Warren sheaf., 1901-07-25
R e - BY SYLvANUs COBB. II.

much suspicion, and, moreover, the
place gave him additional advan-
tages to work at his diabolical trade.
His salary from the government was
sufficient for his support, while an
occasional sum from his master en-
abled him to enjoy many of those
luxuries which were denied to most
of his brethren. Olga feared not to
trust this man, for the fellow had
nothing to gain by betrayal, but ev-
erything to lose.
And such was the man who now
entered the dukes private room.
! He entered with a bold air, for,
! though he was somewhat in the
dukes power, yet there was pecul-
| lar satisfaction in knowing that
| when he fell the noble lord must
fall with him, part way at least.
| Brethren in crime cannot count
much upon respect.
'*1 have come, my lord," the priest
! said as he shook the snow from his
robe and then took a seat by the
furnace pipe.
'<And how is the count?" asked
Olga.
<<He is recovering, I am sure"
"Does Kopani say -"
eyes. He says he will have him
| out within a month"; *"
by heavens, savotano, this must
| not be-" ~a ~ -
"But tell me, my lord, what is the
particular need Of the counts de-
parting?' "
The duke gazed his visitor a few
| moments in the face and then said:
**Why, since the affair interests
you, III tell you. Thus far I have
| paid you promptly all your dues,
but I cannot do so much longer un-
less we can make some Of our points
work. My property is on the de-
crease fast. I have not enough left
to live on. Within the past three
years I have made some bad ven
Itures. I put it into But never
! mind; suffice it for me to say that
! I am at the end of my fortune"
The duke was about to say that
he had placed large sums in the
hands Of the Minister Gallitzin for
the purpose of carrying out the con-
spiracy by which the Princess So
phia was to have been placed upon
the throne, with Gallitzin for her
prime minister and himself also high
in power. He chose not to tell Of
this. And no wonder, for heads had
ere then been taken to pay for such
indiscretions.. H. -.
"And now if this count survives
thus have one source cut off. My
half Of Drotzen is used up and mort
gagged to him, but if he dies the
whole comes to me. His father and
myself married sisters, and they
owned Drotzen, and on his side the
count is the only heir. So in the
event of his death the whole comes
to me. You understand this now.''
Perfectly" returned the priest.
"And tits a pity your first effort did
not succeed"
$50 it ISL said the duke uneasily.
"When I sent him with that mes
sage to the gunmaker, I felt sure
he would be slain, and then I hoped
that the other could be disposed of
for having slain him. But the en-
peror has turned all my plans up
side down, for the present at least.
Savotano, you must have hand in
Damonoff's medicine!"
FThat is easily done, my lord,''
replied the priest quietly.
''You have free access there?''
eyes,"
"And can you not watch with him
some night?' ~.
'1 think CAM
"Then do so. When he is dead,
200 ducats are yours"
"Then he dies"
| "Good! And now there is one
more. This gunmaker must be got
out of the way"
"Ah?' uttered Savotano, looking
up incredulously. EDO you mean
SOP"
<fMost assuredly I do"
*<But why him?'
'<Do you fear to undertake the
work % r.
*tNot at all, my lord. I only wish
ed to know why he was wanted
away" .. =
'FThe reason in simple. I must
marry with Rosalind Valdai. Her
property is worth the whole of Drot-
zen twice follower two million Of
Educats."
$50 much?" uttered the priest
opening his eyes with greedy won.
/ der. ...=...@
| ecv 80 u =. c IL. H-.-I 80