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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 36^

assuredly to be followed by the execution of some of oin own comrades, and I resist ! "

" But," said Ferrari, " given the great result, given the signal for a general upheaval, for the rallying of the great forces of revolution, the overthrow of a vile and bloody tyranny, the establishment of a constitution, in short, foi the fulfilment of the great and glorious programme of con- stitutional liberty and national freedom what then ? "

" Assure me of this, Ferrari, and lam with you. Assure me that we may hope, in one great sacrifice, to break the Russian chains, and at the same time to bring our brothers and sisters to the promised land, flowing with milk and honey, and I am with you. But you must convince me, Ferrari ; otherwise, dear friend, I pause with the victory of Venice : and co-uld I forecast the end of all for me, I would ask no other blessing than to die in my father's arms away in his Siberian captivity." Nay, do not start, Ferrari ; I could say this to no other. You remember the good, generous, kindly merchant ; the devoted father, the staunch friend, the martyr ? "

" Then you have heard," said Ferrari, calmly, " from your father? "

" Not from him but of him," she said, a melancholy smile stealing over her pale features.

"The despatch you received in Paris ?" said Ferrari.

" The same. It came through the Russian Ambas- sador."

" The one secret you have withheld from me," said Fer- rari.

" Not withheld," said the countess " only postponed. The influence of the Count Stravensky, my dear friend and successor, was beneficial. It gave my father means ; it secured communication with Moscow and St. Peters- burg. Not at once ? Oh no ! It took three years before relief of any kind came to him : four years, five years, six