Part 31 (1/2)

A big surly-looking man Could it be Mishka? I scarcely dared hope it was, re how and where I parted froht--ive the Ger of the name was just like Mishka, as the very eot o back to London to-day, Mary, to meet Southbourne Where's the time-table?”

Mary objected, of course, on the score that I was not yet strong enough for work, and I reassured her

”Nonsense, dear; I'”

”Idle! When you've turned out that Russian series”

”A o, and I haven't done a stroke since”

”But is this anything special?” she urged ”Lord Southbourne is not sending you abroad again,--to Russia?”

”No fear of that, little woman; and if he did they would stopmentioned the States in his note”

”Oh, that would be lovely!” she assented, quite reassured I was thankful that she and Jim were settled down in this out-of-the-way place for the next feeeks, any way It would be easy to keep thenorance of my movements, and, once away, they wouldn't expect to hear much of me In my private capacity I was a proverbially remiss correspondent

They both came with me the seven-mile drive to the station; and even Jim, to my relief, didn't seem to have the least suspicion that my hurried departure was occasioned by any other reason than that I had given

Anne's name had never been mentioned between hietting her, though Mary knew better

I sent a wire from Exeter to ”M Pavloff,” and when I arrived at Waterloo, about half-past ten at night, I drove straight to the Charing Cross Hotel, secured a room there, and asked for Herr Pavloff

I was taken up to a private sitting-rooh, was Mishka himself In his way he was as remarkable a man as his master; as imperturbable, and as much at home in a London hotel, as in the cafe near the Isreetedfrom one of his temperament In many ways he was a typical Russian, almost servile, in his surly fashi+on, towards those whom he conceived to be immeasurably his superiors in rank; more or less truculent towards every one else; and, as a rule, suspicious of every one, high or lohom he came in contact, save his e in our acquaintanceshi+p he had abandoned the air of sulky deference which he had shoe firstafter the accident, and had treated h in a kind of paternal manner; and yet I doubt if he was my senior in years He was a h he was usually careful to conceal the fact To this day I do not know the exact position he held in his master's service It may perhaps be described as that of confidential henchman,--a mediaeval definition, but in Russia one is continually taken back to the Middle Ages One thing, at least, was indubitable,--his utter devotion to his master

”So, the little man kept his word, and sent for you That is well And you have come promptly; that also is well It is what you would do,” he said, eying ain,--and in England, _hein_?”

”That we didn't!” I rejoined ”Say, Mishka, how did you get clear; and how did you knohere to find ht you a letter Read it”

With exasperating deliberation he fetched out a bulky pocket-book, and extracted therefrom a packet, which proved to be a thick cream envelope, carefully protected fro of paper

Within was a letter written in French, and in a curiously fine, precise caligraphy It was dated August 10th, from the Castle of Zostrov, and it conveyed merely an invitation to visit the writer, and the assurance that the bearer would give me all necessary information

”I can offer you very little in the way of entertainment, unless you happen to be a sportsame in abundance, from bear doards,” was the last sentence

It was a nedit to Mishka He glanced through it, nodded, and handed it back He knew its contents before, doubtless; but still I gathered that he could read French as well as Ger?” he asked

”Why, certainly; but what about the inforhness esture, and glanced towards the door, :