The Red Symbol

by John Ironside

  CHAPTER XXXVIII

  THE GAME BEGINS

  That hand at bridge lasted till long past midnight, and I only got awayat last on the plea that I was dead tired after my two days' ride.

  "Tired or not, you play a good hand, _mon ami_!" Grodwitz declared. Wehad been partners, and had won all before us.

  "They shall have their revenge in good time," I said, stifling a yawn."_Bonsoir, messieurs_."

  I sent Nicolai to bed, and wrapping myself in a dressing gown which Ifound laid out for me, sat down in a deep divan chair to await the Duke,and fell fast asleep. I woke with a start, as the great clock over thecastle gateway boomed four, and saw the Duke sitting quietly smoking ina chair opposite.

  He cut short my stammered apologies in the frank unceremonious manner healways used when we were alone together, and plunged at once into thematter that was uppermost in his mind, as in mine.

  Now at last I learned something of the working of that League with whichI had become so mysteriously entangled, and of his and Anne's connectionwith it.

  "For years its policy was sheerly destructive," he told me. "Its aimswere as vague as its organization was admirable. At least nine-tenths ofthe so-called Nihilist murders and outrages, in Russia as elsewhere,have been planned and carried out by its executive and members. To'remove' all who came under their ban, including any among their ownranks who were suspected of treachery, or even of delaying in carryingout their orders, was practically its one principle. But the time forthis insensate indiscriminating violence is passing,--has passed. Theremust be a policy that is constructive as well as destructive. Theyounger generation sees that more clearly every day. She--Anna--was oneof the first to see and urge it; hence she fell under suspicion,especially when she refused to carry out certain orders."

  He broke off for a moment, as if in slight embarrassment.

  "I think I understand," I said. "She was ordered to 'remove' you, sir,and she refused?"

  "That is so; at least she protested, even then, knowing that I wascondemned merely as a member of the Romanoff family. Later, when we met,and learned to know each other, she found that I was no enemy, but astanch friend to these poor peoples of Russia, striving so blindly, sodesperately, to fling off the yoke that crushes them! Then it was that,with the noble courage that distinguishes her above all women I haveever met, she refused to carry out the orders given her; more than that,she has twice or thrice saved my life from other attempts on it. I havelong been a member of the League, though, save herself, none otherconnected with it suspected the identity of a certain droshky driver,who did good service at one time and another."

  His blue eyes twinkled merrily for an instant. In his way his characterwas as complex as that of Anne herself,--cool, clever, courageous to adegree, but leavened with a keen sense of humor, that made himthoroughly enjoy playing the role of "Ivan," even though it had broughthim to his present position as a state prisoner.

  "That reminds me," I said. "How was it you got caught that time, whenshe and her father escaped?"

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  "I had to choose, either to fly with them, and thereby endanger us allstill further, or allow myself to be taken. That last seemed best, and Ithink--I am sure--I was right."

  "Did you know the soldiers were coming?"

  "No. That, by the way, was Selinski's doing,--Cassavetti, as you callhim."

  "Cassavetti!" I exclaimed. "Why, he was dead weeks before!"

  "True, but the raid was in consequence of information he had suppliedearlier. He was a double-dyed traitor. The papers she--the papers thatwere found in his rooms in London proved that amply. He had soldinformation to the Government, and had planned that the Countess Annashould be captured with the others, after he had induced her to return,by any means in his power."

  "But--but--he couldn't have brought her back!" I exclaimed. "For sheonly left London the day after he was murdered, and she was at Ostendwith you next day."

  "Who told you that?" he asked sharply.

  "An Englishman I saw by chance in Berlin, who had met her in London, andwho knew you by sight."

  He sat silent, in frowning thought, for a minute or more, and then saidslowly:

  "Selinski had arranged everything beforehand, and his assistants carriedout his instructions, though he, himself, was dead. But all that belongsto the past; we have to deal with the present and the future! You knowalready that one section of the League at least is, as it were,reconstructed. And that section has two definite aims: to aid the causeof freedom, but also to minimize the evils that must ensue in thestruggle for freedom. We cannot hope to accomplish much,--there are sofew of us,--and we know that we shall perish, perhaps before we haveaccomplished anything beyond paving the way for those that come after!There is a terrible time in store for Russia, my friend! The masses areripe for revolt; even the bureaucracy know that now, and they try togain time by raising side issues. Therefore, here in the countrydistricts, they stir up the _moujiks_,--now against the tax-gatherers,more often against the Jews. Murder and rapine follows; then the troopsare sent, who punish indiscriminately, in order to strike terror intothe people. They create a desolation and call it a peace; you have seenan instance yourself on your way hither?"

  I nodded, remembering that devastated village we had passed.

  "The new League is striving to preserve peace and to save the innocent.Here in the country its members are pledged first to endeavor to improvethe condition of the peasants, to teach them to be peaceable,self-supporting, and self-respecting,--a hard, well-nigh hopeless task,since in that, as in all other attempts at reform, one has to work indefiance of the Government."

  "Well, from what I've heard--and seen--during the last part of myjourney, you've managed to do a good deal in that way, sir," I suggestedrespectfully.

  "It is little enough. I have worked under sufferance, and, as it were,with both hands tied," he said sadly. "If I had been any other, I shouldhave been sent to Siberia long ago. It is the mere accident of birththat has saved me so far. But as to the League. The present plan ofcampaign is, roughly speaking, to prevent riots and bloodshed. If newsis gained of an intended raid on an isolated country-house, or, what ismore frequent, on a Jews' quarter, a warning is sent to thosethreatened, and if possible a defence arranged. Even from here I havebeen able to assist a little in such matters." Again his eyes gleamedwith that swift flash of mirth, though he continued his grave speech."More than one catastrophe has been averted already, but the distancesare so great; often one hears only of the affairs after they are over.

  "That will be part of your work. To bring news as you gather it,--thePavloffs will help you there,--and to accompany me when I choose to eludemy jailers for a few hours; perhaps to go in my stead, if it should beimpossible for me to get away. I know what you can do when it comes to afight! Well, this is the 'sport' I offered you! Do you care to go in forit? If not--"

  "You know I care!" I exclaimed, half indignantly; and on that we grippedhands.

  We talked for a good while longer. He gave me much information that Ineed not set down here, and we spoke often of Anne. He seemed muchinterested in my cousin, Mary Cayley,--naturally, as she was Anne'sfriend and hostess,--and seemed somehow relieved when I said Mary wasstill in complete ignorance of all that had happened and was happening.

  "I should like to meet your charming cousin; but that will never be, Ifear; though perhaps--who knows?--she and her friend may yet bereunited," he said, rousing himself with a sigh and a shiver.

  I slept late when I did get to bed, and was awakened at last by Nicolai,who had breakfast ready, and informed me that Mishka was in readiness toescort me to his father's house.

  For a time life went smoothly enough. I was out and about all day withthe Pavloffs, superintending the trial of the new farming machines andthe distribution of the implements. During the first day or two Grodwitzor one of the other officers always accompanied me, ostensibly as an actof courtesy towards a stranger,--really, as I well understood, to
watchme; and therefore I was fully on my guard. They relaxed their vigilanceall the sooner, I think, because, in my pretended ignorance of Russian,I blandly endeavored to press them into service as interpreters, whichthey found pretty extensively boring.

  They treated me quite _en bon camarade_; though even at dinner, and whenwe were playing cards at night, one or other of them was continuallytrying to "draw" me, and I had to be constantly on the alert. I had nofurther public audience with the Duke, though he came to my room severaltimes by the secret stair.

  But one evening, as Mishka and I rode towards the castle, a pebble shotfrom a clump of bushes near at hand, and struck his boot. With a grunthe reined up, and, without glancing in the direction whence the missilecame, dismounted and pretended to examine one of the horse's feet. ButI saw a fur cap, and then a face peering from among the bushes for aninstant, and recognized Yossof the Jew. Another missile fell at Mishka'sfeet,--a small packet in a dark wrapping. He picked it up, thrust it inhis pocket, swung into the saddle, and we were off on the instant.

  All he condescended to say was:

  "See that you are alone in the hour before dinner. There may be work todo."

  I took the hint, and as usual dispensed with Nicolai's profferedservices. Within half an hour the bookcase swung back and the Dukeentered quickly; his face was sternly exultant, his blue eyes sparkling.

  "Dine well, my friend, but retire early; make what excuse you like, butbe here by ten at the latest. You will manage that well, if you do notattend the reception," he exclaimed. "We ride from Zostrov to-night;perhaps forever! The great game has begun at last,--the game of life anddeath!"