Part 49 (1/2)

”But Stepan Vassilitzi is a young er than I am,” I interrupted

”He is the son; the father died soh I only learned that after I returned to Russia I started at once; that was how you missed me when you came to Berlin I sent first to the old chateau near Warsahich had been the principal residence of the Vassilitzis But I found it in possession of strangers; it had been confiscated in '81, and nothing was known of the old family beyond the name I wasted several days in futile inquiries and then went on to Petersburg, where I got in coue I had to execute the utmost caution, as you will understand, but I found out that awas to be held at a place I knew of old,--the ruined chapel,--and that Anna Petrovna was to be there,--my wife, as I supposed

”The rest of that episode you know The ht I did, for I a man who carried Anne off--”

”He was the Grand Duke Loris”

”So I guessed when you spoke of him just now; and at the time I knew, of course, that he was not what he appeared, for he didn't act up to his disguise”

”He did when it was necessary!” I said eed the hotel servant that evening at Petersburg

”Well, he said enough to convince h why he should trouble hione far e heard firing, and halted to listen We held a hurried consultation, and I told him briefly ere He seemed utterly astounded; and now I understand why,--he evidently had thought Anne was that other He decided that we should be safer if we remained in the woods till all was quiet, and then lish Eain; Anne was still insensible, and he insisted on carrying her,--till we came to a charcoal burner's hut He told us to stay there till a e would be in waiting to take us to Petersburg

”He left us then, and I have never seen hih it was nearly a week before the , surly man, very lame, as the result of a recent accident, I think”

”Mishka!” I exclaimed

”He would not tell his name, and said very little one way or the other, but he took us to the carriage, and we reached the city without hindrance Anne was in a dazed condition the whole tis which those scoundrels who kidnapped her and brought her to Russia had ad else was almost a blank to her, as it still is She has only a faint recollection of the whole affair

”I secured a passport for her and we started at once, though she wasn't fit to travel, and the journey nearly killed her We ought to have stopped as soon as ere over the frontier, but I wanted to get as far away froot to Berlin, and then broke down altogether--ht to have written to Mrs Cayley, I know; but I never gave a thought to it till Anne began to recover--”

”That's all right; Mary understood, and she's forgiven the oo,” Jiht, after all! I always stuck out that it was a case of h you wouldn't believe me!”

Pendennis nodded

”The woain to me

”I can't say I only saw her from a distance, and for a minute or so,” I answered evasively ”She was tall and white-haired”

I was certain in my own mind that she was his wife, for I'd heard the words she called out,--his name, ”An-thony,” not the French ”Antoine,”

but as a foreigner would pronounce the English word,--but I should only add to his distress if I told him that

”Well, it remains a mystery; and one that I suppose we shall never unravel,” he said heavily, at last

But it was unravelled for us, and that before many weeks had passed

One dark afternoon just before Christenerally contrived to do before going down to the office; for I was on the _Courier_ again teuests; for Mary wouldn't hear of their going to an hotel, and they had only just found a flat near at hand to suit theland, Anthony Pendennis had decided to re around the Continent!

Mary had other callers in the drawing-room, so I turned into Jim's study, where Anne joined me in a minute or so,--Anne, who, in a few short , and voices sounded in the lobby; but though I heard, I didn't heed them, until Anne held up her hand

”Hush!+ Who is Marshall talking to?”