Warren sheaf., 1901-07-11
? 4P R By SYLvANUS COBB, Jr.

"Ihls IS the man, sire, olga said
as he led his companion forward.
The emperor gazed upon Urzen a
, few moments in silence and then
said: ...
tFYou were present at this duel,
were you not, sir? ?" 4 & -
tt1 was, SIRE" the man answered,
bowling low. ~.
"And he was at their first meeting
also, sire," interposed the duke.
"Ah, yes. Then you know all
about the AFFAIR."" i. q
eyes, SIRE" answered Urzen.
"Then tell me about it." ...
First, SIRE" commenced the man,
casting sort of assuring glance at
the duke, 'the count went to the
gunmakers shop to get him to-
to-
fIet me explain here, SIRE" inter-
rupted the duke as his puppet hesi-
tated, "this man may not know
properly about that mission. Liv-
ing with me is young girl, a ward
of mine, gentle, timid being, who
has been somewhat a comfort to me
in my loneliness. In childhood she
was acquainted with this Ruric Me-
vel, and now the fellow has presu1n-
ed thereupon several times to insult
her of late with his disgusting fa-
miliarity. She dared not remon-
strate with him for fear Of violence,
so she referred the matter to me.
The count has been anxious to win
her for a wife, so I thought him not
an improper person to send on the
delicate mission. Accordingly I
wrote sort Of promise in the form
of voluntary assurance pledging
the signer not to make himself fa-
miliar with the lady any more. And
at the same time he received the as
surance that his presence was very
disagreeable to the person mention
ed. This I supposed he would sign
at once, and as the count aspired to
her hand I deemed it no more than
right that he should render her this
service. Now, sire, this gentleman
may continue" ..., ..-........ S..
Thus hidden Urzen resumed:
"The noble count was desirous,
sire, that I should accompany him,
and I did so. Upon reaching the
mans shop we found him at work
upon a gunlock, I think. He re-
ceived the note, but refused to sign
it. The count urged him to sign in
mild, persuasive language until the
fellow became insolent. Then he
used some stronger terms, and I
think he made some threat Of what
he would do if his insults to the lady
were repeated, and thereupon the
gunmaker struck him a. furious
blow in the face and knocked him
down. l cannot remember all the
threatening language which the fel-
low used, but it was fearful"
"And how about the duel?" asked
the emperor.
In answer to this Urzen went on
and related what he had prepared
on the subject, and it need only be
said that the report was about on a
par with what we have already
heard. He even went so far as to
swear that the count had tried re-
peatedly to compromise matters aft
er the conflict had begun, that he
begged of Nevel to give up the bat
tie, but that the latter, thirsting for
the young nobleman's blood, kept
hotly, madly at it. ..
It was at this juncture and with
out referring to the surgeon that
the emperor sent for Ruric, and,
having learned that a lieutenant Of
the Khitagorod guard was present
at the duel, he sent for him also.
Orsa arrived first and was present
when Ruric came.
And now Ruric Nevel stood be-
fore his emperor. Peter gazed upon
him for some moments, and then he
said:, ~
f'Sir, thy bearing is bold.' ".
F'Why should it not be, sire, when
/ stand before one whom I honor
and respect and do not fear?" So
spoke Ruric calmly and with pecul-
lar dignity.
F:Not fear % repeated the auto
crat sternly. ~5. .o. -
'No, sire. Peter Of Russia is not a
man to be feared by those who love
and honor him." t ~s..- -
FFInsolence!" uttered the duke.
The emperor looked up into his
face, and he added: NJ
|tNow, sire, you can see for your
self some Of his traits Of character" :"
'Aye," returned Peter, Il see.
They are wonderful. I knew not
that among my artisans there were
men of such boldness."