TALES & SKETCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 946, 18 April 1890, Page 7

TALES & SKETCHES.

[NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.] BY ORDER OF THE CZAR THE TRAGIC STORY - OF ANNA KLOSSTOCK, THE QUEEN OF THE GHETTO. BY JOSEPH HATTON, Author of ‘Cruel London,’ ‘The Three Recruits,’ ‘ John Needham’s Double,’ &o. [All Rights Reserved.] Part IV. CHAPTER I. The Countess Tells Her Story to the Brotherhood and Philip. The foreign quarter of London with whioh the public is supposed to be most familiar is in truth the le>st known of the many mysterious districts of the great metropolis. Soho, in its own peculiar way, possesses as many strange ramifications as the black circle of Whitechapel, which environs the tragic footsteps of the most terrible of modern assassins. The police have the key to many of the retreats in which political exiles and foreign conspirators meet to bold friendly intercourse, and to hatch plots of social regeneration and personal vengeance. But Scotland Yard has no special reason for interfering with the meetings of these con. tinental outcasts, so long as they do not offend the English laws. The liberty of the subject in these islands covers the stranger as well as the native. To plot against the life of potentate, statesmanor private citizen, however, of this or any other country would, of course, bring conspirators under legal restraint ; but it is not the business of the London police to act the part of spies upon political exiles ; and who is to interpret the secret thoughts of the solemn mysterious men and women who live quiet lives in the regions of Soho, or report to the police the spoken words of their private gatherings ? England, America, and Switzerland have for many years been the plotting grounds of Nihilists and Social Democrats. If it were possible to separate the patriot whose faith and hopes are satisfied by a wholesome agitation, from the patriot whose bitter political programme is one of dagger, dynamite, and violent social upheaval, the Government would no doubt be ready to draw a hard and fast line on the side of pacific operations as agaiust the violence of revolution. But liberty is compelled to allow a large margin for license, and it is better that an occasional culprit, who might deserve death or life-long imprisonment, Bhoulcl receive the protection of onr Bhores rather than an unchecked despotism should work its will upon the high-minded agitator, whose only crime is a national enthusiasm for the regeneration of his country. And so it comes about that London is the sanctuary of the political exile, not being aotually a proved murderer liable to extradition ; though it must be confessed that Soho has sheltered many a conspirator who has been associated with attacks on authority entitled to condemnation as outside the pale of mere political conspiracy. Of such was more than one of the persons met together, soma two weeks after the Venetian fetes, at the Parisian Cabaret, in a certain cul-de-sao known as Thomas’s Alley, within a stone’s throw of Dean-street. The Parisian Cabaret was a small unpretentious cafe, at the extremeend of Thomas’s Alley ; smuggled away in one corner of it, as if it had been built into an unintentional architectural vacancy—an after-thought in the higgledy-piggledy plan of the original builders. The lower part of the house was occupied with a large bow-window and a quaint doorway, with an over-decoration in the centra of which was a date indicating that the architecture belonged to the picturesque period before the age of stucco and iron. The upper stories were curiously gabled; and the quaint windows, glared in much smaller squares than is usual in these days, were prettily decorated wi,th French blinds neatly tied back with coloured ribbons. The place had a singularly clean look ; and the principal, and, indeed, only saloon for eating, drinking dominoes, had a white sanded fjloor and white painted panelling that wore pleasantly characteristic. The Parisian Oabaret was, indeed, wucti cleaner and far more agreeable to look upon than meat of is 3 customers, one or two of whom lived on the premises ; notably, Ivan Kostanzhoglo, who was a moving spirit of that brotherhood in which Anna Klosstock had been enrolled as one of the two women who had been considered -yrorthy of its confidence.

Ivan Kostanjshoglo had been for so,me time stationed iju London a 3 a .controlling agent of certain movements that had been made mqre or less jn combination with other sections of the Young Russian party ; but, under orders, he was about to sun the rislj of reappearing in St. Petersburg, where a rendezvous had been settled for himself, Paul Petroslii, Anaa Klosstock, Andrea Ferrari, and other earnest confederates. The startling incident of the far-reaching power of Nihilistic vengeance at Venice, while it had stiffened the surveillance of the Russian polico at all the ports of entry into Russia, and led to numerous arrests in the ih.teripr, had exeipised a tremendous revivifying' influence upon the wide-spread conspirnoy which aiu ed at the overflow of the Imperial' power. The guides and chiefs of the party of action believed in following up the assassination of Petronovitch with a striking dramatic demonstration at headquarters. It was in connection with this so-called patriotic action of the Young Russian party that the private doors of the small underground apartment, which was rented by Ivan Kostanzhoglo, were opened to receive company some two weeks after the Ghost. of the Lagoons had. startled Venice from ito imatomary repose.

Sitting at a round table, lighted with a lump, were our friends Ferrari, in his ehirtsleeves, a loose light coat hanging over his chair (it was a very hot night) ; AnnaKlosstook, in a simple sober black gown, without oollar or cuffs, her hair gathered up beneath a black bonnet ; Paul Petroski ? of Moscow, who had kept his faith at the little hotel on the quay at Venice, and also at the Fazio Palace ; Ivau Kostanzhoglo,• a swarthy, thick-set Muscovite, attired in semi-fashion-able French garments ; and three others whom it is unnecessary to name. ‘ I claim,’ said Anna Klosstock, ‘the right to acquaint him with my history in your preaencs before the final oath is administered to him.’

‘ Madame knows best,’ said Ivan, who sat opposite to her, quietly rolling cigarettes and smoking them, as if to do so was the one chief duty in life.’ ’ We know Madame’s history,’ said Paul. ‘ Why repeat it in our presence ?’ ‘ Have our friends,’ asked Anna, turning to Ferrari and then glancing at the three persons unnamed, ‘ been made acquainted with our victory at Venice ?’ * We only know,’ said one of them, ‘ that Petronovitch, our bitterest foe, has fallen before the triumphant onslaught of the brotherhood.’ ‘lt will give encouragement to your hopes and strength to your arm to hear that recital. I count it a part of my duty to record unto you an account of my stewardship, and that of our brethren, Ferrari and Petroski.’ ‘ We shall thank yon for the revelation,’ said one. ‘ It is no doubt our due to know it,’ said the other. * And there is nothing so inspiriting as a general’s own story of his victory,’ said the third. ‘ In a few minutes/ said Anna Klosstock, ‘there will arrive for admission to the brotherhood a young English gentleman, who is devoted to me and my poor fortunes. Ho has accepted, at the hands of Anirea Ferrari, the oath of secrecy ; but not the oath of comradeship, which would entitle him to our pass-words and to share the glories and dangers of our cause. Brothers/ she said, rising, ‘ this young man has none of the motives that we have for the labours and dangers we have undertaken. He was born in Moscow, it is trne, and in his early youth saw our brother and sis er exiles of the past go forth upon their fatal journey ings to Siberia. He has a sensitive and generous nature ; the memory of those things has sunk deep into his heart; but he is young. His mother is a widow ; a patriot, a devoted friend of all exiles. It is his misfortune to have fallen in love with your humble companion.’ The smile that for a moment illuminated the face of Ivan Kostanzhoglo vanished at a glance from Ferrari ; and Anna Klosstock continued to speak as if Bhe were alone, unconscious of the men who sat around her.

1 It is not necessary for me to say to what extent I have returned his strange devotion.’ ‘ Not very strange,’ whispered one of the unnamed to his neighbour, ‘if a lovely face and figure have anything to do with inspiring love.’ ‘But/ she continued, ‘I am unwilling that for my sake this young English gentleman shall further jeopardise his position and his liberty. He professes to b.e under the spell of our great pause, to desire dq qtber life than one that shall be devoted to it, in memory of bis young life in Moscow, and that he may be at lea3t my comrade. He only knows me a 3 the Countess Stravensky. To him Anna Klosstock’ is nothing. Her life, her lpve, her ipiseries, her motives for revenge, her part in our great victory of Venice are to him an entire blauk. While reporting, as one of our secret brotherhood, to this meeting, I desire to convey to him the particulars of my career, that they may disenchant him and show him the abyss upon which he stands. Should he then persist in throwing in his lot wit! ours, I ask yo,u to accept hiiq.’ As she sat dqqrn then? was a murmur of dissent, question, and admiration; and the entire brotherhood for a few moments seempd all to be talking at once, but not much above a whisper. Presently Ferrari was heard alone. ‘To me, Madame’s wish,:’ he said, ‘is law. Throughout all our operations, in every instance of peril, Madame has never made a mistake. I have to this young man administered ;the first oath of secrecy. I believe him worthy, and capable of being one of ps. My vote is for Madame.’ f And mine,-’ said Ivan Kostanzhoglo ; though it is a dangerous element,. the admission of a sentiment beyond patriotism.’ ‘But Iqye/ said Paul Petroski.-’ is a power that has helped us often, aud in many straits.’

And we agree,- said on? of the three unnamed, ‘ that it is to tl?e frank open statement of Madaiqe/ihat we should not oppose her judgment in this, wfien it has always been trueJ

.* Go, then,:’ said Anna to Ivan Kostanzhoglo. ‘ln the saloon you will find our Visitor. He will be sitting at the table in the right hand corner, by the pillar near tjhe He is young,* dark, handsome. You cannot; mistake him. His dresit, a shabby disguise ; yet you cannot fail to see through it the features, the figure of a gentleman. I Ivan rolled another cigarette, and left the room through its double doorway, which was guarded until his return by Ferrari. It was not altogether an uncomfortable apartment, though it lacked ventilation, which was obtained chiefly through an orifice in tho chimney, where a strong gas jight was burning, and around which there yyas a continual halo of smoke from the cigarettes, which all, including'Anna herself, were more or le-s 'smoking. There were a few odd engravings upon the dai k wall paper, one or two easy chairs, a smaU bopk-case, and a map of Europe. Aqna leaned back thoughtfully in her qhair, and breathed a few whiffs of smoke from an Egyptian cigarette, a bund e of which lay before her. She pushed these aside and ceased smoking as Ivan Kostanzhoglo entered with Philip Forsyth, who was indeed disguised in shabby habiliments; and in face and feature for that matter, his oheeka pale and sunken, his eyes surrounded

with a black rim, his hair long and straggly. He wore a pair of bluish French trousers and a thin alpaca frock-coat, buttoned to the throat; and in spite of the hot weather and closeness of the underground atmosphere, he looked cold and chilly ; but when later on he spoke, his voice was strong and his manner expressed the physical strength, which, to look at him, you would not have expected him to possess.

‘Brethren,’ said Anna Klosstock, rising, leaving her seat, and taking Philip by the hand, ‘ this is our English friend, whose heart has bled for the miseries of our country, who is anxious to join our brotherhood, and who ba3 sworn the first oath of secrecy.’ Philip looked round with a quiet inquiring gaze, and then fixed his eyes upon Anna with an expression of astonishment. She was still beautiful ; but it was the beauty of the street and the alley, the beauty of despair, the beauty that shinea sadly through the surroundings of rags and poverty. k , Her figure seemed to have shrunk into her thin, shabby, black gown ; and the shadow that fell upon her, as she stood by the radiance of the somewhat dim lamp upon the table, gave a sombre look to her face which was unusual in Philip’s experience of its varied characteristics. It was borne In upon his mind that it lacked even, the tragic beauty that belonged to the despairing, defiant face he had seen at the opera and conveyed to his canvas. * Welcome, brother/ Baid the confederates, one after the other, as they shook him by the hand. ‘Be seated,’ said Ivan, ‘and we will pledge you to our better acquaintance whereupon, turning to the little bookcase and opening... a cupboard beneath, Ivan brought forward a couple of bottles of red wine, opened them, and placed glasses upon the table. v . Philip drank in a mechanical half-decided way, conscious, as if by instinct, that something was about to take place, hardly in keeping with those heroic aspirations with which he had oredited the Countess and her confederates,,. Not that he had expected anything like a rose-leaf council, or a carpet conspiracy ; but there was something in tho change from the bright, clean, cheerful saloon of the little Parisian Cabaret, to the half-lighted,' dull). prosaic, double-locked apartment, and its heavy-browed, ill-dressed occupants that chilled his spirits, and, for a moment, recalled to him his unnatural exile from his mother and friends, who were at that moment; so close to him and yet so far away. . But presently, when, unintentionally, Ferrari had removed the lamp from tho face of Anna Klosstock, in such a way that when she rose it illuminated her entire figure, the old strange infatuation took possession of him, aud he listened as one in a dream,

. ‘Brethren/ said Anna, rising and laying down the cigarette which she had still held between her fingers, ‘ I have to report to you the result of the brotherhood’s mission at Venice; and for the information of onr visitor, who seeks for weal or woe to be our comrade in the great cause to which we are pledged, I beg you to permit that I shall mention one of the motives which brought us originally together. When I was a young girl I liyed happy and contented with ray father, who was the principal Jew merchant qf Czarovna. There came to our village one Losinski, a ypung learned scholar, who was appointed irabbi. I fell in love with him, he with me. We were betrothed. It was the eve of the solemnization of our marriage) But at the height of Czarovna’s happiness there came a new Governor, General Petronovitph, -and with him the wicked risings against the/.Jews with sword and fire, which you all remember, less than ten years ago) This governor.from St. Peters burg was a sensualist, a tyrant and an assassin. He found villainous excuse to attack our house, to confiscate ray fathers estate, to send him to that living death, Siberia ; to seize upon the young and learned rabbi, my lover, to condemn him to the knout.. Maddened with my despair, I sought the Governor at his palace, a suppliant for mercy. By fair promises he induced me for a moment to trust him. The crime he committed against me was one worse than death.’

Philip Forsyth felt his heart stand still. Hh clutched his chair and pressed his feet upon the floor to prevent himself from falling. One of the unnamed, noticing his trouble, clutched him by the arm and pressed wine upon him as Anna continued her narrative.

‘ The next day I witnessed the execution of Losinski, and raising my voice in revolt and defiance) excited my pebple of the Ghetto into revolt! In the midst’ of their attack upon the fiendish despot,' I wab dragged to the scaffold myself/ and there beaten out of all sensibility, to ivake up finally in'the hospital, a miserable" wreck, with sufficient life still Jeft to swear eternal vengeance upon General Petronovitch, the only effort of existence left to me, the one red spark of hope in my' earthly dungeon. Surely it’ was that one" hope that gave'me Jrfe. My wounds dressed with salt—l spare you even' a single word about the physical agdny I : suffered' —l began to reeo'ver, and"it Was thought in ' time V should f be ! well e'nough "to" undergo a dop.cin’pdtioi’of my seutuuqe Vs?bich belonged to , %he“caol r aad thb mine • but by some unaccbkntablci intervene tion I vvak released and carried away to a foreign city. There was one great', good friend of the Jew, who ‘lived on the outskirts of Czarovna,’a 'Russian noble, who had) under pressure of ingratitude and’persecution from his master, j >ine 1 a branch of this Brotherhood of tho Dawn./ 1

J£or a moment the speaker paused in response toYuppressed but vigorous tokehs &f approval. 1 ‘ Tne cars) and the Brotherhood ’’ almost shouted ore of the unnamed, raising hia glass and ‘clinkjag i£ with those’ qf hi| neighbours. Philip watched tho woman with an intent gaze of wonchr, ‘ His name was Stravensky - the Count Stravensky. He knew my father, he knew me ; saw me on that fatal day, hurrying to the traitor's palace endeavoured to interpose for me on the sci-flhld, was rebuffed, and ordered to his home. Hie wealth aud big

early services to the Czar, the greatness oi his family name, and his burning desire for vengeance, sent him to. St. Petersburg, where h< resolved to fight, his way diplomatically to place and position, his left hand the Emperor’s, his right hand for Russia. It was through his intervention that I was removed, through his intervention that I was reported dead. That was the only report the Government would accept; and so Anna Klosstock died. In a few years there arose from that moral death a new woman. Educated in Italy by scholars, tended by devoted women , with what object, with what ambition, they know not, nor did I for a time half suspect how Fate was working for me. Day nor night did I ever cease to pray for vengeance upon Petronovitch, whose march of advancement I marked with a smile of hate, noted his achievements in Central Asia, his proud conquests in the field, his social and diplomatic victories. One day there came a messenger to me from my kind patron. I accompanied madame to Paris. There, after a few days of formality and instructions, I Btood by the bed of Count Stravensky, was made his wife, and received from him the legacy of his.patriotic aspirations, and his last benediction on my vow of vengeance. They only knew in St. Petersburg that the Count had married a cultured, but humble lady of Italy. The Count bad laid his plans carefully and well. I was received by His Majesty the Czar, on my way to deal with my estates in the Vilnavitch, in the neighbourhood of Czarovna. I have held my own, I hope, as the Countess Stravensky, never forgetting the wrongs of j Anna Klosstock, the persecution of the • Jews, and my vows to this brotherhood.’ Again she paused, for the suppressed ■ demonstrations of her audience, who, much as they had seen of tragic trouble and romance, were carried away not alone with Anna’s story, but with the majesty of the woman as she narrated it.

Philip still sat a dumb witness ; moved by deep emotions, but standing apart, as it were, altogether from his companions ; listening to Anna’s story from a different standpoint, influenced altogether from motives they could neither follow nor understand.

I To the patient and the true, the day they hope for comes. It was at Venice, two weeks ago. Yon remember, some of yon, our parting here, the naming of our rendezvous for Paul Petroski, for Ferrari, for myself. We met again, I and the General Petronovitch ; once more, as the Countess Stravensky, Anna Klosstock again had the honour to find favour iu his cruel eyes, Not as in the old days did she struggle to be free from that cruel evil glance. She invited it, sought it, courted it in the very presence of his wife ; won him to her side, as Gretchen might have won the Fiend, methinks, had she desired. I beckoned ; he came. I tolerated the pressure of his false lips upon this hand —upon this hand !’ she continued, raising her right arm aloft and clutching her fingers as if she held a dagger there— ‘ that beckoned him to his death !’

Amidst the general gasp of satisfaction which welcomed Anna’s tragic declaration, Philip covered his face with his hand. Anna looked at him for the first time during her confession. s Doe3 anyone doubt my title to the vengeance which has thrust the dagger of the Brotherhood into this supreme wretch ? Let him look uuon me 1’ V

Philip, feeling that these words were addressed to him, raised his head and again fixed his eyes upon the speaker. ‘Let him know why I am a Nihilist of the Nihilists ! Let him behold my title to vengeance ?’ As she spoke she tore open her dress, exhibiting a lovely white arm and part of a beautiful bust, turning at the same time with swift rapidity to exhibit her' right shoulder and her neck, no farther than i 9 considered correct by ladies of fashion at balls and in the opera stalls, but sufficient to thrill iron men who had themselves been witnesses of the worst of Russian torture. Red and blue, deep ridges and welts crossed and recrossed ea.ch other, with intervals of angry patches of red, and weird daubs pf grey that blurred and blotted out all remains and tokens of the beautiful form with which patpre had endowed one of its loveliest creatures. .

Philip looked, and fell forward npon the taije with a cry of horror, his head in his hands. The others remained dead still for a £ew seconds, until Ivan ]K.ostanzhoglo' rose quietly from his seat, replaced' the torn garment over the woman’s shoulders, and kissed her reverentially upon the forehead. As Anna, herself muoh overcome, resumed her seat, Andrea Ferrari advanced to Philip and laid his hand upon his shoulder, at which the young fellow looked round. ‘ Philip Forsyth,’ said Ferrari, it will be against the wish of Anna Klosstock if you take the oath that will make you, body and soul, one of us. What have you to say ?’ ‘j- othing,’ he replied. ‘ Petronovitch is dead !’

(To be continued.)