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24 BY ORDER OP THE CZAR.

" Do them open thy door to the police," said Negrusz.

Ferrari had stood perfectly still, his heart beating wildly, but hand and head ready for the slightest chance of escape. The arrogant act of the servant in ordering the master to open his own door gave Ferrari the oppor- tunity. It was only for a second that Negrusz was off his guard, but in that second Ferrari, with the agility of a cat, was upon him, his knife in his throat, the pistol wrested from him, and the next moment the lithe Italian had dis- appeared through the open doorway in the rear.

A scene of confusion followed : hurried orders of mili- tary men, the screams of women, and presently the report of firearms in the principal street of the Ghetto.

CHAPTER IV.

AN ESCAPE.

His teeth set, his red knife firmly grasped, Ferrari sped through the narrow streets, down strange passages, now crouching out of the moonlight, now dashing through its beams, until he found himself on the bank of the river that skirted the settlement. Here, in the shadow of a bridge, he rested, and hoped Losinski's prayer had indeed been heard, and half believed it had, his escape so far having been nothing less than miraculous ; and breathless as he was, panting for very life, he rejoiced that the spy Negrusz had been delivered into his hands.

Presently he looked back towards the village. Lights were appearing in the previously darkened windows. He thought he heard the hum of voices. No doubt the whole place was up in arms. He feared for the safety of Anna, and for the lives of his dear friends. What would happen ? Could he be of use to the Klosstocks, upon whom it seemed to him he had brought disaster and ruin ? How