THE WEIGHT -OF THE CROWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 71

THE WEIGHT - OF THE CROWN.

By FRED. M. WHITE, Author of " The Slave of Silence.

[All Rights Reserved.]

CHAPTER XXI.

LEIKSTEIN looked a« utterly puzzled as his companion. They glanced at one another in a o-uilty kind of way. Evidently" t>he allusion to tho Hotel Petersburg mentioned by T.echmore conjured up some painful and none too crsditable associations. "There was only one other man present, and he lias totally disappeared," said Grleikstein. '"Now bow did that man come to krow ail about it? One never seems quite to get away from tic past." «- i Somebody attracted Gleikstein's attention, and Mazaroff wandered oft' into the garden. He w?i uneasy and disturbed in j his mind, and anxious over the failure of his plot. It seemed as if the whole affair .was little better than an open secret. As an agent- of Russia, be was anxious to see the abdication of the throne by the King of Asturia. Asturia was a stumb-ling-block south in the' path of Russian progress. Once the King had abdicated or baen forced from his throne by a revolution, Russia would certainly step under the plea of the maintenance of peoce in a notoriously turbulent region. They might concede to European opinion by placing a puppet on the throne, but henceforth Asturia would be no better or worse than a Russian province. If this was accomplished, then Mazaroff /netted a fortune. Only to-day it had seemed in his grasp. And with till© swiftness of a ligitning flash, everything iiad ehamged. Tb& puppet had been torn from Mazaroff's hand's ; those compromising papers had vanished from Countess Saen-s's drawer. At the present moment Lord Merehaven was in a position to shrug his shoulders, and say that those suspicions must be verified before he was prepared to admit anything. It was a comedy on bobh sides, but it remained a comedy &o long as those papers were not forthcoming. Mazaroff was brought back out of the grave of these gloomy reflections by a footman who tendered him a note. There _ was no answer, the servant said; he had merely had to didivei the letter to Prince Mazai'off. With a new interest in life, Mazaroff recognised the Countess Saens's neat writing. He read the letter slowly and thoughtfully, then, tearing it in small pieces, lie dropped the fragments int«o the heart of a laurel bush. A slow, cruel smile spread over his dark face. "So that is the game," he muttered 1 . "Strange tihat I did' not spot i+ before. Still, the marvellous likeness would have deceived anybody. The maid' was not far wrong after all. Well, at anyrate, I shall Lave some sport out of this. Wlio knot's j wh,p,t it may lead) tfltJ'- ~ ]

Quite eagerly Mazaroff dropped his cigarette and retnmed to the house. He waller d from one room to the other as if looking for somebody. He was in search, of Alias Galloway, he *.iid. H.ul anybody &csn her lately? He hud an important message to delner to her from Countess Saens. The cry was taken vp — it became generally known that Vcra Galloway was sought after. One had st-en her here and one had seen her there, but nobody knew anything definite. The more difficult the seaich barame, the more Prince MazaioE appealed to ba plowed. The quest come to the pars of Dr Varney at length. He dropped the pver-pleasant conversation in which he ■was indulging with a famous lady novelis'a.nd beeaino alert instantly, i "I fancy I can find her," he said. "Who seeks her so closely at this tiras of night?" ! "Prince Mazarofif,"' a girl laugli€d as slie passed by. "Is it a proposal, do you think, doc-tor? Fancy, being piopcued to i by a real prince!" I But Varney wps anxious behind his answering smile. His name had not been jn.en'tuiin'ed in the business at all. He was quite h&e to cress-examine Mazaroff without the latter bedng in the leavfc suspicious. And Varney had a. pvetty shrewd idea that Mazaroff regarded him as an e'derly old fossil Trho hid a child's mind outside the regions of science. . He pottered up to the Russian presently. "What are \ou seeking?"' he asked. ''Iw there anything that I can do for you?"' "Yes; I am" looking for Miss GalloAvay,'' Mazaroff said with a giieain in his eye that tcld Varney a great deal irore than tine speaker imagined. "I have an important message for her.'" "Well, tell me what it is ard I will deliver it," Varney said with a vacuous pmile. "As iho family physician, then; are m secrets from me. Who seeks Miss Galloway?" "Tell "her the Countess Saens." Mazaroff eaid. "I fancy she will understand that. 1 have just had a letter "' But V'arney had wandered oft" as if the conversation did not in the least interest him. As ;i mattei of fact, he was both startled and uneasy. Mazaroff had been too communicative in the hour of hi® supposed triumph, and he had told Varney everything. Mazaroft" had had a letter from ibis Countess, and the Counters, had guessed, on finding her precious papers missing, exactly what had happened. On making inquiries Countess Saens had discovered that there was a, double of Miss Galloway somewhere, and she had asked Mazaroff to make surs of the fact. And Mazaroff was the very man who was wholly responsible for the appearance of Jessie Harcourt at Mereha,ven House. Bufc for his flagrant insult of the girl she would not have been here at all. There was danger in the air. And the daaiger was not lessened by the ,faot that Jessie had not returned. People presently would begin to think it strange i that Miss Galloway was not to be found. And if thoE'3 two came face to face — Jessie and Mazaroff — what, an explosion there would be ! Well, forewarned was forearmed, Varney told himself RS he- walked back to the house. Jes?ie would be back bsfoie long, .and then the -whole thing must come out. But Jessie had done good work, lot on-Iy gu. behalf of her new friend Vera Galloway, bul also on behalf of England and the* peace of Europe. This pretty, resolute, sharp girl had suddenly become an important piece in the great game of diplomatic chess. If necessary, Merehaven i must be toid everything. He must be ! shown the absolute importance of checking Mazaroff ar.d rendering his last stroke ; utterly futile. When Merehaven came to know' what had happened, he would be compelled to stand' by the side of Jessie | Harcourt. It -would Lave to be a .vtrong j game of bluff, Varney decided. Merehaveu would be pioperly indignant when the confession came ; he would refuse to believe that his niece could be party to fi.nylihing of tihe kind. Jessie could come into the room if Ma/iaroff decided to make an exposure, and sit with becoming dignity. She would decline to listen to fne Russian's prepoisterous suggestion, and with all the dignity at his eomimaiid Merehaven would back the girl up. Varney began to chuckle to himself as he thought of Mazaroff's discomfiture. But ,vl jilst Ma.2a.roff was hunting loved for the double of Miss Galloway, never dreaming that "he also had left the house, MercLayen must be warned. It was a difficult matter to detach the old diplomat from the circle surrounding him, but Varney succeeded at length. "Now what is the matter?'" Merehaven said tartly. "Another surprise? Really, I soem to be living in an atmosphere of them to-night, and I am getting too old for these shocks. What is the matter?" "A great deal, or I would' not bother you in this way?"' Varney said. '"Make an excuse to get away for a few minutes and go to you. study. It is absolutely imperative that I should have a word or two with veil before you speak to> Mazaroff again." Merehaven complied with a sigh for his lost social evening. He went off in the direction of his study j but Varney did not follow him direct. On the contrary, he lounged into the garden, intending to enter the study by the window, which he knew to be open. By the time he reached the garden he had a full view of Merehaven bending over his writing table as if despatching a note. At the same instant a figure rose from behind a group of rose trees and confronted Varne}'. As her black wrap fell away he had no difficulty in recognising the features of Jessie Harcourt. '"I am back again, you see," she said breathlessly. "It is such wonderful good fortune to meet you here so soon, and where we can speak at once. Dr Varney, have I missed 'anything? Is there anything that you have to tell me? Have I been missed"? Nothing ha* happened since I le: ?" _ I "Not till the last moment," Varney said. I"My dear child, positively I can't "stay a moment to tell you t It is imperative that

I should have a few \ioids ""'tr- Lord Merehaven at once, before Pnnce Mazaroff can get to him. .Stay here under the shadow of the house ; keep your wrap over your head. Nobo-dy is likely to coinc out again to-night. And pleasa to listen to everything that is going to be said, because the conversation will give you the clue that, I cannot stay to afford you now. Ah !"' Varney darted forward until he reached the window of the library, and then he stumbled into the room as if he had found his way there quite by accident. At the same moment Mazaroff entered from the hall. His, face was pal<\ his eyes glittered with something of sneering triumph. He advanced to the writing table and laid a hand on Lord Merehaven's shoulders. "May I ask your lordship's attention for a moment?" he said. '"I have something important and, I am afraid, veiy painful to &ay to you."' Jessie stir.ined her ears to listen.