Warren sheaf., 1901-08-22
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MYSTIC TRIBUNAL.

!! CHAPTER XIV. H..
| THE MYSTIC TRIBUNAL
| Away back of the old Cathedral
of Moscow and in a narrow, dark
court which was overlooked by the
towers Of the giant edifce stood
a curiously constructed stone build
ing, which, though not connected
bodily with the cathedral, yet SEEM
ed to belong to it. It was low and
broad, with a fiat, tiled roof and
without visible window. Within
one Of the apartments of this build
ing-an apartment away down in
the bowels of the earth, where the
light of day never came-were seat
ed six men. The room was of fair
size, and the floor, the walls and the
ceiling were of dark stone. Wooden
benches were arranged about the
place, and there were some other ar
ticles Of furniture there, too
strange contrivances they were and
fashioned after various shapes and
patterns. But of that anon. The
place was lighted by large hanging
lamp which had just \g. y
to make the room gloomy and dis-
NAL. The six men sat about a table
on which were a book and sword,
and the most prominent man there
was Vladimir, the monk.
And Vladimir alone exposed his
face. All the rest wore black masks,
their robes being Of the same mel
ancholy hue. They sat there silent
as death, Vladimir gazing down up
on the table and the other five gaz-
ing fxedly upon him. They were
stout men, all of them, and they
bore themselves toward Vladimir
as bears a servant to his acknowl-
edged master.
"The hour is waxing late," said
Vladimir at length, looking up from
the table. His voice sounded in that
place like the echo Of a tomb. It
! was low and hollow, and the others
started as they heard it.
'There's time yet to spare, mas
ter" replied one who sat next the
monk.
<FI trust we shall not be disap-
pointed,'' said Vladimir at the expi-
| ration Of a few moments more.
To this no answer was returned.
At length there came a dull echo
from overhead, and the six dark sit
ters started up to listen. The sound
grew louder, and soon it sent down
into that dismal chamber the notes
of coming footsteps. In few mo-
ments more the heavy iron door
creaked upon it's hinges, and three
men entered, and soon behind them
came three more. Those who came
in advance were two of them leading
the third as a prisoner. And so it
was with those behind. The iron
door creaked again, and when the
heavy bolts had been showed into
their sockets the two prisoners were
! led forward.
*fMaster,''. spoke one of the new
corners, eve have brought the pris-
oners-two Of them-as you COM
manded."
<FIt is WE'LL" said Vladimir. 'Let
them be broug ght before u.s.
AS the two men are brought to
where the light can strike upon
their f aces we see the two guides
who conducted Ruric Nevel to his
place of confinement. One Of them
was he who met Ruric in the street,
and the other is the one who guided
him into the old bathhouse with the
lantern in his hand. They shudder-
ed fearfully as they gazed around
upon the dismal scene, and their
looks plainly showed that they knew
! not why they had been brought
thither. .... X
FFLesko Totma!" pronounced VIA
dimir.
The first of the prisoners-he
who had met Ruric in the street
started as he heard that name and
tried to speak. "
care you the man ?" asked the
monk, looking into his face. .
eyes, holy father" the wretch
tremblingly replied. #. "
|EThen stand you here in front Of
me-"
The fellow was moved up in front
of the table, and surprise and fear
seemed to be struggling for the mas
terry over him, for herecognized now
the strange monk about whom he
had probably heard so much,
*Lesko Totma," said Vladimir
low and slowly, sfyou have been seen
much in the company Of a hump
backed priest named Savotano. You
know such a priest, do you not?"
1 The man hesitated. He gazed fur