CHAPTER XXIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 379, 22 June 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XXIII.

PKOPOSING TREASON. 'Well, here I am,' said Wat, when he found himself alone with Gresser. ( Is ib you ?' cried the chief. ' 1 did not recognise you. You did not allow the grass to grow under your feet, did you ?' ' Tried not to. The news I sent was in time then to save his majesly ?' ' The men were captured with the instruments of death on their persons, and documents, showing the whole conspiracy, have been captured.' 4 And so you were able to save Vera V * My credit is of the very highest, and at this moment Vera is as well as can be, but lam so fearful of the future that I have sent for you to help me execute a libole bit of treason I suppose ib would be called.' 1 Treason ! How ?' ' As I have said, my credit is of the best, and 1 have been able to have the punishment of Vera postponed for another five days.' * Why five days ?' ' Because somebody— one of the grand dukes, I think— has earnestly protested against any longer time being allowed.' ' A 'grand duke V 4 1 am afraid so. ' ' l And why should he interfere V ' I do not know, unless' it be that he is . Sofia's friend.' ' So that he is Veras enemy it does not matter whose friend he is. But what is this treason you speak of V ' I feel bound to you in honour to save Vera if I can do so by any possible, means. My recent victory over her enemies has only convinced me that they will be too strong for me the next time.' lln spite of the great service you have done the Czar ?' * In spite of that.' 'What is your" proposition, then ?' ' To let you free Vera and carry her out of the country.' ' Is that a possible thing ?' ( 'For a man of courage and resources like you, it is.' I I confess I don't see how it is to be done.' ' You mean that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get her out of the fortress ?' ' Yes.' * But suppose she were out of the fortress, would you undertake to get her out of the country V ' I should at least feel hopeful of it. At any rate, if you feel that you cannot save her again, it would be better to take any lisk, even that of life,, to letting her remain where she' is.' ' Well,' then, it is as good as settled. . There is a secret passage out of the fortreis, which I will tell you of, and by which, with the exercise of a little caution, you ought to be able to get her out of 'her prism. After that, you will have to do for yourself.' , ' * That is agreed upon, then. But I have, a little matter to disclose to you now, which may make some difference.' ' More plots of the nihilists ?' ' Worse than that.' 'If there is anything worse, I should be glad to hear of ib.' 'What do you say to a conspiracy against the throne by the nobles of the country V 'Impossible !' ' And yet it is precisely what Chernigoff and Sofia are at work about. Perhaps this will account for the strong friends Sofia has at court.' ' Perhaps,' answered Gresser, reflectively. ' Can you give me proofs and details ?' ' Not one.' And Wat gave Grosser an account of what had taken place in Paris, under his eye. Gresser listened with no little wonder to Wat's narrative, for, as modestly as Wat could tell it, it still remained sufficiently evident that he had performed a heroic part. ' And Sofia is coming here as rapidly as she can ?' ' Yes,' answered Wat. cNo doubt she is coming to make such use of her knowledge as to enforce the punishment of Vera. 5 'To put Vera out of her path, and to gain Ivan, she would not hesitate to betvay everybody, I am sure.' ' Do you think she is bringing the papers which will prove the conspiracy ?' * That I cannot tell. She evidently laid some store by the papers she was sorting, but what relation those papers had to the project she had in hand, I cannot guess.' "I wonder you did not obtain the papers in some way.' ' I was afraid to do anything that would t be likely to make her suspect that she was |b"eing watched.' 1 T see. And whai would you propose now V ' How would it do to get at once ,to the Czar and tell him the suspicions you "have ?' •Suspicion will do very well when' ib is a matter of nihilists, but in suoh a case as this I would not get a minute's hearing unless I could have my proofs to show.' ' But at least you could'geb ahead of Sofia and denounce Chernigoff?' •Yes.' 'And when you have done that, could you not suggest that he was also engaged, in a further plot with others, to overturn the government?' 'I could do that. 1 * And suggest that Sofia was engaged with Chernigoff? 1 ' , ' ' Yes, yes. You ought to be the chief of police. I think more would be accomplished. And you are such a boy to look , at, too.' •I am an old boy.' 4 The Old Boy. rather.'. * Thank you. And then after you had cast suspicion on Sofia, it would surely ' be safe to have her arrested, on ,the chance i of finding damaging papers in her possession. And if they were not found thjere, I am quite sure tihey could be found at her Paris house.' 1 ' Leb us go 6hen, at.once, and try to obtain an audience with the Czar^, Yov^ .willt go, will you nob? • ' ■»'-«'.-

j 1 , -111 "' ' ' Yes ; but had I not, bettor have another disguise than this ?' (4 ( 4 ( ! . '> " " ■ ' Why hob make up as a Russian detec* i tive?> .. , / „ ",i ' '■''' ' /Good! You have % the materials^ of course.' „', , ;< . , .-'»" t