with sheepskin and great fin |
gerless gloves Of the same kind added still |
more to the uncouthness of my appear
ance. The warder brought me mug Of |
hot tea and some dried fish and bread, and |
while l ate my breakfast made mp the |
clothes | had worn into bundle for me to 1
take with me.
Twas taken down into the yard. where, |
TO my great joy, found Gordon aTrayed in
a suit similar to my own. by which 1 con-
cluded that he was TO 90 away also. l |
think he was no less pleased to see me. He |
gave me both hands. and we stood there /
hand in hand, too grateful to speak at first. /
You are going with megn we said, at
list and simultaneously.
YES" said he. though where we are
going can't say"
"Orkutsk. believe.''
'Orkutsk. heys Well. that's got sort Of
sound about it. But what does
hat matters We shall come here again
before very long, that's certainty. I let