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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 351

upon which he stands. Should he then persist in throw- ing in his lot with ours, I ask you to accept him."

As she sat down there was a murmur of dissent, question, and admiration ; and the entire brotherhood for a few moments seemed all to be talking at once, but not much above a whisper.

Presently Ferrari was heard alone.

" To me, madam's wish," he said, " is law. Through- put all our operations, in every instance of peril, madame has never made a mistake. I have to this young man administered the first oath of secrecy. I believe him worthy, and capable of being one of us. My vote is for madame."

"And mine," said Ivan Kostanzhoglo ; " though it is a dangerous element, the admission of a sentiment beyond patriotism."

" But love," said Paul Petroski, " is a power that has helped us often, and in many straits."

" And we agree," said one of the three unnamed, lt that it is to the frank, open statement of madame, that we should not oppose her judgment in this, when it has always been true."

" Go, then," said Anna, to Ivan Kostanzhoglo. a In the saloon you will find our visitor. He will be sitting at the table in the right hand corner, by the pillar near the fire- place. He is young, dark, handsome. You cannot mis- take him. His dress, a shabby disguise ; yet you cannot fail to see through it the features, the figure of a gentle- man."

Ivan rolled another cigarette, and left the room through its double doorways, which was guarded until his return by Ferrari.

It was not altogether an uncomfortable apartment, though it lacked ventilation, which was obtained chiefly through an orifice in the chimney, where a strong gaslight