New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

the COmmandant, even with the sound of the
rifles which had shot Mistitch fresh in their ears
At last their host reused himself and patted
ZerkOvitCh's shoulder indulgently. We'll.
it's good not to fear he said We didn't fear
the other night, Mademoiselle de Gruche and
and all ended we'll "
" Ended," Marie murmured. half under her
breath.
The Prince laughed you sha'n't make me
afraid he told her, any more than ZerkO-
witch shall make me trust Colonel Stafnitz.
can't say more than that. He turned 70
SOphy. think you'd better stay here till
see what's going TO happen tonight, and
our friends here will do the same. If all is
quiet, you can go home To sleep. If not, we can
give YOU QuarterS-rOugh ones, I'm afraid
He rose from the table and went to a window.
g. The crowd IS thinner; they've gone of to eat
and drink. We shall have one quiet hour, at all
events.
An orderly entered and gave him letter.
He read it and said: Tell General Ste0ovics
| will receive him here at two o'clock" When
the messenger had gone, he turned toward the
table last appeal | suppose all
the old arguments But the General has
nothing to give in exchange for AllstltCh. My
price would be very high"
" No price, no pricei" cried fiery ZerkOvitch.
" He raised his sword against you! He must
diel"
"Yes. he must die" He turned to the win
dow again. Sophy rose from the table and
joined him there, looking over the city. Direct
" beneath was the great gate fianked on either
side bv broad massive walls which seemed 10
grow out of the waters of the river. He was
aware of her movement, though he had not
looked round at her. I've brought you, too,
into this trouble-you, stranger" he said
You don't think m sorry for that."
mo. But it makes nv impotence worse.
He waved his arms toward the city. There
it is-here am II And vet / am pOwerlessl'
SOphy followed his gesture and understood
what was passing in his. mind-the pang OF the
soldier without his armament, the workman
without his tools Their midnight talk flashed
back into recollection. She remembered his
bitter complaint. Under her breath and with
a sigh she whispered. If you had the big
guns nOwH
Low as the whisper was, he heard it-and It
seemed to shoot through his brain He turned
eyes. So he stood moment, then quickly
returned to the table and sat down. Sophy
followed her gaze fixed on his face. ZerkOvitch
ceased writing-he had been drawing up
other plan. Both he and Marie now watched
the Prince. Moments went by in silence.
At last the Prince spoke in a low voice,
almost dreamy. NV guns for Mistitchl
Mistitch against my guns That would be
price-a fair pricel'
The three sat silent
The Zerlovitches, too had heard him talk
of the guns how on them hung the tranquility
of the city. and how on them might hang the
cOuntryS honor and existence. StenOviCS
could give them, if he would IN return for
MiStitCh. But to give up Nistitch was a great
surrender. SOphy'S whisper, almost InvOlun-
tary, the vOiCIng of a regret. hardly even OF
distant aspiration, had raised a problem of
conduct. a question of high policy. The
Princes brain was busy with It, and his mind
perplexed. Sophy sat watching him. not
thinking now but waiting, conscious only that