The Shadow of the Czar

from her seat, passed through an open casement into the sunlit gardens

e silent and without attendants the fair princess walked, d

eyes, she saw before her a stately and dignified

nova, an ecclesiastic who vainly sought to hide his

ed far more youthful; and his clean-shaven, handsome face

shop and the Greek archpastor were entitled to hold office in the cabinet-an arrangement that did not tend to its harmony. A favor to

triumphs. His desire of bringing all Czernova within the papal fold was known to all men; not so well known, however, was his taste for amorous intri

to his lips. It was clear at a glance that Ravenna was not a persona grata with Ba

eft side of the princess, and began to pace to and

e, from the Vatican, the bearer of a

papal keys. But Barbara waved it aside. She had received

presume. Read it for me.

letter which was a somewhat lengthy on

established upon the throne"-Barbara could not repress a smile in view of the recent m

hall Radzivil make known my faith to the Diet. I

The saints themselves must bow

r deception and reign in my own n

al missive, "anticipates the happy day when Czernova shall

the purificatory process shall begin?"

iastical policy to be observed within the principality. We must begin by penalizing the

learn wisdom?" And aloud she asked, "And would your Eminence have me exclu

ret to say that the Pope has again refused

not ask a

heerfully accept

on. I must," she added, her expression showing how hateful to her was

a vassal of the h

tily, "will you cite the Act by which the Diet consente

one of those men whose outward serenity nothing seems to disturb, and therein lay one of the secrets of his power. He clearly recognize

a loyal daughter

a good word. A daug

Holy Father forbids the union, and no Catholic priest dare

est in Czernova upon wh

his proud soul. If your Highness will glance at this missive, you will note that the

arbara with a touch of sarcasm in her voice; "he will not know which of the two Infallibilities to follow: Pius II., who granted th

true Catholic. Nevertheless it is to be seen that her Catholici

orts Faustus in his def

rugged her grac

onvent, and that Faustus in the exercise of his ancient rights declines to admit you

princess would procure

rd shall nev

de strange mysteries behind its walls when

a sudden start, which the cardinal acc

rned the art of veiling your thoughts. It is as I have long suspected; you have some secret co

h of us to understand the other, inasmuch as you seem strangely disposed to reverse our respective positions, deeming yourself the ruler of Czernova, and myself your minister." She paused for a moment as if to co

timate restoration," sa

princess who should be a Catholic, and not, as her

oble

hought that you, my lord, belong to the same faith might very well induce me to renounce it. But as to the second part of your scheme-your expectation of finding in me a servile instrument ready to execute every decree of the Papal

hiding smile, as if at the w

forget the tenure by wh

rbara, with proud flashing

cannot prove wit

you would use y

nova the interests

secret purpose of your heart? Radzivil made an unwise choice in sending you to

s one may be

eye whispering in the ear of the Pope to withhold the dispensation? And why? The heretical duke must not marry the

ly divined my secret. It

said Barbara indignantly. "You, a prie

's name, and not that of Bora, shou

fortune, since once a priest al

s language," said Barbara w

ry of power, and, tasting, be ready to sacrifice anything, even your own person, rather than lose that power. Aware of my love, you are forming a plan to escape me. If you should be deposed, who succeeds? The Duke of

correct, for Barbara did n

ians and nurses who attended the infant days of Princess Natalie are still living. The simple baring of your right shoulder would prove that, whoever you may be, you are not that princess. Your assertion that nevertheless you are her elder and half-sister would be laughed to scorn. Who will believe your word, unsupported by evidence, that the

hose word twenty thousand swords would flash from their scabbards, to be threatened by an Italian eccles

keeping of three sealed packets. So soon as he shall learn of my arrest he will thus act. One packet he will despatch to the Russian Foreign Minister; the second to the Duke of Bora; and with the third he will hasten to the office of the 'Kolokol' newspaper, whose pro-Russian

her guards. She said

it is with reluctance that I adopt such a course. But-y

s quiet shade than a

n your usurpation an affront to his dignity. He will demand that you be sent to Russia, there to take your trial. And the cowardly duke will comply. You know how much 'the politician in petticoats' is hated by the Russian ministry, and what justice you are likely to receive at t

feeling of horror at the pic

offended the Czar, will be delivered up to him by the duke. Czernova will be overrun by Cossack soldiery, and placed under martial law. Her young men will be drafted off to serve in the Russian army. The university will be closed, the Catholic Church persecuted. The wailings of Czernova will

n appeal to the welfare of the people whom she loved; nevertheless, it had

story to the duke-to the Diet, to the whole principality-this very day, if you will. I fear you not. I will do nothing to stop you. I will wait to see whether you will be bold enough to play this traitor's game. And when you have done your worst to destroy the princess, and failed, t

nal gave

dent that time and reflection will bring you wisdom. Reign

distant sentinels alone kept him from seizing and holding Barbara within his arms. Brilliant in youth and love

nt that took place this morning. Nay, princess, do not tur

nner compelled Barbara to

surprise. One whom we both thoug

cardinal, Barbara found hers

ho

ou to say that you would forever ca

nd upon her side. With a foreboding of what was to

the captive must have escaped, for a young Englishman calling himself

the look in her eyes was a language

nderstood her

here strangers register themselves. These little particul

. Religion: Anglican Church. Calling: Captain in the Twenty-fourth Kentish, a cavalry regiment. Object in visiting Czernova: The pleasure of travelling,' Humph! was that the motive that d

but she heard not his words. She was oblivious of everything, but the one overwhelmin

her bosom heaving beneath its foam of white lace. Never had the princess looked so lovely in the cardinal's eyes as now. Lost in a delicio

nsfiguration? But though he could not create such joy, he could extinguish it, and would; and observing t

the balcony of the H?tel de Varsovie. Knowing that you cannot really be

y, come to any other conclusion? The though

he think when he sees that in the sacred matter of religion you are acting the hypocrit

lie. How she must have fallen in Paul's esteem! Her qu

your betrothal. Inquiries as to Bora's character must cause him to mar

lieved him dead, must have thought himself forgotten by her. How she longed to see

is same day to the H?tel de Varsovie with a message to the effect that the P

long thought dead are alive, how bitter it must be to lose

do you

ds. The question was put by the

?tel de Varsovie. A sapphire seal worn by the Englishman attracted the notice of the duke, inasmuch as he recognized it as a former gift of his to

er of

glowing eyes, the princess's face might hav

ntest. They fight with

ng her voice at last. "I shall send a troop t

d Forest. The swiftest horse of the Ukraine could not reach the spot in time for you to stay the duel. And granting that you should arrive in time you would be powerless; for, in

t grew whiter still as Ravenna pro

army are twenty thousand men, not one of whom, unless he wish for death, dares face the duke's deadly blade. You yourself have witnessed his feats in the s

ting to the sun shimmering through the

h hero will be lying dead upon the turf, slain by t

in which love and grief were intermingled,-she slid from