Warren sheaf., 1901-08-29

No, my lord !: they did their Ice.
but they were interrupted by that
accursed monk, who came backed by
some dozen men,"
"What! Do you mean that Vladi-
mir came there?"
Yes"
Sand with band Of armed
men?"
eyes," a..
"Then, by the gods, there's
treachery somewhere" 4
81 know not what to think, my
lord" returned Savotano in an un-
easy, perplexed tone. ttThe only
men who are absent are Lesko Tot
ma and Frederic Viska, and they are
surely our best men," nj
*'But you see plainly that there
must have boen treachery," exclaim-
ed the duke passionately. ooh, how
would like to know the man! And
did this monk carry off the gun
maker? % r..
"He did. And he captured four
Of our men. I escaped without be-
ing SEEM .=.
"That is fortunate"- ..-'
81 mean that the monk did not
see me, nor did any of his followers.
But the gunmaker saw me-"
tAnd do you think he mistrusted
Ey*a had any hand in the matter Of
his imprisonment"
II should judge so," returned the
priest, with a. peculiar twinge Of
vengeance about the lips. 'The vii
lain. knocked me down"
"Haw
"Aye; the moment he saw me-"
"But do you think he knows any,
thing about it?"
mo. I do not think he does. He
can only suspect"
'fThen we'll be prepared for him
if your own men are to be depended
upon. But leave that to me. I'll fix
that matter with the emperor. I'll
see him this very day, and be sure he
shall have story that can destroy
all evidence which these fellows can
hatch up"
"But I must flee, my lord"
! "Not yet, Savotano. I must have
your help within a very short time.
By the true God, I swear that the
Countess Rosaind Valdai shall be
my wife within the present week.
I'll place the seal of fact upon that
matter at once. Fear not, for I
know my influence over the emperor
will shield you from all harm. Why,
Peter would sooner lose his right
hand than lose me-"
<|Then most surely I will remain,
my lord, for I much wish to perform
that ceremony for you. But who is
this black monk-this Vladimir %
The duke started across the floor,
and for some moments he continued
pacing to and fro. When he stop
ped, he brought his hands together
with an energetic movement, and,
looking the priest sternly in the
face, he said: ....
*'Let that monk be who he may,
whether man or devil, God or saint,
I'll destroy him! I have the power,
and I'll use it. AS warden of the city
have the power to arrest him upon
suspicion Of conspiracy. I'll do It'll
Where is he now?"
"I know not"
stNever mind; I'll to the emperor
first. I'll study my plan, and ere the
sun sets it shall be carried out. By
heavens, I'll be baf1ed thus no more.
could have wished that this gun
maker had been quietly out of the
way, for then all would have been
! clear and plain, and I should not
have feared the trouble of his clam
oring about my ears. But let him
go. ! would not give much for the
life he has left. I'll dispose Of him
soon. But that monk! BY heavens,
he dies at once and without consul
tation with the emperor, for I can
| swear he is conspirator."
*<Good!" calculated the priest.
And thus the business was ar
ranged for the present. Passion
hel ped the duke wondrously in his
conclusions, and the wish was made
into the power. But even before
the priest left the stout nobleman
began to wish that he had very lit
tie more power. In fact, as he came
to reason he began to doubt, but he
gave up not one idea Of the plan he
had formed for the vengeance his
soul so madly craved.
| -. + CHAPTER XVII. ~ s.
sy TRANSACTIONS OF NIGHT.
| ct dare nOti oh T dara not ~