The Washington times., 1905-02-19

/ turned so that / half faced the
prince, and saw that he made motion
as if to spring upon and strike me; bUe
he did not dare to commit such an act
in the Cars presence, and long train
ing got the better of his temper.
Why, sir. did you take the Princess
Olga d Echeveria to the house of Prince
MichaeI?" continued the Car.
Because l believed him to be an hon
orable man. who would stand ready to
protect her good name, and conceal from
all the world, even from your majesty
the fact that she was there. Because
he had told me that he loved her, and
l was innocent enough to believe that
his love was unselfish; and further. be-
cause | regarded him as my friend
There are three reasons, your majesty
any one of which seems to me to be
81 ficient..'
But why was it necessary to take
her anywhere?''
That. your majesty. is q question
which 1 must answer to you clone. "
do you mean that you win not tell
the prince?"
II mean that 1t was my intention to
tell the prince as soon as / reached the
palace, bus that now / deem it unneces-
sary. He has taught me a lesson IN
hospitality that is as new as it is
unique"
Perhaps she will explain the strange
affair herself. =.
II have no doubt that she will, your
majesty
Il have sent for her. She will remain
here In the palace as long as danger
threatens her. She should be here by
now
xx-f,a
you sent?"
THE captain of the palace guard.
Captain Durnief?'
Yes"
/ looked at my watch, replaced it IN
my pocket, and then said calmly:
Captain Durnief Will not return with
the princess, your majesty.
Then / saw the heavy frown of rising
anger | knew my man, for kings and
emperors are less than men of the
world when it comes TO studying them
Their own opportunities for observing
others are so much more limited. The
Gar angry was a much easier man to
influence than the Car satirical
What do you mean?'' he demanded.
why will Durnief fail to carry out
my personal orders? Dare the prin-
cess refuse to accompany him?"
She most certainly would not have
the bad taste to refuse, and if she did.
the captain would doubtless bring her
by force. only he has the misfortune
to be now prisoner"
"Durnief a prisoner? The captain
of my personal guard arrested? BY
your order, sir?
by my order, your majesty
You have dared to do this?"
Il would dare to arrest the prince,
or your own son. if 1 found him ininl-
zeal to your interests, and / beg you
to understand that I gave the order
befort I knew that you had sent him
on tbs errand for the princess
1T IS lie!
It was the prince who spoke: but
before I could reply to the accusation,
the Czar waved his hand and com
manded silence.
was it the princess who Informed
you that Durnief was a Nihilist?" he
asked calmly, the smile returning to
his face.
No." 1 replied, understanding the
motive behind the question, for
could read the Gear like a book, and
already knew much concer ming the
villainy of Durnief, but it was he
who informed you that she was one
BY heaven, Darlington, you know
too much. / begin to think that the
| days of your usefulness are past inst
Petersburg. There seems to be nc
limit to the authority that you as.
sumo and now you have begun to die.
tate to me. L will not have 1t. com
mana that you tell me why you
thought it necessary to take the prin-
cess from her own house tonight"
| I knew that the crucial moment ha6
| come I knew that if 1 weakened now
| [ was lost The only escape for ms
| was to see the Gar alone. and that
determined to do. The manner OF tht
| prince upon my arrival at the palace
| his conduct in the cabinet, the greet
/ ing that the Czar had youchsafed
me, and his bearing toward me sfnct
| them led me to a shrewd guess and
/ determined TO hazard it. and to play
my last card, so to speak, by making
one bold statement.
| your majesty" I said deliberately
| has never until now had less thar
perfect confidence in me. The prince
! being Jealous, and too impatient IL
await an explanation at nay hands, has
| prevailed upon you TO order me under
! arrest for a time, in order that I may
not return to his house, where I 1ef
the princess. II ! do not mistake. hs
now has such an order, signed by yoi
| in person, in one of his pockets. Per
| NIT me to tell you and him that th1rs
/ is another reason why he procured
that order, for my men at this momen
| have instructions to place him undel
arrest. He only sought to anticipate
me. that is all. Order him to hi.
apartments, and to remain in them
for unlesg am free TO act as 1 see fl
! this night, / would not give that
and ] snapped my fingeTs-''for th'
| life of a single member Of the roya
| family"
| CuApTFP XIV