BY NEVA'S WATERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 71, 23 March 1908, Page 6

BY NEVA'S WATERS.

Being-"a , Episode;of- of-rAknasider-the Fifsfc, (Jmi- of.All- the Bnssisa. ; - ■ ; JOHN R. CARLING. '. i "MJt- BBAB©ir-O»-IBfcCa*a,"-,"THB' i VIKIHtfS-SKDEL " " TBE-^WBIRB-MCWrSB. ,

CHAPTER "XTCT —Continued. Lord. St. Helens was full of dismay. If Alexander were equally determined there was no power' on earth to stay the duel; and since Wilfrid had no peer in swordsmanship, what but ill_ would befall the Czar in a mortal combat? In cooler moments Wilfrid might not wish to kill the Emperor, but in the hot excitement of the duel, when he saw before him the man who was persecuting the Princess with unwelcome . attentions, there was no knowing what might happen, especially if Wilfrid's anger should be aggravated, by the smarting of a wound. "And pray, sir, who is to be your second in this infamous business?" "I am going.to ask you to officiate.in that capacity." The Ambassador felt as if her were choking. "Go to Gehenna!" he yelled, hia face purpling with rage. "You won't? What will the family think when they hear that you have refused to stand by mc in an affair of honour? Who's to conduct my funeral if I fall?" "I'd be most infernally happy to conduct your funeral at this present moment. Cease this foolery, and talk sense if you can. Should this freak end. in the wounding or, it may be, the killing; of the Czar —which heaven forbid! —to whom do you intend to look for safety?" "To you, of course." "To mc?"

"Most certainly. Doesn't the nation pay you £10,000 a year to look after British subjects in Russia, of whom. I am one?"

"I to protect you?" "If you don't, the British public will want to know the reason! Remember that the duel is not of my seeking; he challenged mc, not I him. In an autocratic realm what can a man do when its ruler insists on figjiting him? It's useless to go against the will of a fellow who can send you to Siberia for disobedience. And if he falls, whose is the blame?"

"Well, I must be off," continued "Wilfrid, glancing at his watch; "but before going I should lite—of course, with your permission—to see young Mulgraye," naming his uncle's chief secretary.; Tie is a man of spirit, and will stand by mc in this affair."

"Do you think " began the Ambassador angrily, and then broke off as. if hit by some sudden thought. "Well, HI send for him, and you'll hear what he thinks. Perhaps you'll listen to him, if not to mc." He pencilled a few words upon a card and touched a hand-bell, whose chime immediately brought in a servitor in livery. ■ Handing him the card,.and pointing to, the name upon it, the Ambassador said with a meaning look, "Tell him to come at once." The man had no sooner set eyes upon the card than he gave a slight start, glanced oddly at Wilfrid, and withdrew without a word. "Oho, my uncle," thought Wilfrid, who had observed this little by-play, "whydid you give a written message, when an oral one would have sufficed? There is something op. that card you do not wish mc to see. Very good! Forewarned is forearmed." After- a brief interval there came a tapping at the door. 'fWait a moment, WHSams," cried Lord St. Helens. K Stay outside till I caH." "Williams? Why, I thought it was Mulgrave you sent for?" said Wilfrid in mock surprise. Ignoring this question, the Ambassador said with a stern air— "I ami to take it, then, that you have quite made up your mind to fight this duel?" "Certainly." "Well, I have made up my mind that you shall not." "And how do you propose to stop mc?" "You are not in Russia now, remember. This Embassy is Great Britain, or rather, a paxt of Great Britain in Russia. As the representative of His Majesty King George, I am, so long as you are in this house, your sovereign, and jfou are my subject. In the exercise of my lawful authority " "You'll put mc under arrest," said Wilfrid, smiling amiably. "1 thonght that was the idea when you sent out that little note." ... Somewhat disconcerted at Wilfrid's guessing his intention, and uneasy, too, at his air of unconcern, the Ambassador called out—"Come in." . At the summons, there trooped in five athletic men, lackeys apparently. Their attire, consisting of shirt and breeches only, showed that they had i?3en hastily roused from sleep. They advanced a little way:into the room, and then stood still, awaiting orders. Wondering what the trouble was about, they glanced alternately from the flushed uncle to the cool nephew. "This madman," said Lord St. Helens, indicating Wilfrid, who bowed sarcastically, "my nephew, I regret to say, is an enemy to Great Britain. In the name of the King, I call upon you to arrest him and to take him to the' Green Chamber, where he must remain till he has renounced his treasonable designs. Sorry, Wilfrid, my boy," he added, in a side whisper; "but IVe no other course. Go quietly, like a sensible fellow," he added, as he saw the fighting spirit gleam from. Wilfrid's eye. "You can't contend against five men." But Wilfrid, having formed his plan, proceeded to act. The only light, in the room came from the six tapers in the chandelier above his head. As the five men moved slowly forward, Wilfrid, with one swift bound, sprang aloft and hung his whole weight upon the chandelier. Down it came in an instant,., and almost before it reached the floor Wilfrid had extinguished the six lights by the easy process of flinging the table-cloth over them. By this action, the work of not more than four seconds, the room was plunged into sudden darkness. " Look to the door," screamed the Ambassador. Tumbling over each other in their haste the five raced back, and ranged themselves in fighting order before the door, the only exit from the room. In the dead silence that followed the Ambassador and his satellites, strained eye and ear, endeavouring to discover by sight or sound what Wilfrid's next movement would l be. They had not long to wait. From the far end of the apartment there suddenly darted intermittent rays of light, apparently caused , by the waver-

ering of the heavy curtain that draped one of the windows overlooking the canal. Simultaneously all were seized with the same idea. Wilfrid was going to Crash! The sound was like that a sheet of glass shivered to atoms by the impact of a. heavy body, and was instantly followed! by a, splash of water. '"Good God! He's Scaped into the Fontanka, through, glass and all," cried the Ambassador. Men falling into that shallow canal have been known never to rise again from its deep deposits of mud! The Ambassador ran to the window thrusting the heavy -curtain on one side. Moved by a common impulse the five men ran too. The Ambassador unfastened the catch, flung poen the window, and with nis body half out, looked down upon the water, whose surface had upon it a rippling ring that grew wider and wider each moment —a ring obviously caused by the fall of a body.

The watchers kept their eyes fixed upon the centre of this ring, waitingl for Wilfrid's head to appear. The circle spread outward farther and farther, till it became imperceptible to the sense of sight. The surface of the water grew smooth again; one minute passed—two, three, and still Wilfrid was not to be seen, nor any trace of him.

'• Good God! he's gone! . Caught in the mud at the bottom," said the Ambassador in awe-struck tones. ■■

" Still alive, dear uncle! " said a voice, coming from the direction of the door.

So deep was the amazement of the Ambassador and his la-ckeys at hearing the voice of one whom, they had just takezi for dead, that for a moment they were powerless to do anything except to stare, vacant-eyed and open-mouthed, at Wilfrid's smiling face, which in the dim light could be seen peeping in at them from the other side of the half-open door.

"I knew that-crash would fetch 'em from the door. Your attempt to. imprison mc, dear uncle, has cost you-seven hundred roubles, for your marble Diana is lying at the bottom of the Fontanka, Well, good-bye! I'm off to that meeting! "

Recovering from their stupor, the five men, mortified at being thus fooled, rushed forward, too late, however, to repair their blunder.

During their three minutes' watch at the window, Wilfrid, had quietly removed the key irom the inner side of the room to the outer, and before his foes had time to reach him, he shut the door, locked it, put the key in his pocket, walked downstairs, and escaped safely to the street. CHAPTER XXTT. "THIS DUEL MUST NOT BE." Wilfrid's statement that he would face the Czar in duel was no boast, but who should be his second? Having no very high opinion of the Czar's horfour, Wilfrid considered it advisable to have a friendly witness to see fair play. But who would care to be his companion in a venture so .perilous? He rapidly ran over in -his mind the limited circle of frien<is :: —or rather of acquaintances—he had made in St. Petersburg, and knew full well there was not one upon whose spirit he could rely. Second the Czar's adversary! The very idea would take away their breath. Without knowing it he had stopped short at the French Embassy, a fact of which he was made aware by observing a covered carriage whose panels bore the armorial device of the Marquis de Vaucmse. A moment afterwards the French am"bassador appeared, descending the steps of his mansion. "Ah!" murmured , Wilfrid, an idea striking him. "Perhaps M. de Vaucluse can recommend a man with courage enough to act as my second." The Marquis, about "to step into his carriage, stopped on seeing Wilfrid, and advanced with outstretched hand. "I must apologise," said Wilfrid , , "for returning from' the masquerade without your daughter, but a grave event has called mc away. Can you favour mc with a word in private?" De "Vaucluse led the way into-the entrance hall, and thence into a small caI binet.

"To be brief, Monsieur, I have been challenged to a duel. It is to take place within four hours, and' at some distance from St. Petersburg. At so short a notice I have a difficulty in finding a second, especially as I have but few friends in this city. Can you recommend a gentleman—one of resolute courage inasmuch as my adversary is a high political personage?" "Supposing that I cannot name one?" "In that case I must proceed alone." "That shall not be. It shall never be said that a seigneur of old France was lacking in chivalry. Permit mc to have the honour." "The honour is mine; but will you not be compromising your own character as. ambassador 1" "Hasn't Pauline told you what has-hap-pened? No? France has no representative in St. Petersburg. Two weelceago I forwarded my resignation to the Consulate. It was accepted, and my succeesor will arrive within a few days. My resignation," he continued in answer to Wilfrid's look of inquiry, "has no connection with polities. It has been made on purely personal grounds. I desire Pauline to leave Russia, and I see no other way of accomplishing my end than by leaving it myself." While speaking he glanced keenly at Wilfrid, as if to mark the effect of his ■words, and seemed to derive satisfaction from Wilfrid's blank look; for, the Princess excepted, there was no one. in St. Petersburg whom Wilfrid liked better than Pauline, and therefore 'he heard the news with deep regret. "Your offer to be my second is extremely generous, but you will do well to refrain till you shall have heard the name of .my adversary." / "A seigneur of France knows not fear. I am your second whoever be your adversary. A high political personage? Humph! One of the Czar's ministers, I suppose?" "Incredible as it may appear, my adversary is the Czar!" The Marquis showed surprise, yet that surprise was not so great as Wilfrid had expected. There was about him an air of satisfaction, as if he were pleased" at the situation. "With what weapons do you fight?" - "With swordi" ':. "> [': ;:; . "And you are deadly with the sword; I understand," said the Marquis. "As most duels are caused by a lady," he went on, ."I presume yours is no exception to the rule!" ; " -. --■- -: ;

"2Jo exception.". He begged for a little light on the matter, and Wilfrid accordingly gave - a hurried account of the events that had brought him into connection with the Princess Marie, making no mention, however, of the compromising adventure at the Silver Birch. The Marquis -was deeply interested, and—a puzzling point' to Wilfrid—even pleased. He seemed to brighten, more and- more as the story reached its climax/ - . ■ .-..:-. "1 thought I was well acquainted with all the personalities of the Russian Court," he remarked at mc close of Wilfrid's narration, "but I must ■ confess that this Princess Marie is to mc an unknown person* And the duel is to' be to the death?"----"So said the Czar." "Then I hope you will kill him!'" "Monsieur!" said Wilfrid, surprised at the vehemence of the other's utterance. "I hope," repeated the Marquis, slowly emphasising each .word, "that—you—will —kill—him!" • ■ "You have suffered a wrong at Ms hand?" "Not yet, but it is certain to come if his life continue. It were better for— for some of us that he were dead. Therefore, as I have said, I hope you will kill him." "He mayn't give mc the opportunity," smiled Wilfrid. "Should I find myself his superior, I shall just show him what I could do with his life if I chose; but as to killing him, what would Paul—the Baroness say if I were to slay the Czar? Is he not her hero? But, monsieur, oh reflection, I will ask you to -withdraw from this affair. Though Alexander may pardon my. wounding him, his ministers may not prove so chivalrous. Should the Czar be brought home injured.there will be a hue and cry for his assailants. Why should I imperil your life as well as my own?" '"In asking mc to be your second you have conferred a high honour upon mc. This affair is certain to be famous. We shall live in history—you and I. You see," he went on with a smile, "that vanity has something to do with my motives. Now, as your second, let mc urge you to leave St. Petersburg at once, lest your uncle or Panine should have'" communicated this matter to the police. The Czar they dare not meddle with, but they would not hesitate, to seize his opponent. Did you tell your uncle the place of the rendezvous? You did not? And Panine does not know it? Good! Still, they'll guess that it must be within an hour's ride of St. Petersburg. Set off this minute. Take my carriage; it is drawn by my two .fleetest horses. A little beyond the eighth verst-post, you say? Ah, that is very fortunate, since near that same verst-post, but on this side of it, lives Ruric, the charcoal burner. He is one of Pauline's freed serfs. You have but to mention her name, and there is nothing he ■will not do to serve you." "I do not understand." '"To meet the Czar you must be near the rendezvous, but not too near." "Why so?" "Supposing the secret of the rendezvous has become known, what more likely . than that a band of Cossacks will be despatched to the spot to carry you off before the Czar arrives?' Now this Ruric resides a little way past the seventh verst-post in a hut not visible from the road, which at this point is bordered on both sides by dense forest. He dwells on the left side of the road; the appointed glade, you say, is on the right. While you remain concealed within his hut, he can reconnoitre for you without exciting suspicion.- Should he report the presence of police or soldiers, you will know that you. have been betrayed, in which case you will do well not to show yourself. As for mc, I will join you later, not leaving the city till the last moment to mark if anything suspicious takes place. When you are passing the seventh verst-post Ivor will drive the carriage close to the trees, and when opposite the path spring out without stopping the carriage, and by following the path you'll come to the hut. Meanwhile, the carriage will drive on, returning to the city by a circuitous route, so that should any mounted spies be following, they'll be thrown off thescent. For the present, farewell, and -good fortune attend you." With that.the Marquis wrung Wilfrid's hand and accompanied him to the door, and having, first taken a precautionary glance along the street he pushed Wilfrid into the carriage. "I am unarmed, monsieur," observed Wilfrid. "A sword would be " "'No, no! Don't play into the enemy' 3 hand. They'll do no hurt to a nephew of the British Ambassador if you yield quietly. But offer resistance, and that'll be a convenient excuse for putting a bullet through your head. Yout Bingle sword will be no match for a dozen carbines." Having whispered a few words of instruction in the driver's ear Ivor; set off at the furious gallop common to all Muscovite coachmen. (To be continued daily.)