Part 1 (2/2)

”In fact,” he said, ”London this ill be filled with people whose names are not in your precious directory, and all of who a sort of state visit”

”The Yaroslavs?” repeated Hay ”Oh, of course----”

”The Grand Duke and his daughter,” added Mr Tre man, ”I'm not likely to meet the Grand Duke or the Grand duchess I understand the royal fa is likely in Russia,” said the optimistic Mr Tremayne ”If you come back in a few years' time and tell me that you've been appointed an admiral in the Russian Navy, or that you've married the Grand duchess Irene Yaroslav, I shall not for one moment disbelieve you

At the same time, if you co been cut off by your peasant neighbours to propitiate the ghost of a o, I shall not be surprised either That is the country you're going to--and I envy you”

”I'm a little surprised at myself,” admitted Malcolm, ”it seems almost incredible Of course, sir, I have a lot to learn and I'ree”

”Your science degree?” said Treree would have been better”

”A divinity degree?”

Treion you want in Russia, and especially local religion

You'll have to do awhen you're out there, Hay, and I don't think you could do better than get acquainted with the local saints You'll find that the birth or death of four or five of them are celebrated every week, and that your workmen will take a day's holiday for each commemoration If you're not pretty smart, they'll whip in a few saints who have no existence, and you'll get no work done at all--that will do”

He ended the intervieith a jerk of his head, and as the young ain to-ht to see Kensky”

”Who is he?” asked Hay courteously ”A local nate?”

”In a sense he is and in a sense he's not,” said the careful Mr

Tre man locally, and fronate However, you'll be able to judge for yourself”

Malcol on air

It was his first appointh-class dream

In Maida Vale there are many little side streets, composed of shabby houses covered with discoloured stucco, looarden” which runs out to the street In one of these, devoted to the business of a boarding-house, an old ht which the economical landlady had allowed hi-house style

But both the worker at the bench, and the wo his The man was thin and bent of back As he crouched over the bench, working with the fine tools on as evidently intended to be the leather cover of a book, his face lay in the shadow, and only the end of his straggling white beard betrayed his age

Presently he looked up at the woman and revealed himself as a hawk-nosed man of sixty His face was ehtly His companion was a woman of twenty-four, obviously of the Jewish type, as was the old ood looks she possessed were lish people see you at work,” she said presently, ”they will think you are some poor man, little father”

Israel Kensky did not stop his work

”What book are you binding?” she asked after awhile ”Is it the Talave you?”

The old athered on the wouess that they were father and daughter, yet such was the case But between Sophia Kensky and her father there was neither co that she should accompany him, as she did, wherever he went, or that he should be content to have her as his coossips of Kieff had it that neither would trust the other out of sight; and it er ht be suspected in so far as Sophia's actions were concerned

Presently the old man put down his tools, blinked, and pushed back his chair

”It is a design for a great book,” he said, and chuckled hoarsely ”A book with steel covers and wonderful pages” He smiled contemptuously