Part 33 (2/2)

Malcolm remembered the ”Book of All-Power” and nodded

”Have you so of Kensky's?” asked Malinkoff quickly ”Not that infernal book?”

He looked so anxious that Malcolhed

”Yes, I have that infernal book As a matter of fact, it is the infernal book of the Grand duchess now”

”Mine?” she said in surprise

”Kensky's last words to me were that this book should become your property,” said Malcolm, and she shi+vered

”All my life seems to have been associated with the search for that dreadful book,” she said ”I wonder if it is one of Kensky's own binding You know,” she went on, ”that Israel Kensky bound books for a hobby? He bound six for me, and they were most beautifully decorated”

”He was a rich man, was he not?” asked Malcolm

She shook her head

”He was penniless when he died,” she said quietly ”Every store of his was confiscated and his money was seized by order of the new Government

I once asked him definitely why he did not turn to his 'Book of All-Power' for help He told me the time had not yet come”

”May I see the book?”

Malcolm took the voluirl looked at it seriously

”Do you know, I have half ato the s here the bo ominous about its possession that fills ly, then handed it back to Malcolm

”Poor Israel!” she said softly, ”and poor Russia!”

They waited until darkness fell before they moved on Malinkoff had an idea that there was a crossroad before the toas reached, and progress was slow in consequence, because he was afraid of passing it

He was detere, which lay directly ahead The fact that the aeroplane had been able to procure a recruit, pointed to the existence of a cahbourhood and he was anxious to keep away from armed authority

It was a tense hour they spent--tense for all except Cherry Bie carrier at the back of the car, and had affixed hi off The side road did not appear, and Malinkoff grew hts ahead, as there should be if he were approaching the village Once he thought he saw dark figures crouching close to the ground as the car passed, but put this down to nerves Five hundred yards beyond, he discovered that his eyes had not deceived hiainst the skyline--for they were ascending a little incline at theinto view

The chauffeur brought the car to a halt with a jerk, only just in tiainst the pole which had been placed across the road

Malcolm had drawn his revolver, but the odds were too heavy, besides which, in bringing his car to a standstill, the driver had shut off his engine and the last hope of bunking through had disappeared

Aa red laht of a torch over the occupants

”One, two, three, four,” he counted ”There should be five”

He peered at theeneral, this is the American revolutionary, this is the woman There is also a criminal Did any man jump out?” he asked somebody in the darkness, and there was a chorus of ”No!”