r electroliers. It
consisted of a saloon leading into a bedroom, which was furnished in the
same exquisite taste. A further door led to a marble-tiled bathroom.

"Such luxury!" murmured Malcolm.

"Has the _gospodar_ any orders?"

It was the solemn Boolba who spoke. Malcolm looked at him.

"Tell me this, Boolba," he said, falling into the familiar style of
address which experience had taught him was the correct line to follow
when dealing with Russian servants, "how came it that your mistress was
alone before the house of Israel Kensky, the Jew, and you were on the
outskirts of the crowd urging them on?"

If the man felt any perturbation at the bluntness of the question he did
not show it.

"Kensky is a Jew," he said coolly; "on the night of the Pentecost he
takes the blood of new-born Christian babies and sprinkles his money so
that it may be increased in the coming year. This Sophia Kensky, his own
daughter, has told me."

Malcolm shrugged his shoulders.

"You are no ignorant _moujik_, Boolba," he said contemptuously, "you
have travelled with his Highness all over the world." (This was a shot
at a venture, but apparently was not without justification.) "How can
you, an educated man of the people, believe such rubbish?"

"He has a book, _gospodar_," said Boolba, "and we people who desire
power would have that book, for it teaches men how they may command the
souls of others, so that when they lift their little fingers, those who
hate them best shall obey them."

Malcolm looked at him in astonishment.

"Do you believe this?"

For the first time a smile crossed the face of the man with the crooked
nose. It was not a pleasant smile to see, for there was cunning in it
and a measureless capacity for cruelty.

"Who knows all the miracles and wonders of the world?" he said. "My lord
knows there is a devil, and has he not his angels on earth? It is best
to be sure of these things, and we cannot be certain--until we have seen
the book which the Jew gave to your lordship."

He paused a little before uttering the last sentence which gave his
assertion a special significance. Malcolm eyed him narrowly.

"The Jew did not give me any book, Boolba," he said.

"I thought your lordship----"

"You thought wrongly," said Malcolm shortly.

Boolba bowed and withdrew.

The situation was not a particularly pleasant one. Malcolm had in his
possession a book which men were willing to commit murder to obtain, and
he was