The Washington times., 1905-02-19
CHAPTER xII-(centinued).

ton put her to death on mere suspicion
Ito a death to which you have helped
10 condemn her by your foul suspicious,
and the more foul utteranee of them.
Shame on you. Ivan d 'Eeheyeria! Shame
on your!
Pain eontorted his face, and he was
silent.
Ibid you fire the bullet that so nearly
killed me?'' l asked.
''-So, did not do that. but I directed
that it be done. You would not have
escaped il l had held the pistol
Perhaps not. 1t is unimportant, any
way. Have you not wondered why /
brought you to this house?"
ITO torture me; that. at least, is what
YOU are doing. -
L brought you here to save you
.-Fo save mel"
Yes: from the folly of your mouth
You are a man in years. but boy in
every act you commit. Have you man
hood enough left IN ycu to want to
save your sister, who now. thanks to
you, has two enemies TO face? Russia
would send her to Siberia, and the
Nihilists would murder her. She would
have sacrificed herself for you--she Of
fered to do so. Are you willing to
sacrifice yourself for her2''
tGod knows that I am.
'sWiil you prove it?''
'sOh. that I might
You have the chance. ] cannot quite
trust you Ivan, or. for her sake. I
would loosen YOUR bonds and set you
free now But you would hasten to your
friends and warn them Of their danger,
and by that you would destroy your
sister forever-by that act you would
Kill her. She is safe and viii be safe,
if they are not warned of what is 10
happen tonight. Shall I set you free,
and trust to your honor not to go 10
them %
.'No-no-no, For Gods sake, no!
Leave me bound. Tie me more tightly.
Do not let me -oi Kill me If you will.
but do nothing to injure her. Oh, are
you telling the truth?''
1.-THE whole truth, Ivan. I viii leave
you as YOU are until l return. 1 do not
think ysu will escape; | dc not think
that YOU will try to do So But you
must understand one thing: This night
forever ends your connection with Mill
ism. This be the sacrifice you must
make To save your sister. VIII yon
make II -
IF it viii save her I will make it.
But viii il?
"If I find you here wheR I return,
and If you are still in the same mocd, ]
ply To that question for herself -
] left him then, and having altered my
appearance sufficiently so that I would
Tot be recognized IN the darkness, and
being assured that the orders that ]
had given respecting the work of my
men for the night would be carried out
I hastened 10 the palace
I knew that had difficulty to face
for although I had unlimited confidence
in he chivalry and generosity of Prince
Michael, I also knew that he had an
ungovernahle temper, and I began to
fear that my delay in following him
might have led him to say something
te the Emperor which would encompass
ne with puzziing conditions
As soon as I arrived at the palace
was told that the prince was waiting
me in his apartments and [ hurried To
him.
He rose as 1 entered the room, and
hewing stiffly. without extending his
hand, as was his invariable habit, said
coldiv:
You are late, Mr. Darlington. I ex-
pected you an hour earlier, at least"
am very sorry. prince" I replied
more sorry than I can say. TO have
kept You waiting, but 1 have been rn-
ayoida-bly detained. =
May / ask if it was at my house?,
was at my own apartments
.eAh.''
II was evident that he did not believe
me, and that he meant me to under.
stand that he did not, but I resolved
that / would not quarrel with him
Therefore. 1 remained silent
May | venture to ask an explanation
OF the extraordinary proceedings of the
eyenifag2" he asked iciIy
Yes; l think / owe you that much
But would it not be better If I frs
offer my respects to the Gar? Then
can return here, and we can enjoy {
long chat together
His majesty knows that you wer.
to come to me first. After [ hav.
heard you, we viii go to him together,
Am 1 to understand, prince, that yol
have told his majesty anything of thu
occurrences OF tonight?''
You are to understand exactly that
l have told him all; at least all that
could tell
Indeed! In that case, we will go Il
him together. Such explanation as
have TO make will be made in his pres
ence. Whatever explanations there ar,
TO make are entirety in the princess be
half and / regret that I took you a
your word and supposed that you woul<
walt for me. She can offer you he
own thanks at a more opportune tire
For q full minute we stood facInt
each other thus. both silent, and thei
be turned and led the way in the direc
tion OF the official cabinet
prince - / said. just before we enter
ed. you have no cause to quarrel witt
me- Remember that in the interviev
that is to come"
He stopped short. turned and faces
me there before the door of the Car
cabinet.
Are you quite sure of that?" he de
manded.
Il am quite sure. remember anothe
interview Of this kind, when you ad
yised nae what not to do. You hay
no warmer friend in Russia than DAME
Darlington, prince"
For moment he hesitated.
i saw that he WAS hesitating, for
knew that he really liked me. But
also knew that he loved the princess