ur-lined coat, said good-bye to the two ladies, gently
put his hand on his comrade's shoulder, and followed the doctor and his
host. When they arrived at the governor's house the doctor left him in
the room where two military clerks were writing, and went in with the
Buriat to the governor. In five minutes the bell rang. An orderly
answered it, and returning, bade Godfrey follow him. The governor was
seated at a table, the doctor and the Buriat standing near.

"So I hear," the colonel said, looking sharply at Godfrey, "that you are
unable to give an account of yourself, and have nothing but a
cock-and-bull story of having wandered about through the country. We
understand what that means. However, our friend here," and he motioned
to the Buriat, "speaks well of you, and says that you have done him some
service. However that cannot be taken into consideration. It is clear
that having no papers and no domicile, you are a vagabond, and as such
must be committed to prison. You will be taken to Nertchinsk." Godfrey
bowed. The colonel touched the bell again, and the orderly entered.
"Take this man to the cells."

The Buriat stepped forward and shook hands with Godfrey. "Come again,"
he said in a low voice, "you will always be welcome."

The doctor nodded. "I shall see you before you start," he said. Godfrey
saluted the colonel and followed the orderly out of the room. He was
taken across a court-yard to a cell.

"A good style of young fellow," the colonel said when he left. "He has
either been an officer and got into some scrape with his colonel, or he
is a political."

"One or the other, colonel, no doubt," the doctor agreed.

"Well, it is no business of mine," the colonel said. "I suppose he has
had four or five months in the woods and wants to get into snug quarters
again before winter. Well, good morning, gentlemen!" and his visitors
took their leave.

Late in the evening the doctor came into Godfrey's cell. "By the bye,"
he said, "I put your name down as Ivan Holstoff. It was as good as any
other, and you had to be entered by some name. I feared that you might
blurt out your own whatever it may be, and that might be fatal, for if
you are a political prisoner your name will have been sent to every
station where there are troops."

"I am very much obliged to you, doctor, for your kindness," Godfrey
said. "I will take care to remain Ivan Holstoff. How much am I to pay
for the carriage?"

"Your friend the Buriat ha