Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-23
CHAPTER XIV.
Imprisoned In n Palace.

Imprisoned in n Palace.
l had entertained some idea Of MAX
ing the coming interview test wheth-
er it was possible for me to carry on
the deception. But as the moments hur-
ried by 1 shrank from the ordeal After
all. decided. it was not necessary TO
undergo any such test. The great thing
was to carry on the PRESERVATION for a
few hours. or at the most a day or two.
BY that time, I thought surely Dr.
Petrovski would be able to devise some
means of my leaving the villa in safe
ty. The great thing was to avoid de-
lection as long as possibly could. So
I turned down the light. and began to
pace up and down at the end OF the
cabin farthest from the door.
a servant entered, barely CHANGING at
me as he announced Capt. Suranietf.
\ tall. elderly man. in naval uniform
came in and gravely saluted me. I re-
turned the salute by nod: and then,
istcyitch had given me had rendered
very hoarse, l said:
IL don't feel very we'll tonight. cap
tain. | think [ must have caught 4
chill. and l should like to get ashore as
soon as possible. Could you put me in
at Peterhoff. instead of going on to st.
IeterSburg?'
1--WE are rather nearer to st. Peters
To Dntn 1infE
Majesty"
'Then it won't take much longer to
go to Peterhoff, and l will be spared the
drive from st. Petersburg. l want a
few days rest, and | shall be quieter
there"
OF course. it is as your Majesty
pleases: but your Majesty is expected
at st. Petersburg. and l fear the villa
at Peterhoff will not be i'll readiness to
receive you. There will be no es-
cort-'
s'Pooh! What does that matter?
There must be some soldiers at the
palace at PeterhOff, and few of them
can be sent down to the landing stage.
Will you kindly ask one of the equer-
l.ies to arrange it for me? And [ would
be obliged if you would go on to st.
Petersburg and tell the Czarina that l
am sorry not to be at home tonight.
but want a quiet nights rest. and l can
always rest better at the villa. Pray
tell her Majesty not to trouble to come
to the villa tonight on any account. 1
daresay I shall be all right in the
morning.
l will carry out your Majesty's in
structiCnS.'
.INhanks-and please say that am
not to be disturbed until it is time for
me to step ashore
The captain bowed and stepped back
in the direction of the door,
And you must accept my best
thanks, captain, for your care and at
tention to my comfort during the
cruise" I said, going up to suranietf
and holding out my hand.
The white-haired officer dropped on
one knee and kissed it. I was on the
pont of withdrawing it, but, luckily, 1
remembered just in time. There was
Il pleased smile on the veterans face as
he left the State-room. At that mo-
n1ent l felt smaller than 1 had ever
done in my life.
But the peril was passed. Unless
the old man was conSummate actor.
which was very unlikely, he was en-
tirely without suspicion that it was not
the hand Of his master he had kissed.
And | was not likely to be disturbed
till the time came when 1 was to quit
the yacht.
The next hour passed very slowly.
Strange to say. although'it was doubt
! less a relief to feel that [ was not at
the moment incurring actual danger of
detection, vet I found my own compa-
ny almost insupportable all the time
| the hateful PRESERVATION was going on.
Half an hour after the Alexandra
reached the landing stage 1 was told
that the escort had arrived-a few
horsemen hastily summoned from the
palace-and l went on deck. A group
Of officers surrounded me at some
yards distance, and, scarcely daring to
turn my head in their direction,
waved them an adieu. :
The gangway was in position.
soon crossed it, and a few steps
brought me to the carriage that had
been sent for me. The drive lasted
barely ten minutes, and alighted at
house of moderate size, which might
have been the seat of a country gentle
man of good standing.
/ encountered the housekeeper In the
hall, at the head of three or four ser
wants: and here began my first real
difficulty; neither knew her name mol
| the relations on which she stood with
! the Gear; l feared to create surprise
by being either too stiff or too familiar
| in manner.
But the difficulty was not 50 great al
had anticipated, for the good lady