CHAPTER XXIII.
CHECKMATE!
As soon as Paula Tueski left me I went round to Olga to endeavour tosolve the riddle of the woman's discovery. Olga was out and would notreturn for an hour. Leaving word that I wished to see her particularlyand that she was to wait for me, I went for a walk to try and order mythoughts.
Finding myself near the Princess Weletsky's house, and knowing that Ihad to keep up the semblance of attentions there, I called. Shereceived me with marks of the most warm regard and welcome.
"I have heard much of what happened at that wretched Devinsky's house.Old Fedor who went with you told me much and my brother much also; butI would rather hear all from you. Where is Olga? You were wounded, Ihear. What was it? Tell me--tell me. I have been dying with anxietyfor you."
I told her shortly what had happened; and then it occurred to me to tryand get her help in regard to Olga. I drew a fancy picture of Olga'sshattered nerves; that Moscow had become a place of terror to her; andthat even Russia itself was distasteful to her for a time on Devinsky'saccount.
"Do you think that a man like Devinsky would dare to lay so much as afinger on one of our family?" she asked, checkmating me quietly with asingle pronoun.
"It's not what Devinsky dares, but what Olga fears."
"She did not strike me as a girl of nervous fears."
"No; she does not shew it even to me."
"Then we can do better than drive the poor child away from home--punishDevinsky. Tell her that he is already under arrest."
"Is that so, indeed?" I asked, in some astonishment.
"Certainly; his murderous attack on you when you were on the Emperor'sspecial duty is a crime that will cost him dear. Those who play usfalse, Lieutenant Petrovitch, must beware of us. But our friends findthe ways made easy for them. Did not my brother tell you that Olga wasto be protected as one of us, and therefore avenged, if wronged?"
"She will be glad to feel safe," I replied quietly. I knew what shemeant; and with a look that seemed to imply much, I added:--"I am gladto be one of your friends." I was getting such an adept in thesuggestion of a lie, that much more practice would make it difficultfor me to tell the plain truth.
My companion flushed with pleasure.
"I always felt I should not count on you in vain," she said.
"No woman has ever done that, I trust," was my answer. "No woman evercould for whom I felt as I feel for you." And with that, and a littlemore to the same effect, I left her.
I went round to Olga's at once. It was a blessing that with her thereneed be no secret meanings and insinuations.
She received me, of course, with a smile.
"Is this a pretence to see me, or really something?" she asked with alaugh.
"I think it is really something or I should not have dared to be backso quickly. Even brothers may be bores."
Her answer was a pretty one, such as might be expected from a lover,but I need not repeat it.
"First, I will tell you the news," I said, after a pause; and I toldher about the arrest of Devinsky.
"These people strike swiftly and secretly, Alexis," she said,thoughtfully. "They frighten me. Their power is almost limitless.How hard they will hit and how far the blow will reach, if they everfind we are fooling them!" She sighed.
"The frontier is their limit: and we must pass it."
"I have been out to-day to make the preparations for flight. I supposeI must go?"--she smiled a sad little note of interrogation at me--"andif so, the sooner the better. I have a disguise, and shall startto-night. My difficulty will be of course at the frontier. I am goingto stop short of that by one station, and then as a peasant girl try toget over on foot. It will take a little longer: but it is the onlychance."
"No, I have good news for you so far as that is concerned. MadameTueski will get you a permit in some name or other and then you cancross in the train. Far better."
"You have seen her then to-day?" A shadow of her old feelings crossedOlga's face as she asked this.
"Yes, I have seen her, and she is eager now that you shall get out ofthe country."
She was very quickwitted and read my meaning instantly from my wordsand tone.
"Tell me everything. There is more bad news yet to be told. Has sheguessed? ... Ah, I always feared that woman."
"Tell me, Olga, ought I to have any special mark on either of my arms.Any birth-mark, or anything of that sort?"
She went white instantly.
"I had forgotten. That wretched woman's initials were tattooed insmall letters just there"--she put her finger on the place--"I saw itonce and Alexis was wild with me. Has she seen your arm bare?"
"My wound," I said, in explanation.
"Oh dear, through me again; through me again," cried the girl indistress. I took her in my arms to soothe her, and tried to make herunderstand that after all it was really a good thing that had happenedand not a bad one, inasmuch as the woman's jealousy was urging her tohelp in getting Olga away. I told her everything frankly.
But this was not all a clear course, as may be imagined. Olga loved mevery dearly and trusted me, I believe, as implicitly as any woman couldtrust the man she loved. But she was a woman and not a goddess: andshe could not bring herself to like the necessity which took her out ofthe country and left me behind in the clutches of such a woman as PaulaTueski. She was a very reasonable little soul, however, as well as abrave one; and before I left her I had talked her into a condition ofcompulsory resignation.
I did not attempt to disguise from myself, though I did from Olga, thefact that her flight after my conversation with the Princess wouldcertainly tend to bring suspicion upon me, if it should be discovered.Any secret step at such a juncture would do that. I thought I hadbetter see the Prince himself, therefore, lest my neglect to do soshould rouse his suspicions prematurely.
I went to him from Olga's house, and when I was admitted, after alittle delay which I did not quite like, I found him as gracious asever.
"I am very busy," he said, shaking hands with me; "but have time tohear that you have resolved to join us, Lieutenant."
"I have come now only to thank you...."
"I haven't time to listen to that. Your sister is again in Moscow; herpersecutor is in the care of my men; you have only to say a word forher to be his judge. Do you say it?"
Seeing me hesitate, he paused only a moment.
"When a man like you doesn't say Yes, directly, he means, No. Iunderstand. But--time is beginning to press with much force. Make upyour mind; and don't come again till you have decided. Understand whatthat means. I can't see you again until you are ready to say Yes orNo, finally--finally. Then come, and if you decide no, make itconvenient before you come, to arrange any little matters that can bestbe put right personally. You may find obstacles afterwards. Youunderstand?" and the look which accompanied the words shewed me that hemeant all this as a pretty strong turn of the screw. "Oh, and by theby," he added, just as I was leaving the room--"of course you won'tattempt to get away. You may if you like, you know, but you'll bewiser not to; because I have certain information about you, and anyattempt at flight at such a juncture as this would give me an excellentexcuse for dealing very summarily. Understand--I shall only see youagain when you are ready to give me your decision."
My anxiety for Olga was making me like a silly frightened boy; and Iwent away from the man now with a chilled feeling of fear that set medoubting and speculating and anticipating a thousand forms of troublewhich he could inflict upon her. I should not have a moment's peace ofmind while Olga remained in Russia. That was certain.
I went back to my rooms and sat there thinking out moodily theparticulars of the journey which the girl had to take alone, and myfears for her multiplied with almost every turn of my thoughts. Everydetail of the position seemed to teem with additional menace and causefor alarm.
I had my own escape to think of too. I resolved, let the risks be whatthey might, that the i
nstant Olga's telegram came telling me she hadcrossed the frontier, I should bolt; and the manner and direction of myflight had cost me many an anxious hour.
I had been looking forward to the possible necessity for a hurriedflight ever since I had started the venture, and I had had time thus tomake my plans fairly complete. For this purpose I had used my Nihilistconnection, though I had of course kept my whole plans to myself, sinceI had contemplated running away from the Nihilists as much as fromanyone else.
The chief difficulty was the geographical position of Moscow: the verykernel of Russia, and at tremendous distances from all the frontiers.My escape must be obviously a matter of the most careful planning,seeing that I should probably be many weeks, and perhaps months,carrying it out. From the first I abandoned all thought of making adash straight for the frontier by train. Every outlet of the kindwould be watched most jealously, alike by the police and the Nihilists:while the fact of Olga slipping through would increase a thousandfoldthe vigilance to prevent my following.
If Paula Tueski managed to get the permit, Olga would make her escapequickly by train, going either north-west to St. Petersburg and away bysteamer: or west across the German frontier: or south-west down intoAustria. Two days would do the business.
My escape was to be a very different affair.
I meant to leave Moscow on foot or pony back, disguised as a peasantwoman, and as soon as I was well clear of the city, some 20 or 30 milesout, I intended to change that disguise and play the part of ahorse-dealer, making for the two big horse fairs that were coming onsoon at Rostov and Jaroslav--about 100 and 150 miles northrespectively. For this purpose I proposed to buy up enough horses andponies on my way to divert suspicion and sustain my part.
At Jaroslav I should sell these for what they would fetch and in theconfusion of the fair time, change my character again. There I shouldstrike the Volga: and my plan was to escape by river; working my way onthe boats down to Tsaritsin and thence across by train to the Don. Atthe mouth of the Don, or at Taganrog, I calculated to be able to shipon a steamer across the Sea of Azov, and thence across the Black Sea,and out through the Bosphorus.
This was the outline, subject of course to any changes which necessityor expediency should suggest; and I preferred it, because if I couldcut the trail between Moscow and the river, that was about the verylast place in which I should be looked for; while the time that must beoccupied on the river would give me the necessary opportunity forobtaining such papers as I should require to get away.
I had perfected the plan, thought out many of its details anddiscounted its risks, and had laid in many of the necessary disguises.But I was not destined to use them; for the direction of matters waswrested out of my hands by a stroke that checkmated me completely.
In the afternoon a letter came to me from Olga, vaguely worded, to theeffect that Paula Tueski had sent for her and had given her what hadbeen promised, and that all matters were now complete. She wished meto see her at seven o'clock.
I scribbled a line saying I would be there at the time.
The messenger, Olga's maid, went off with it: and almost before Ithought she could have had time to get home and back again, she camehurrying in again breathless and excited, and all white with fear.
I thought at first she had been molested in some way in thestreets--Moscow is not Eden--and I asked her what was the matter.
The reply, uttered in gasps and jerks of terror and with spasmodic sobsfilled me in my turn with consternation.
Olga had been arrested during the girl's absence, and my aunt, theCountess Palitzin was like a mad-woman in her fear. She was allanxiety to see me.
"Arrested!" I cried, scarcely believing my own ears. "By whom? Forwhat?"
"By the police; I don't know for what," wailed the girl. "But theCountess----"
"I'll go to her at once," I cried, interrupting her; and withoutanother word I set off at once for Olga's house, with the greatesthaste.
What could it all mean?
Whose blow was this? Coming at such a moment, it shattered all myplans to fragments.