Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27


as if | wanted one, and when | gave him the
key of my bag he laid out my clothes with the
quick dizziness of well trained valet.
told him | shouldn't need him any more at
present; but when had bathed and changed
| found him still lowering about in the next
room. He had set tea table, on which the
silver samovar was kissing invitingly. He
wanted to stay and wait on me; but wouldn't
have that. Smart and attentive as he was he
got on my nerves and felt I'd rather be alone
So dismissed him, and, in obedience to some
instinct | didn't try to analyze, crossed the
room softly and locked the door through which
he had passed
I HAD scarcely seated myself and poured out
glass of delicious Russian tea,-which is as
wine to water compared with the crude bever-
age, diluted with cream, that Americans and
Western Europeans call tea,-when | heard a
queer little sound behind me. glanced back,
and saw that one section of the big bookcase
had moved forward slightly. With my right
hand gripping the revolver, which had trans
ferred from my travelling suit to the hip pocket
of my evening clothes, crossed swiftly to the
alcove, just as some three feet of the shelves
swung bodily inward, revealing doorway be-
hind, in which stood none other than Mishka
The fool has gone: but is the outer door
locked?" he asked in cautious undertone
= Yes" | answered noticing as | spoke that
That is well. Approach, Highness all is
safe!' he whispered down the darkness behind
him and fattened himself against the narrow
wall space as second figure came into sight,
Grand Duke Loris himself, who greeted me
with outstretched hand.
Il do not care for this sort of thing, this elab
crate secrecy, Mr. Wynn he said softly in
English: but unfortunately it is necessary
Let us go through to your dressing room.
There it is less likely that we can be overheard"
| followed him in silence He sat himself
down on the wide marble edge of the bath and
looked at me. as stood before him, as though
his brilliant blue eyes would read my very SOUL
so you have come-as l thought you
would And you are very welcome. But why
have you Gomez"
Because hope to serve your Highness-
and her whom we both love-" | answered
promptly.
Yes, was sure of that. though we have met
only twice or thrice. / am seldom mistaken in
a man whom | have once looked in the eyes,
and | know can trust you, as l dare trust few
others-none within these walls save the good
Mishka. He has told you that am virtually
prisoner here?"
| bowed assent
L am closely guarded. my every word. my
every gesture, noted; though when the time is
ripe, or when she sends word that she needs
me. shall slip away There is great game
for us both to play. shall give you the outline
tonight, when | come to you again. That
staircase yonder leads down to my apartments
| had it made three years ago by foreign work
men, and none save myself and the PaVlOfS-
and you now-knows of its existence, SO far
In public must be strangers. After the
formal audience l give you tonight / shall
probably ignore you altogether. But as Could
the American farming expert, you will be able
to come and go, riding the estates with Pavloff,
or without him, and yet rouse suspicion.
Tonight shall return, as said; and now
reUotr.
He left just in time: for minute two
after | had unlocked the door Nicolai reap
peared and conducted me to an anteroom.
where found quite throng of officers, one of
whom introduced himself as Colonel Grodwitz
and presented me to several of the others.
They all treated me with the easy courtesy that
we'll bred Russians assume-and discard-with
such facility; but then, and later, had to be
constantly on guard against innumerable ques-
tons, which, though asked in what appeared to
be perfectly frank and spontaneous manner,
were, was convinced, sprung on me for the
purpose of ascertaining how much | knew OF
Russia and its complicated affairs
But l was quite ready for them, and if they
had any suspicious | hope they abandoned
them for the present.
A FTER dinner respondent footman brought
message to Grodwitz, who thereupon told
me that he was to conduct me to his High
ness, who would receive me
Say, what shall have to do?" asked con-
fidentially passed along magnificent
corridor i've been to levee held by the
King of England; but don't know anything
of Russian court etiquette