ppear as he now does, and he hopes you will allow whoever
asks for you to be admitted," replied Mr Allwick.

"Very mysterious," said Cousin Giles. "It may perhaps be a device of
the police to entrap us."

"I do not think that, sir," replied Mr Allwick. "The man is, I
believe, honest; at the same time I cannot advise you to have anything
to do with him. In this country one cannot be too wary. With the best
of intentions, we may easily be brought into trouble."

"Very shocking, indeed, to be taken up and sent off to Siberia,"
observed Mr Evergreen. "Tell the good man that I will give him ten
roubles if that will help him, but that I do not want to see his face
again--in case of accident, you know. Tell him that."

"It is not pecuniary assistance that he requires," said Mr Allwick, who
had again been speaking with the stranger. "He says that he will
explain everything by and by if he is allowed to visit us. He throws
himself on our charity. He thinks the risk to us will be slight, and
the gain to him great. He entreats that you will give him a reply, for
he dare not remain longer."

Mr Evergreen's curiosity was aroused, and he forgot his fears. After
consulting a minute, Cousin Giles replied: "Tell him that I will see him
if he thinks fit to call, but I cannot promise to help him."

Mr Allwick translated what had been said into Russian, and the
stranger, bowing low, retired into the retreat from which he had come
forth, while the travellers returned to their inn.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

The Stranger Merchant commences his Story--The Molokani--Origin of
their Faith--Progress among the Villagers--How the Bible was prized by
them--Its Distribution--Captain Martineff--His Endurance of
Persecution--Sad History--His Christian Fortitude--General Persecution
of the Sect--Flight--Transported to a New District--Attempt to convert
Captain Martineff.

The hissing _samovar_ was on the table, and the fragrant _tchai_ had
just been made, when the waiter with the high boots and pink shirt
entered to say that a merchant had called with some goods for the
travellers to inspect. Cousin Giles desired that the man might be
admitted, and in a minute a person in a long dark coat, with a case
slung before him, entered the room. He at once began to display some
caps and belts of gold and silk embroidery, several articles of silver,
spoons ornamented with black-lined engraving, little hand-bells, snuff--
boxes, sli