By Right of Sword
Produced by Al Haines
Cover art]
[Frontispiece: I raised my sword and struck him with the flat side ofit across the face.--_Frontispiece, Page 42_.]
By Right of Sword
BY
ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT
AUTHOR OF
"Sir Jaffray's Wife," "Parson Thring's Secret," Etc., Etc.
NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY
156 : FIFTH : AVENUE : NEW : YORK
HUTCHINSON & COMPANY, LONDON
Copyright 1897
BY
ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
I Raised My Sword and Struck Him with the Flat Side of it across the Face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_
"I Know that You are My Brother, Alexis"
A Swinging Cut Made Another Drop His Knife with a Great Cry of Pain
"Here, Strike," I Cried
"Alexis, Did You Bring That Proposal to Me Deliberately?"
"Take Another Two Grains, Mouse"
I Darted Forward into the Doorway
I Tore It from Him
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. THE MEETING II. I AM A NIHILIST III. MY SECONDS IV. THE DUEL V. GETTING DEEPER VI. A LEGACY OF LOVE VII. A LESSON IN NIHILISM VIII. THE RIVERSIDE MEETING IX. DEVINSKY AGAIN X. "THAT BUTCHER, DURESCQ" XI. DANGER FROM A FRESH SOURCE XII. CHRISTIAN TUESKI XIII. OLGA IN A NEW LIGHT XIV. THE DEED WHICH RANG THROUGH RUSSIA XV. A SHE DEVIL XVI. THE NEXT NIHILIST PLOT XVII. AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE XVIII. THE REASON OF THE INTRIGUE XIX. OLGA'S ABDUCTION XX. THE RESCUE XXI. THREE TO ONE XXII. THE BEGINNING OF THE END XXIII. CHECKMATE! XXIV. CRISIS XXV. COILS THAT NO MAN COULD BREAK XXVI. MY DECISION XXVII. THE FOUR ALDER TREES XXVIII. THE ATTACK ON THE CZAR XXIX. THE TRUTH OUT AT LAST XXX. AFTERWARDS
BY RIGHT OF SWORD.
CHAPTER I.
THE MEETING.
Moscow.
"MY DEAR RUPERT.
"Don't worry your head about me. I shall be all right. I did not seeyou before leaving because of the scene with your sister and Cargill,which they may perhaps tell you about. I have done with England: andas the auspices are all for war, I mean to have a shy in. I went toVienna, thinking to offer myself to the Turks: but my sixteen years inRussia have made too much of a Russ of me to let me tolerate those lazycruel beggars. So I turned this way. I'm going on to St Petersburgto-day, for I find all the people I knew here as a lad have gone north.I have made such a mess of things that I shall never set foot inEngland again. If Russia will have me, I shall volunteer, and I hopewith all my soul that a Turkish bullet will find its billet in my body.It shan't be my fault if it doesn't. If I hadn't been afraid of beingthought afraid, I'd have taken a shorter way half a score of times. Mylife is an inexpressible burden, and I only wish to God someone wouldthink it worth while to take it. I don't want to be hard on yoursister, but whatever was left in my heart or life, she has emptied, andI only wish she'd ended it at the same time. You'll know I'm prettybad when not even the thought of our old friendship gives me a moment'spleasure. Good-bye. Don't come out after me. You won't find me ifyou do.
Your friend, HAMYLTON TREGETHNER."
The letter was wretchedly inconsequential. When I sat down to write Ihadn't meant to tell Rupert Balestier that his sister's treatment hadmade such a mess of things for me; but my pen ran away with me as italways does, and I wasn't inclined to write the letter all over again.I hate letter writing. I was to leave Moscow, moreover, in an hour ortwo, and when I had had my things sent to the railway station andfollowed them, I dropped the letter into the box without altering aword.
It had made me thoughtful, however; and I stood on the platform lookingmoodily about me, wondering whether I should find the end I wished mostspeedily by joining the army or the Nihilists; and which course wouldbring me the most exciting and quickest death.
I had three or four hours to wait before my train left, and I walked upand down the platform trying to force myself to feel an interest inwhat was going on about me.
Presently I noticed that I was the object of the close vigilance of asmall group of soldiers such as will generally be seen hanging aboutthe big stations in Russia. They looked at me very intently; I noticedthem whisper one to another evidently about me; and as I passed theydrew themselves up to attention and saluted me. I returned the salute,amused at their mistake, and entered one of the large waiting saloons.
It was empty save for one occupant, who was standing by the big stovelooking out of a window near. This was a girl, and a glimpse I caughtof her face shewed me she was pretty, while her attitude seemed tosuggest grief.
As I entered and went to another part of the room, she started andglanced at me and then looked away. A few seconds later, however, shelooked round furtively, and then to my abundant surprise, came acrossand said in a low, confidential tone:
"It is not enough, Alexis. I knew you in a minute. But you acted thestranger to perfection."
She was not only pretty, but very pretty, I thought, as she stood withher face raised toward mine, a light of some kind of emotion shining inher eyes where I saw traces of tears. But my recent experiences ofEdith Balestier had toughened me a lot, and I was suspicious of thisyoung woman.
"Pardon me, Madam, you have made a mistake."
Then she smiled, rather sadly; and her teeth shone salt white betweenher full curved lips.
"Your voice would betray you, even if your dear handsome eyes did not.Do you think the mere shaving of your beard and moustache can hide youreyes. Just look into mine and see if the shade is not exact?"
I did look into them: and very beautiful eyes hers were. Littleshining blue heavens all radiant with the light of infinite capacity tofeel. Fascinating eyes, very. But I had not lived the first sixteenyears of my life in Russia without getting to know that in that bigland all is not snow that looks white; and that a very awkward intriguemay lurk beneath a very fair seeming surface.
"Madam, I am charmed, but I have not the honour of knowing you."
A passing cloud of irritation shewed and a little gesture ofimpatience, sufficient to remind me that the gloved hands were verysmall.
"Ah, why keep this up now? There is no need, and no time. Is not thetrain starting in less than an hour--and by the way, what madness is itthat makes you loiter about here in this public way, out of uniform andas if there were no danger and you were merely taking a week's holiday,instead of flying for...."
"Madam," I broke in again. "I must repeat, I am a stranger. You mustnot tell me these things. My name is Hamylton Tregethner, anEnglishman, and...."
"Yes, yes, I know you are: or at least I know you are going to callyourself English, though you haven't told me what your name is to be.But I know that you are my brother Alexis, going to leave me perhapsfor ever, and that when I want to scold you for running this risk--foryou know there are police, and soldiers, and spies in plenty toidentify you--you...." here she made as if to throw herself into myarms. But suspecting some trick, I stepped back.
"I know that you are my brother, Alexis."]
"Madam, I must ask you to be good enough not to play this comedy anyfarther." I spoke rather sternly.
"If your disguise were only as good as your acting, Alexis, not a soulin Russia would suspect you. Oh, I see what you mean," she cried, alook of intelligence breaking over her features. "I forgot. Ofcourse, I am compromising your disguise by thus speaking to you. I amsorry. It was my love for you made me thoughtless, when I should havebeen thoughtful. I will go away." She turned on me such a look ofgenuine grief that it melted my scepticism.
"There is really some strange mistake," I said, speaking much moregently. "At first I thought you were intentionally mistaking me forsomeone else; for what object I knew not. But I see now the error wasinvoluntary. I give you my honour, Madam, that you are under acomplete mistake if you take me for any relative of your own. I am anEnglishman, as I say, and I arrived in Moscow only last night, and amleaving for St Petersburg by the next express train. I am afraid, ifyou persist in your mistake, it may have unpleasant consequences foryou. Hence my plain speech. But I am what I say."
As I finished, I raised my hat and stood that she might convinceherself of her blunder.
She looked at me with the most careful scrutiny, even walking round toget a view of my figure. Then she came back and looked into my faceagain; and I could see that she was still unconvinced.
"It is impossible," she said, under her breath. "If I allow for thedifference your beard and moustache would make, you are my brother."
"I am Hamylton Tregethner," I said, and I took out my pocket-book andshewed her my passport to Paris, Vienna, Moscow, "and travelling on theContinent."
"These things can be bought--or made," she said. Then she seemed tounderstand how she had committed herself with me, if I were really astranger, and I saw her look at me with fear, doubt, and speculation onher pretty expressive face.
She sighed and lifted her hands as if in half despair.
"Madam, you have my word as an Englishman that not a syllable of whatyou have said shall pass my lips." The bright glance of gratitude shethrew me inspired me to add:--"If I can be of any help in this matter,you may command me absolutely."
She gave me a little stiff look, and I thought I had offended her: butthe next moment a light of eagerness took its place.
"When are you leaving?" she asked with an indifference I co
uld see wasassumed.
"By the St Petersburg express at 6 o'clock."
"That is two hours after the Smolensk train." She paused to think andglanced at me once, as if weighing whether she dare ask me something.Then she said quickly:--"Will you give me a couple of hours of yourcompany on this platform and in the station this afternoon?"
It was a strange sort of request and when I saw how anxiously sheawaited my reply I could perceive she had a strong motive: and one thathad certainly nothing to do with any desire for my company.
Then suddenly I guessed her motive. The cunning little woman! Herbrother was obviously going to fly from Moscow. She saw that inasmuchas she herself had mistaken me for him, others would certainly do so;and thus, if she and I were together, the brother would get awayunsuspected and would be flying from Moscow while he would be thoughtto be still walking about the station with his sister. I liked theidea, and the girl's pluck on behalf of her brother.
"I will give you not only two hours," I said, "but two days, or twoweeks, if you like--if you will tell me candidly what your reason is."
She started at this and saw by my expression that I had guessed hervery open secret.
"If you will walk with me outside, I will do that," she said. "I am avery poor diplomatist." With that we went out on to the platform andcommenced a conversation that had momentous results for us all.
She told me quite frankly that she wished me to act as a cover for herbrother's flight.
"No harm can come to you. You will only have to prove youridentity--otherwise I should not have asked this," she said,apologetically. And then to excuse herself, she added, "And I shouldhave told you, even if you had not asked me."
I believed in her sincerity now, and I told her so in a roundabout way.Then I said:--"I am in earnest in saying that I will stay on in Moscowfor a day or two if you wish. I have nothing whatever to do, and ifthe affair should bring me in conflict with anyone, I should like it.I can't tell you all my reasons, as that would mean telling you abiggish slice of my life; but feel assured that if there's likely to beany adventure in it from which some men might shrink, it would ratherattract me than otherwise. But if you care to tell me the reasons ofyour brother's flight, I will breathe no word of them to a soul, and Imay be of help." I began to scent an adventure in it, and the perfumepleased me.
My words set her thinking deeply, and we took two or three turns up anddown before she answered.
"No, you mustn't stop over to-day," she said, slowly. Then she addedthoughtfully:--"I don't know what Alexis would say to my confiding inyou; but I should dearly like to." She turned her face to me andlooked long and searchingly into my eyes. Then smiled slightly--asmile of confidence. "I feel I can trust you. I will risk it and tellyou. My brother is flying because a man in his regiment"--here hereyes shone and her cheeks coloured to a deep red--"has fastened aquarrel on him. He has--has tried to--well, he has worried me and Idon't like him"--the blush was of indignation now--"and because of thishe has picked a quarrel with Alexis; and to-morrow--means to kill himin that form of barbarous assassination you men call duelling. Heknows he is infinitely more skilful than poor Alexis, and that my dearbrother is no match for him with either sword or pistol; and he willdrag him out to-morrow, and either shoot or stab him."
The tears overflowed here, and made the eyes look more bright andbeautiful than ever.
"Why didn't your brother refuse to fight?"
"How could he?" she asked despairingly. "He would have been a markedman--a coward. And this wretch would have triumphed over him. And heknows this, because he offered to let Alexis off, if I--if I--Oh, wouldthat I were a man!" she cried, changing the note of indignant grief foranger.
"Do you mean he has made such an offer as this since the challengepassed?"
"Yes, my brother came and told me. But I could not do it. And nowthis has come."
I didn't think very highly of the brother, but he had evidently talkedhis sister round. What I thought of most was the chance of a realadventure which the thing promised.
The man must be a bully and a scoundrel, and it would serve him rightto give him a lesson. If this girl had not recognised me, perhaps hewould not. I felt that I should like to try. There was no reason whyI should not. I could easily spare a couple of days for the littledrama, and go on to St Petersburg afterwards.
"You are very anxious for your brother's safety?" I asked.
"He is my only protector in the world. If he gets away now to Berlinor Paris, I shall follow and go to him."
"But is he likely to get away when he will be missed in a few hours. Asingle telegram from Moscow will close every frontier barrier in Russiaupon him."
"We know that;" and she wrung her hands.
"If he could have two clear days he could reach the frontier and passunquestioned," I said, significantly.
She was a quick-witted little thing and saw my point with all a woman'ssharpness.
"Your life is not ours to give away. This man is noted for his greatskill."
"Would everyone be likely to make the same mistake about me that youhave made this afternoon?" I asked in reply.
She looked at me again. She was trembling a little in her earnestness.
"Now that I know, I can see differences--especially in your expression;but in all Moscow there is not a man or woman who would not take youfor my brother."
"Then I decide for the two days here. And if it will make you morecomfortable, I can assure you I am quite as able to take care of myselfwith either sword or pistol as this bully you speak of. But it is foryou to decide."
There came a pause, at the end of which she said, her face wearing amore frightened look:--
"No, it must not be. There are other reasons. My brother is mixed upwith..."
"Excuse me, can you tell me which is the train for Smolensk?" asked aman who came up and interrupted us, speaking in a mixture of Russian,English and German.
The girl started violently, and I guessed the man was her brother. Aglance at his eyes confirmed this. They were a weak rendering of theglorious blue eyes that had been inspiring me to all sorts of impulsesfor the last hour.
"That disguise is too palpable," I said, quietly. He had shaved andwas wearing false hair that could deceive no one. In a few minutes thewhole situation was explained to him by his quick sister.
"I've only consented to go in order that Olga here may not be robbed ofher only protector," he said, thinking apparently to explain away hiscowardice. "She has no one in the world to look after her but me, youknow. If you'll help her in this matter, she will be very muchobliged; and so shall I. You needn't go out to-morrow and fightDevinsky--that's the major's name: Loris Devinsky. My regiment's theMoscow Infantry Regiment, you know. If you'll go to my rooms and shamill, no one will know you, and as soon as I'm over the frontier I'llwire Olga, and you can get away." He was cunning enough as well as acoward, evidently.
"Very well," said I. "But you'll get over no frontier if you wear abeard which everyone with eyes can see is false, and talk in a languagethat no one ever spoke on this earth. Pull off the beard: the littleblack moustache may stay. Speak English, or your own tongue, and playmy part to the frontier; and here take my passport; but post it back toyour sister to be given to me as soon as you're safe over. And forHeaven's sake don't walk as if you were a thief looking out for arrest.No one suspects; so carry yourself as if no one had cause to."
It was a good thing for him I had seen his sister first. He wouldnever have got me to personate him even for a couple of hours.
But we got him off all right, and his sister was so pleased that Icould not help feeling pleased also. First in his assumed character hemade such arrangements for my luggage as I wished, and then we hurriedup to the train just before it started. As we reached the barrierwhere the papers had to be examined, he turned and bade his sistergood-bye, and then said to me aloud in Russian, hiding his voice alittle:--
"Well, good-bye, Alexis;" and he shook hands with me.
"Good-bye," I answered with a laugh: and he waved an adieu to us fromthe other side of the barrier.
As we turned away together, Olga was a little pale.
Three soldiers saluted me, and I acknowledged the salute gravely,glancing at them as I passed.
Then I noticed a couple of men who had been standing together andwatching the girl and myself for some time, leave their places andfollow us. I told my companion and presently I saw her turn and lookat them, and then start and shiver.
"Do you know them?" I asked.
"Alas, yes. They are Nihilist spies, watching us."
"Ah, then there is a little more in this than I have understood sofar," I said.
"You shall know everything," she replied as we left the stationtogether.