The Portland daily press., 1894-06-04
hes hate has devised this refinement Of

afterward, leaving the public to imagine
for itself some story of love surprised, for
the loyal subject preferred that form of
dishoner to tho other Then he wanted to
throw himself ON his knees before the en-
peror and tell him all, after which he
would disappear forever with the guilty
woman.
The sentiment Of duty brought him to
hi1uself. He held the clew to plot He
must discover it's furthest ramifications,
and to that end he must let the letter go
its course OF his own accord the assassin
would deliver himself into the hands of
justice. Already the minister possessed
the mans name-Nicholson- Eng
hshman or American, perhaps an expert
in dynamite machines or simply a Russian
student who had taken false name.
The letter went on its way, and that
evening the prince and princess were at
the opera in their box-he pale, trembling
as if with fever grown Is years older in
appearance; she more seductive and more
sought after than ever.
"You are ill, Michael" said Madeleine
to her husband, with smile, as they were
being driven home.
I'm what respect do show it," he
asked, with a strangely somber air.
You have not been jealous the whole
evening""
A week later the minister of police re-
marked casually to his wife, as if it were
a matter to which he attached no impor-
tance:
1.-The czar leaves St. Petersburg on Fri
day."
''Indeed!'' she answered, not disturbed
f1xyth eo ttHho haI cot
another day for his departure.
Eyes" he replied, intending to deceive
Nicholson's accomplice; 1.-THE idea is to
throw off the scent those who may have
criminal intentions.
Then he turned the talk to another TOP
ic, admiring at bottom this unworthy
creatures self control. That very day
he learned that his ruse had succeeded, for
he received from the telegraph a dispatch
addressed by the princess, it may easily be
guessed to whom, which read:
It is settled for Friday. Be on time.
Friday passed, of course, without either
car or his minister leaving the capital.
Madeleine had suddenly become very I'M
easy at the announcement of this pretend
ed change of plan. @s1 In
The next day richly dressed parsonage,
his lapel ornamented with an enormous
rosette, presented himself in the afternoon
at Prince Michael's palace.
what does your excellency desire?" de-
manded the concierge from the redoubta-
BILE third section.
''To pay my respects to the princess
and deliver to her message from her
mother. am DR.. Nicholson
VERY good, sir, F." said the man. sYour
excellency is expected. Madame the prin-
cess is visiting friend and has given or
ders that your excellency be conducted to
her. The carriage will be ready in five
minutes %
DR.. Nicholson had scarcely had time to
admire the pictures in the reception room,
for he was something Of a connoisseur,
when he was taken to carriage into
which the concierge stepped after him and
sat down at his side without asking per-
mission.
"Odd sort of CUSTOM, - thought Nichol-
son. Wonder why he didn't get up on
the box
need scarcely say quarter Of an hour
later the self styled doctor was in the best
that is to say, the most solid-prison in
St. Petersburg, and that, though his ad-
vent was awaited, it was not by the prin-
cess.
In sort OF musty parlor, ornamented
with police agents armed to the teeth, a
parsonage whom he mad never seen, and
VINO was the prince nlmseiI, lnterrogated
MIN with an utter absence OF clvility to
which poor Nicholson was little accustom-
ed.
This Is lnfamousv' he exclaimed at
last. Il arrive from Parls this morning,
have not spoken three words to any per-
son whatsoever, and when l present my
sell at the princess palace am bundled
OH as II were a thief. :.
Are you acquainted with the princessY"
coldly demanded the minister.
Am acquainted with her? Why, I've
known her ever since she was SO high!
Here is a letter from her mother, the gen
erals widow Sir, am an American citi-
zen, and protest.
secure this man and take every pre-
caution, interrupted the official without
seeming to have heard.
Nothing Of suspicious nature was
found on Nicholson-that is, nothing but
dainty little box carefully sealed. 1t
might be an internal machine, though 1t
must De confessed II that were the case
0vnInGjund