Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters

FRANK ARMSTRONG, a young British army
officer, who had acquired intimate knowl-
edge of the Russian language and customs was home
in London on leave where he renewed his acquant-
ance, begun in st. Petersburg, with the Earl of
Valletort and his wife, Lord Caringham their son,
and Lady Ermyntrude their daughter The party
attended a lecture at the Anarchists Club, where
they conversed with Russian in the audience. At
a party at the Nalletorts' home at Ascot, Arm
strong found that the Russian Prince Boris
Melnikoff "a Little Carr was counting Ermyn-
trude, with whom he was in love- but dared not
aspire to one so high above him socially. When out
riding, bomb was thrown at Melnkoff, who escaped
uninj ured however, though he was enraged at the
loss of an opal talisman that he wore Armstrong
found the opal and curious to note that it bore
on one side three golden triangles, pyramids the
owned by the Russian at the Anarchists Club
When he returned it to Menikoff, the latter APP
peared anxious that all knowledge of it be kept
secret When he started back to London, Arm
strong encountered at the station the Russian
seen at the meeting, and accosted him. Melnikof
explained to Ernlyntrude that there was tradition
that when the opal was broken his family line would
cease to exist He proposed marriage to her. but
they interrupted before she could answer.
The Russian (whose name was Ivan Stephanovitch)
introduced Armstrong TO young woman named
Natushka, whom he called his sister, who, he said.
the plighted wife of Menikoff. The body of
Russian woman, tied with cords was found in pond
where Melnikoff was assailed. When Arm
strong told Melnikoff of meeting the Russians, the
Prince displayed considerable trepidation; but said
he and Ivan OF the same house, that Natushka
was Ivans ward, not his sister and that foolish
marriage compact for him (Menikoff) and the CIR
had been made in their infancy by their parents.
Melnikoff's valet lured Armstrong into a vacant
house in Lond on, and left him there locked in.
Frank escaped and departed for Anglo-India.
where he was assigned to work with a boundary
commission. A letter from Cunningham announced
that Ermyntrude would marry Melnikoff that
Carlingham the Earl and Ermyntrude going
to spend the winter the Princes estate at Ban
nofka; and that the girl found murdered in the
Ascot pond was named Vera Sassutch. Arm
strong caught one of his servants copying his
letters. The latter explained that he had been paid
to copy all letters containing the name Melnikoff
Boris at Bannofka, begged Ermyntrude to marry
him at once, on the plea that his promotion to the
governorship of the Province prevented his going
to England A Russian, Vladimir Sassuitch, who
secretly entered her apartment, informed her that
his daughter Olga Sassulitch was married to Melni-
koff, and that the Car had declared the marriage
morganatic. Ermyntrude refused to marry Boris.
Ermyntrude was warned anonymously not to visit
the Dukhof Monastery; but dsobeyed the hint.
On the way home the party was attacked and her
father and brother disappeared, evidently having
been taken prisoners.