CHAPTER XXXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XXXIV.

CAJOLING A COUNTESS. A fury rather than aVoman^'Sofia'seeraed, as she stood iheve, in that dimly lighted depot, pouring out a. hissing stream of triumphant malice. And when Wat stepped between her and her lival, she turned on him, with a haughty, malignant stare. But when she saw, as she thought, the Duke of Kalouga, she smiled. ' For Heaven's sake, countess,' said Wat, in a whisper, 'do you want to make your revenge the means of her triumph V ' What do you mean ?' was the startled query. i " The Czar knows all ! He has pardoned her, and instructions are .tojbe issued at once for the apprehension of bo±h you and me, and Ldon't know o{ how many others' hesides.'* • Impossible ! I saw the Czar not over two hours ago !' 'My wife was with the Czarina not half-an-hour ago !' * Who betrayed us V ' The duchess thinks it was the Grand Duke himself.' ' But he told me that ' ' I know. That he would aid you to your revenge if you would forego your design of betraying us.' ' How did you know ' *I had it in mind to play the traitor myself, but found there were so many already engaged in that noble pastime that if" would hardly pay,' Sofia shrugged her shoulders disdainfully, and demanded, sharply : : i -'.But this— this woman?' 'Hush ! She is under my care — placed., there by the society»of which she and her escort claimed protection.' 4 Where is he?' • 1 Killed in the assault made by the soldiers, after you had told them where the meeting-place was." r ' I ?' ' Yes, you ! But let me get rid' of these people — and have no iears as to the little countess. She shall be' at your disposal when we are'once on J 6ur way. 1 He turned to the spectators, whd'had begun to wonder at the scene and its singular interrruption, and said, suavely : ' Excuse up, my good people, but there has been an unfortunate mistake here — that is all.' He at the same time took the hat from the hand 3 of Sofia and handed it back to' Vera, who at once put it on, and retired, once more to her seat in the background. . Then Wat took Sofia aside, and resumed the conversation, taking good care to keep as much in the shadow as possible. 'You see, countess, you and I a,re in pretty much the same scrape, and we must either agree to work together or work apart. Which shall it be?' , . ; i ' Whichever you please, so that you give me that woman.' _ „, . i ' But what can you do with her, now ?., She is not a bale of goods," tio be handed around at'the mil of others.'' , ' ' Doe.s she know yet of her pardon ?' ' You may be 3ure she does not.' ' Then don't tell her, and leave me.to deal with her as I will.' ' But, countess, don't you see how unreasonable you are ? You can do nothing to her now, for at the first attempt on your pare to proceed to violence, she will make an outcry, and both of you will be taken into custody, when the whole truth 'will" out, and you, wilibe theloserr'i .'<• ♦ >* ( - •■ » 'Leave that'to me,'vsaict.. i £sqfia<, witfi& smile that made even Wat slwdder, .» > ' But, countess,' you are asking me to risk my own head, and that iaa thing I have a marvellous anxiety for.' r v ' X^youvmean "that you intend i;o refuse wijafc' I agkj?" demanded Sofia, with .a 1 "dangerous g^eam in her eye. ] '*' 'lN6t' precisely that/" answered ' ''Wafc, '. >suavely, in the duke's manner. 'Are you going toUet me have myown . way ?' ' , . 'iHow can I V ; '.You must.' ( 'Oh, countess, ."must" is such a hard word.' . , , - . ' ' You are disposed: to make, light of my • wishes, my, lord duke 1 . "But I say to. you, beware ! That woman- is'mkie"or you shall , go td prison. the known plotter "against thY ' throne.' - , .' .<,*'. 'And you will go with me for company.' i . '• What do I care for that ?' 'A great 'deal, I fancy, -when you consider that when you are in prison, and Vera is out of it, there will nob be many obstacles hefcAveen her and her Ivan.' Sofia bit her lip. 'You see,' said Wat, ' there is no use in j struggling against the ■ inevitable. If I could see my way to helping you, I would i do it gladly ; but as it is, I don't see what ] I can do, do you ?' , . ■ 1 Sofia pondered the matter for several minutes in silence. Then she said, sus- s piciously : " j 1 Why should it matter to you what becomes of the creature ?' Wat smiled knowingly. , •Ah, it matters a great deal. Don't you ] see she has a passport for herself and her j friend, one Wat Denton, and as he is dead, lam not above supplying his place for the i time being.' , 4 Where did she get such a passport ?' J ♦ I believe her friend Grosser procured it \ for her.' j

i- 'So quickly, and "at this hour of the night ? My lord, you'must tell fairy storief . to children.' fc ' How sharp you are.' • ' Traitors have 'n,eed to be, you know.' [ ''Then you and I ought to be wel] 1 matched.' ' ' < 'We seem to, bo,- Do you intend to tell [ me any more about this valuable passport, 3 or shall linquire of some official V There was a distinct menace in her tone, ) which, however, Wat chose to ignore. > ' The little countess, by my request, wont to Grosser and told him all she i knew — ;-*-' ; ' Including, I suppose, my part in the I matter?' 1 ! ' Why, yes, countess, now you speak'of it, I believe! did hear Vera- sa^'thab she i had mentioned 'your name.' ;r; r ' Why not say at once that you,jsuergested to her "ttf make her. story have sbme value by mejotidning me.' 4 W«ml, fibtv you speak of it, I a.m inclined to thin kJE til id. You see the American had told us a thing or two about you, and what yojn j^ritend'ed ./to- do, and so '1 Had ire comp^ric'tfO'n's ab6ut usin^ you as you would have used me if it had come in your way to do so.' , Again- §qfiavbit her lip as if she saw. that it was folly, to try to browbeat one who had such an evident knowledge of her motives and intentions. ;-- JrVaj/s sb*6ry about Vera.and'th'ejaasspprt ,was r B^eh a* contradictory one that she was determined to get at the bottom of it if she could. v«. , • , .'•* t Confess, 5 sne said, abruptly, ' that you have been lying to me. 7 • I confess it.' Wat smiled blandly. ' , ' Beware, >my lord! I am, a dangerous woman to trifle with.' ' My Jadyi cauntess;' s said Wat, assuming a sudden 'sternness' which visibly affected Sofia, ' do you- realise* that I am playing 'a game of life and death as well as you ?' •Yes/.'Then why 'stand here and threaten like a school-girl ? I have a greater interest in my own life than I have in yours, and certainly more 'than in your schemes for revenge over a paltry love scrape. What can you do, do you think ? I hold the winning cards, and I mean to play them.' 'But what, has the woman to do with your safety ?' ( ' I have told you that she has a passport for herself and escort.' 'But you 1 have confessed that you were deceiving me.' • You asked me to confess it, and I did so.' ' But you said once that she did not know she was pardoned, and then again you said that she wen. b to Grosser. If she did that she must have learned she was pardoned.' 'It is plain that 1 have told you an untruth ?' • Yes. ' '.And is there no moral to draw from that?' ' Not that I can s<ee. ' ' Then I will elucidate it to you.' ' Please do so.' ' You chose, tp ask questions I did not wish to answer, so I lied.' • And you, defy me?' Tcertainlydo.' ' And do you expect to get out "of this country ?' ' That is a different matter entirely.' ' I don't understand you.' ' Nor will you until you get it out of your head that you have everything in your own hands. That good Chernigoff has spoiled you by being afraid-of you.' ' Perhaps you will be good enough to explain yourself. The train will start soon, and I promise you I will not let you leave this depob until you ,have<.given me satis"f action.' ' And I promise you I will nob care if you keep me here. So you have your choice between acting like a reasonable woman who ha.9 much to ask and little to give, or a foolish creature who fancies she can scaiea full-grown man by menaces which mean absolutely nothing to him.' Wat was acting a very bold part in thus trifling with Sofia, but he was doing it deliberately, and if he had but time he was confident he would win. Sofia was in reality completely ' bewildered by his peculiar course, and was wondering in her own "mind what secret advantage he had over lifer. f . This doubt? "made her assume a more .ihuiigble tone. '"I, don't mean to be unreasonable,' she '. said, * but I must have that woman in my power'j at any cost !' , - An.d did nob I offer to turn her over co yooCv-vVhen she had served my purpose'?' f But what is your purpose, and how soon wiH'ib be served ?' "Safety is 'my purpose, and it will be served when I am safe.' * -But will you give me no kind of guarantee that my interests will be served ?' ' How can a* fugitive give guarantees ?" 'You can tell* me 1 what your intentions are. ' Thatik you. Ido not put myself in the hands of the Countess AlmazofF. She has played .the part of traitress too many times. I will be safe by keeping my own counsel.' Sofia flashed a look traly murderous at him, bub she asked moderately enough, for ahp had.hegun to fear. him : ' What will you do for me, then ?'• ' Well, there, that sounds like reason at last. What will Ido for you ?' 'Yes. 1 '■ { I will travel in such a way that you shall keep the.little countess under your eye all fchetime. And then, when lam done with her, which will be when I am out of the ( country, I will turn her over to you in any way and atj any time you may select.' i '.But she,'too, will be safe then.' "* Pardon me,' said Wat, with a bow at once blarid'atod mocking, ' bub I should not feel safe if I were in your power even if we ( werein the! Polar regions.' ' I will travel in the same compartment < with you.' • 'It will' undoubtedly be unpleasant for Vera, but I suppose she can put up with it. < Of course you will nob expect me to be on good terms with you.' , i ' I should, prefer it otherwise. ' 1 ' Thank you.' ; 1 ' I' hope you will not betray my trust in you,' ' I don't think you have a great deal to ' be 'betrayed, but such as it is I will not be- ( traY it.'