The Winslow mail., 1900-12-13

| you may rest assured that I shall
do my best, Miss Clough, both for the
princes sake and your own" / re-
piled. ''It would be dangerous to have
your brother removed from the posi-
tion to which he was gazetted last
night. Such a step would probably
precipitate some horrible outrage on
the part of the nihilistr. / think I
may promise though, without boast
ing, that Capt. Clough will have little
opportunity for injuring his imperial
highness with the circumspect watch
that the detectives and l will keep
over him.
THANK you, thank you, a thousand
times" she said, gratefully ''That is
just what 1 wanted"
"The obligation is on our side,' 1
answered, smiling, as I ushered her to
the door.
stood watching her drive off in
her smart little victoria. and then be-
gan to laugh at myself for the senti-
mental day-dreams that were weaving
in my matter-of-fact brain.
But the laugh died out on my lips
as | considered the serious news that
Miss Clough had brought me. Her
impressions of Princess Olga Skoben-
ki closely tailed with my own ex-
perience, as [ knew that for years
the princess had been the terror and
bugbear of the Russian police.
knew the princess in society, and
a sudden idea came into my mind
that l would call on her and see as
much as possible how the land lay.
1 found her in her blue and silver
boudoir smoking Russian cigarettes.
She was surprised, and / fancied for a
moment alarmed, at my entrance.
"This is an unexpected pleasure, Sir
George" she said, smiling; you have
not been to see me for ages"
Business, my dear princess, bust
coffee that she had poured out for me.
Il am worked to death on account
of your compatriot's visit. l only
hope that you nihilists will refrain
from troubling the poor chap while he
is over here"
The princess arched her dark eye
brows in well-affected surprise.
''Nihilists!" she repeated "Oh, [
am only nihilist so far as it furnishes
fashionable excuse for living in Eng
land. You know quite we'll that
would not hurt a fly, much less
prince of my own nation"
l thought this pretty good from
woman who had stabbed with her
own hand the chief of the Ninth Sec
tion in her palace at ST. Petersburg.
However, l only smiled and took out
my cigarette-case.
Won't you try some of these? I
got them from Moscow this morning."
interrupted the princess, handing me
her own case.
1 took a goldtipped cigarette and
lighted it. 1t proved a delicious
smoke.
"You like them?" said she, watch
ing me intently.
"They are fit for the gods, princess"
''Give me your case and will fill
it for you"
L handed over my silver case and
submitted myself to her generosity.
"Where is your gold case?" she
asked, when the other was filled. "The
one you keep for grand occasions"
mo, no, princess, you have been
quite liberal enough l replied.
"Not at ALL" she said. "You may
have the chance of presenting it to
the prince, and 1 am sure he would
appreciate these cigarettes"
And while / drank some more coffee
she filled the gold case also. We
chatted on Indifferent topics for some
time and then l took my leave, having
just said enough to Princess Olga to
show that L was on my guard against
her.
After leaving Princess Olga's house
1 had just time for dinner and to take
hanson to Waterloo. Here 1 joined
the company who were to proceed by
special train to meet Prince Sergius.
They included the Russian ambassa
dor, with several of his attaches, IS
detectives and officials of the secret
service, and several English officers,
among whom was Capt. Rupert
Clough.
During our journey down l took an
opportunity of rallying Clough on his
evidently low spirits.
my word, Fraser" he replied, bit
terly, 81 have enough to make me
miserable. | see no alternative be-
tween crime and dishonor and blow
ing my brains out. The latter appears
the more enviable course to pursue"
He gave q hollow laugh and stared
moodily out of the window of the sa-
loon.
Come, come" 1 said, don't let
yourself get into this morbid state of
mind. If you tell me your troubles
perhaps l can see way out of them"
But he only shook his head, so l
smoked on in silence until our arrival
at Portsmouth.
Prince Sergius Mendelejeff landed at
the pier at $50 on the following morn
ing, where we were waiting to receive
him.
His imperial highness is of middle
height, dark compleXioned. with clear,
well-cut features, and a heavy black
beard and mustache. On this occasion
he wore a blue undress uniform, and
seemed much pleased with his infor-
NAL reception. | was included in the
presentations that were made to him,
and had the honor of leading the way