By Neva's Waters.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 67, 18 March 1908, Page 10

By Neva's Waters.

Steing an Episode of the Secret History of Alexander the First, Czfcr of All the Kussi&s.

BY JOHN R. CARLING. AUTHOR OF "THE fHAt>OW 0? THE CZAE," "THE VIKING'S SKULL " "THE WEIED PICTOTU!.'

CHAPTEII XATII. 1 The night, long-looked for, had come, and Wiifrid; throwing a cloak over his fancy costume, was driven off in a covered carriage to the French Embassy, in fulfilment oi a promise to escort Pauline to the mase^ucradt. While wailing fur her in the entrance hail, he was somewhat struck by the oduiry -.1 the situation . that he, the nephew of Great Britain's representative, should be awaiting the daughter of one who stood for a power hostile tc Great Britain a thought quickly cut short by the entering of Pauline, fresh from the hands of . her maid. Naturally the first thing each did was to look at, the dross of the other. Pauline" showed over Wilfrid's costume ' the simple delight of a schoolgirl. And in truth he presented a majestic figure, equipped, as he was, in a lotty silver htluic-i. with silver wings, a corselet of "silver mail, a rich baiclne. a horn, a . sword, and all the accompaniments of a Norse warrior; his look and bearing gave proof oi his descent —he was the i very ideal of a viking chief. i Pauline was moved with a thrill of pride at having for her escort one so handsome iv person aud dress as Wilind, while he in turn felt a similar pleasure as he viewed Pauline's graceful and stately figure. She was dressed lo represent Iwght, in a dainty lobe of darkest blue - glittering with stars, a silver descent gleaming in her raven hair. Conscious of Wilfrid's look of admiration, Pauline coloured with secret pleasure, becoming somewhat pair again as she noticed his eyes resting upon the iigure of an imperial crown embroidered upon her sleeve "A secret token by which you are to be known to some favoured one?" Her smiling assent gave Wilfrid a momentary pang of jealousy, a feeling strange and illogical, for, seeing that he had his own lady to meet, what did Pauline's doings matter to him? "i am as you are," said she, touching the scarf upon his Xeft arm. "This is not worn without a purpose?" Offering his arm Wilfrid escoried her to the carriage, and they drove off to the masouerade. On the northern side of that river-arm known as the (ireat Ncvka, and fronting the. Aptekarski Island, there now stands a long line of Government buildings, whose site in the opening years of the nineteenth century was occupied by the Sumaroff Palace and its beautiful gardens —gardens ample enough to furnish a camping ground for all the Czar's armies. On this particular night—a warm lovely night in July—the halls and gardens of the palace were gay with a throng of picturesquely-clad nia-squeraders, drawn irom the noblest blood in the land. Some good people had affected to be scandaliscid at the holding of such a feta -with-Paul but femj months ..dead. Their criticisms vanished, however, when it became known that Prince SumarofT had not only obtained Alexander's sanction for the fete, but a promise also that the Imperial family itself would be present. "There is a time to mourn and a time, to dance." had been the Emperor's remark —so it was said—and the time for mourning might be considered as fairly past. On arriving at the palace Wilfrid and Pauline, both closely masked, entered the- reception room, where their cards were scrutinised by liveried officials, after j which the two were free to go whither | they would. Their steps were immediate- ] ly directed to the famous ballroow, j known as the Hall of Mirrors, the glory j of the-SumarofT Palace. Crystal columns 1 sustained the roof of this hall, a hall that seemed, far more spacious than its actual size, due to the fact that its •walls consisted of mirrors, whose multiplying reflections created the illusion of endless vistas of twinkling lights and swaying dancers. Rare flowers growing from porphyry vases perfumed tbe air with their fragrance. Here and there were fountains which diffused a refreshing coolness around. The tall windows ranged along a colonnaded w-all were left npea to the night, revealing the moonlit gardens fair with marble terraces and statuary gleaming amid dark foliage. Wilfrid, familiar as he was with the various capitals of Europe, had seen nothing to rival the splendour of this ballroom, which, tilled as it was with a crowd of masqueraders, all dressed in. fanciful costumes, made a picture full of colour, brilliance, and movement. The gigantic bronze chandelier, hanging from the middle of the ceiling was a superb work'of art. radiant as a sun, a mass of flowers and foliage, and—what? Wilfrid turned his ear to listen more attentively—yes. from it came the orchestral music that regulated the steps of the dancers. The chandelier was large enough both to hold and hide the musicians! "Big as it is," said Pauline, "the one in the Hermitage is bigger." The dance—it was the first of the night—had come to an end, and while a few couples had seated themselves, the greater number were slowly promenading around the ballroom. Ac they passed by in gay talk Wilfrid scanned the shape of each fair masker, and tried to catch the sound of her voice in the hope that he might hear the Duchess speaking: nor did he neglect to hold his arm in such a position that his lady's favour might be clearly &een. Now. during this promenading, Wilfrid's attention was struck by a tall .■. r entlem_n—be was more than six feet high—clHd in the glittering dress of a i.'rusader. This individual, while going •y. (bird a keen glance both upon Pauline--:i.i Wilfrid. Through the holes of his mask a. pair of steely blue eyes seemed to f!a_ii anger; th next moment their .nvnci- had passed by. "Prince Ouvaroff, r v my name isn » t tOiiitciiriy." mummied Wiifrid. "Which i s Cuvarofl?" asked Pauline. ~ ', '* '." : hc dres s Of a Crusader." replied Wilfrid, indicating the rcccdinfigure. ° "Wcs, that is Ouvaroff." She spoke with a sort of hesitancy tha gave Wilfrid the impression that wnilo she herself did not really believe .Tt 'V.r^ 8 ° uva - r °tf, she was desirous that Wilfrid should! An odd impreasion certainly, but there it was. The music, suspended after tha first fiance, now started again. Eager as Wilfrid was to begin iis search for the I>uchess, ho nevertheless realised that it week? be uzm_____rly to xecori Bamline

to the ball without offering to tread one I measure' at least with her. "The second dance is beginning. It is i a waltz. Shall we " i Pauline's manner was odd. not to say perplexing. She hesitated —nay. Wilfrid - fancied he could' detect a look of fear in j her eyes, then she gave a grateful smile. ! and the next moment to the sound of j sweetest melody she was floating around j in the dreamy mazes of a waltz, the very | dance in -which Wilfrid had no superior. The waitz is the most voluptuous of I dances, and Pauline drank fully of its charms. She had no need to look where j slip, was going. Wilfrid's touch, strong ' yet tender, steered her gracefully and | lightly through the m.iving throng. The j ballroom, the lights, the dancers —all seemed to vanish. ;>he and Wilfrid were the sole beings in a Paradise of their own. With her lips parted into an un-consr-ious smile she yielded herself to the delicious spell of intoxication; her eyes half closed, she rested on his arm, swaying to and fro on a billowy sea of I pleasure. Could her wish at that mom- I em have had its fiillilnirnl this dance J would have lasted for ever. Wilfrid, to his shame be it said, felt ! little oi this fascination: his pulse beat.] iperhaps, two or three above the normal. l no more. His attention at Pauline was j mere apparent than real; his mind was j dwelling on lhe Duchess, and wln-ncver . any lady, golden-haired and blue-eyed, | floated past. A\e was sur? to receive from I him a scrutinising glance. Then came a sudden surprise. -■Baroness!'' The word, though but faintly whispered, was nevorth"les* heard not only by the person for whose cur i' was intended. but also hy Wilfrid. Th? voice was a man's, and it was marked, so Wilfrid thought, by a curious intonation expressive of reproach at her evident pleasure iv the waltz. Wilfrid looked around, curiou* to discover who had been the speaker. Among the masked forms circling about them was the very Crusader whom hi' halfsuspected to be Ouvaroff. Doubtless it was he who had spoken; at any rate, the voice was not unlike that of the Prince. He glanced at his partner, but Pauline, though conscious that Wilfrid had heard the name, made no remark, and Wilfrid, responsive to her mood, refrained from comment. It seemed, however, a safe c-one-iusion to draw that the speaker, whether'Ouvaroff or not. was the man in . whom Pauline was interested; he had J recognised her by the sign upon her sleeve.. The name had roused Pauline from her dreamy'stale : she continued dancing, but its pleasure was gone. The little hand within his own was trembling very much. The waltz over he led her to a -eat. "I will release you now; it is time you looked for—for her! - ' said Pauline, indie-ating the scarf upon hi> arm. " Please go," slip added, as he hesitated. There was something odd in her manner, a sort of defying and scorning of herself, and yet withal n touch of sadness in her voice, as though, in spite of her command, she was reluctant to part with him. "Farewell. Baroness —for a time." said Wilfrid, and with a bow he turned away, ..leaving her seated upon a lounge. Re did not quit tiic ballroom, but, making his way to one of the open windows that gave egress to the gardens, stood there in a somewhat conspicuous position, his embroidered favour clearly showing, to the end that if the Duchess should be in the ballroom, it might certify her of his presence. While standing there he could not | help wondering what had cau.-ed Pauline jto take so strange an interest in Ouvaroff—that is, supposing the Crusader to be Ouvaroff. What was implied by hi.s whispered word "Baroness!'' so meaningly emphasised': Reproach that she should be found dancing with one so dishonour-1 able as Wilfrid. Had he seen Pauline recently and given her his vcrMon of , the affair at the Silver Birch, openly avowing that he would tike vengeance upon Wilfrid? Was Pauline going to ' use her influence over Oucaroff with the object of getting him to desist from the attempt? If so, she had chosen a strange time and a strange place for endeavours ' that, however, well-meant on her part, would not be very acceptable to Wilfrid, who much preferred to punish with a little blood-letting the presumed traducer of the fair and innocent Duchess. From time to time he turned his eyes in the direction of Pauline, who, seated . where he had left her, seemed intent only on watching him. t ' It suddenly struck him that, so long [ as he stood there. Pauline would not be approached by Ouvaroff. Not wishing . therefore, to deprive her of the desired j interview", Wilfrid walked slowly out upon the terrace, thinking that, if the ; Duchess were really in the ballroom, and ■ hael seen the embroidered scarf, she . would, perhaps, after a reasonable time, i follow in his wake. . From the terrace a flight of slops dc- . seeuded to the palace gardens, now in all the glory of their summer foliage. . Voices and laughter from near and far showed that many of the masquerades , preferred the purer air of night to the atmosphere of the ballroom. And then, . too, the gardens with their shady walks, winding here and there beside silver I lakes, formed an ideal place for love- . making. i As he had not been followed by the ; Duchess, Wilfrid resolved to make a tour of these gardens in the hope of i meeting her. P.apidly traversing this or that path, as chance directed, ho came in the course of his exploration upon a terI race over-hanging tbe N'evka. A little ; group was looking down upon the , smooth-flowing water. ; "There goes my fan!" said a fair • ! masker, lamenting the loss of that ari i tide, accidentally dropped by her into ; j the river. "A hundred roubles floating • away." j "Ask the Bareness Puno to restore ;, it you to-morrow," said a gentleman be- | side her. This chance mention of Pauline's ' j name caused Wilfrid to listen for a mo- ; i ment. [ "i don't understand " beean the lady. 6 7 "Why. look you," replied her comt panion, "she goes to-morrow to her surae mer residence, the castle on her little iss land of Runo, some three miles down the i, river." "You mean that " it '"The current of the river strikes di- -- rectly upon the eastern side of Runo, c upon the shore called the Silver Strand, ■t Things carried down by the river are c always——-"'

'•Always?" j "Well, say usually, cast ashore upon this same strand. There's a romantic I story that a former Prince Sumarofl, be-1 , ing in love with a daughter of a former • Baron Runo, used to communicate with | her by putting a letter into the cleft of ] a stick and thro-ring it into the river.; An hour afterwards the lady would be j ; reading the message. So, perhaps, your I fan *' •_ i j An interesting anecdote, but as it had nothing to do with the whereabouts of I [ the Duchess. Wilfrid passed on, coming [ ! finally to a lonely and quiet spot, a spot as far us he could judge the most re-1 ! mote from the palace. Just as he was . on the point of turning back, his ear was suddenly caught by the sound of voices coining from the other side of some shrubbery against which he was standing. -The Nova's waters are deep." | It was not the oddity of the speaker's remark so much as his voice that at- j traded Wilfrid. That voice he could j 1 have sworn to out of ten thousand. The j speaker was none other than Izak, the , driver, the companion of his long wintry | journey from Kowno to St. Petersburg., What ' was he doing in these gardens upon a nieht when entrance was denied to all save persons of rank? Perhaps he had left off his profession of driver to become one of the many servitors of . Prince SumarofT. | Peering warily through the shrubbery, Wilfrid caught'a glimpse of four men, three sitting upon a rustic seat, with a! fourth lzak. standing in the attitude ot . addressing them. All were masked, and •ill el-id in the chocolate-coloured velvet Sard "old lace that marked the livery of Prnce SumarofT. Put something ! told Wilfrid that iv .spite of this attire lzak was no-lackey; the dress was as- ! «,..rod ior that night only. The man no I lon-cr carried himself with an obsenuiSim and servile air. He spoke with -uthoritv and even witlt dignity, leading Wilfrid to suspect that he was a spy of the Government, and one occupying as high a post as is bestowed upon these ! a -, en .s Desirous as Wilfrid was of hndi'i'n- the Duchess, there was something m itirc talk of these men that fixed lumi !to the spot. - -The Neva's waters are deep! renested lzak. , .. ' 1 "Hush, speak low." said one of lhe "■•We are safe enough here," returned Izak "No one will wander so far as £ . from the palace. That is why I have chosen this nook for our little mcetin". Now. what would you ay if TTore to talk of a thousand roubles to j each'!'' „ •That you are lying. .., e _ s ed you would say so \.u seP what I am lifting with my hand,. '-Earth'it is-our common mother I place it upon my head, and what does | that signify?'' 1 "That you arc on oath. ••*o- the most solemn oath known among us. By this, then, know that I am speaking the truth when I say that, if we do it. a thousand roubles to cacli will be our reward." An interval of silence followed this promise. "How did he find out that she was here?" asked one of the- men presently. •Tier mask accidentally slipped off." "But if it's now on her face again, howarc we to recognise her?" "By her dress. There are 500 ladies hereto-night, so I'm told, but only one with her costume. She wears a greydomino " """So do many other ladies." "Let mc finish. There are many grey dominoes here—true, but look well at them, and you will see that their material is velvet, silk, or something equally costly, whereas hers is modest serge trimmed with silver cord, the simplest costume of the -whole ball. Her mask is of grey silk." "What made her venture here tonight?'' "She wishes to see the Czarina." "And she may be having her wish at this moment." "Hardly. She must wait till the sup-per-hour comes."' "W'iiy so?"' "U silly". Aren't all the ladies masked? Xo one knows who's who till the general unmasking at supper-time.'' "And when she sees the Czarina— what then?" i "She's bent on giving her a letter. It's ' our business to see that it be not given, ' and the sooner we set about our task : the better." Thus advised, the Uiree men rose and ' moved off, lzak leading the way, bent, 1 as his words showed, on preventing some ' girl or woman from giving a letter to [ the Empress; but how was it possible to stop its presentation without the employment of questionable methods? Wilfrid by chance had evidently light!ed upon some sinister plot. Ever ready to oppose knavery, he put aside the Duchess for a time, determined to follow ', the men, and to defend, at the sword's , point if necessary, the woman against j -whom this plot wa3 directed. - Now, had the men's way lain parallel ' with the course of the shrubbery, it 1 would have been an easy matter for Wil- ! frid to shadow them; but it so happened > that they turned off in a line almost at right angles to this thicket, which was ' too densely set to permit the passage of ' a human body. Wilfrid ran, now to the right and now to the left, and when at last he did come upon a gap the men ' were out of sight. With no clear idea as to the direction ' taken by them, Wilfrid, nevertheless, ; hurried forward, but his attempt to discover them proved a failure. His good fortune took him again to , the terrace fronting the river, and there, i a few paces off, with one hand lightly r resting upon the marble balustrade, stood a graceful figure dressed in a sim,- , I pie grey domino, with silver cording. ■ Silent and motionless she stooel, as if ■ | absorbed in the beauty of the night. - I Wilfrid's mind felt a sudden relief. '■ ! Thank heaven, the knaves had faded, | so far, in their purpose; the lady, who- ' ever she might be, was still safe, and ' would continue to be so as long as his 1 j trenchant blade swung by his side. ' At Wilfrid's approach the lady turned | her head, and, as her eyes fell upon the ! I blue scarf, she gave a start as of rocog- ' j nit ion. j That start raised a sudden hope in his ' I mind, a hope confirmed as he received | through the holes of her grey mask the , I attentive glance of a pair of dark blue eyes. Wilfrid thrilled first with pleasure, and . then with amazement, as he recognised . that the lady, sought for by Izak and his : confederates, was none other than his own duchess! (To be continued daily.}