The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-27
rcopyright. 1897. by l.. T. Meade and ROD
ert Eustace.I
PART Il.
PART /.

PART i.
II there was a man in the whole OF 81
Petersburg who had never eXcited the
smallest suspicion in the minds OF the
secret police il was Alexander Chance
Englishman and physician. Az one
time he had practiced amongst ms ioi-
iow-countrymen in the city, but LOT
several years now he had resigned all
the more usual work of his profession,
and lived a retired life in a large and
stately house on the Ligovka canal. The
fact of his having such house with
commodious garden attached proved his
wealth, otherwise he lived in a very sim
.le and retired manner. He was a man
of between fifty and sixty years OF age,
thin in appearance, and somewhat
ascetic looking. He was an aquiiine
nose, piercing but small dark eyes, ana
a full, broad expanse Of forehead. In
stature he was slightly above the mid
die height. His manner was courteous,
polite, refined, and quite unapproach-
able. He was spoken of as man OF
iron will and undoubted ability. So
ciety. however-the brilliant society OF
st. Petersburg-saw little or nothing
of him-he spent almost the whole OF
sis time within his house, or rather in
the laboratories which were attached
to the house. He had a wife and two
daughters. His wife was of partly Rus
sian. partly German extraction. The
girls at the time of this story were
sixteen and fifteen years of age re-
spectively. 1t was their fathers wish
to have them brought up in the Eng
1ish fashion, and for this purpose he
generally had English governesses to
asach them. BY his fellow physicians
DIR. Chance was regarded as a clever
man whose whim it was to devote his
time to the practice OF the more obscure
branches Of the profession. His friends
spoke of him as good fellow, reserved,
and almost crank, for surely no one
else with so much wealth would take
such small enjoyment out of life.
1t was early in the spring of 1895 that
all previous conjectures with regard to
Alexander Chance were overthrown.
In q city where terrible things are
done, and those who are prudent think
It best to be silent about them, his name
attained brief and startling notoriety.
For q short time it was in everyone's
mouth. The following story told by
one of his victims will explain why.
TOLD BY MADELINE RENNICK.
When decided to accept the offer OF
p situation as governess in Russian
family, bought, amongst other things,
q small silver mounted revolver and
fifty cartridges. do not really know
what prompted me to make this pur-
chase, but had certain sense OF
pleasure in spending a couple of SOW
ereignA upon it, and / slowed my re-
volver carefully away in the very bot
tom of one of my largest trunks.
Before proceeding to tell this story 1
had better say one or two
words about myself. My name
Is Madeline Rennick; 1 am an
orphan and have no near relations.
When DIR. Chance offered me hundred
pounds per annum to educate his two
daughters, i determined to accept the
situation without a moments hesita-
tion. I bade my friends adieu and
reached ST. Petersburg without any
sort of adventure. DIR. Chance met me
nt the station. He was a somewhat
handsome, but nearsighted man on
quite the shady side of fifty. He was
coldly polite 10 me, gave directions
about my luggage. and took me
straight 10 his house on the Ligovka
canal. There was received by Mrs.
Chance. lady in every respect the
antipodes of her husband. She had n
roIy-poly figure, n round, moon-shaped
face, small, pale blue eyes, and Curl
GUS and yet thoroughly unsympathetic
manner. My pupils were rather pretty
girls. the elder was tall. and had the
dark eyes of her father-she had a fine,
open expression; her name was Olga.
The younger was dark and small in
stature, with piquant and pretty face;
she was called Maroussa. The girls
could talk English tolerably well. and
the warmth of their greeting made up
for their mothers indifference. be-
gan my duties on the following morn
ing. ard for the first month Of my stay
thought that my existence was likely
20 be an exceedingly monotonous one.
unow with high gales Of wind set in,
and we could not GO out.
On n certain afternoon Olga, Mar
oussa and were seated on one OF the
large divans in the comfortable salon.
'HTou must find IL dreadfully dull
here" said Maroussa. 81 hope you won't
regret having left England to come to
elucate US
Not AT all" replied: "I have long
had a great desire 20 see Russia. and TO
understand something about IL and It's
strange history"
"you know. OF course. that our father
Is English" said Olga. although he is
now n nnturalized Russian. He has lived
IN the country ever since he was thirty
years OF age. lie "a great Scientist.
How your eys sparkle. Madeline! Are
you interested IN scicnce?"
II am very fond of science"
answered; 81 have studied chemistry a
s-ocd deal for Oirl and 4 tcnlt n scfeoce