356 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.
ther-2 came for me a messenger from my kind patron. I accompanied madame to Paris. There, after a few days of formality and instructions, I stood by the bed of Count Stravensky, was made his wife, and received from him the legacy of his patriotic aspirations, and his last benediction on my vow of vengeance. They only knew in St. Peters- burg that the count had married a cultured, but humble lady of Italy. The count had laid his plans carefully and well. I was received by His Majesty the Czar, on my way to deal with my estates in Vilnavitch, in the neighborhood of Czarnova. I have held my own, I hope, as the Countess Stravensky, never forgetting the wrongs of Anna Klosstock, the persecution of the Jews, and my vows to this brother- hood."
Again she paused, for the suppressed demonstrations of her audience, who, much as they had seen of tragic trouble and romance, were carried away not alone with Anna's story, but with the majesty of the woman as she narrated it.
Philip still sat a dumb witness ; moved by deep emotions, but standing apart, as it were, altogether from his com- panions ; listening to Anna's story from a different stand- point, influenced altogether from motives they could neither follow nor understand.
" To the patient and the true, the day they hope for comes. It was at Venice, two weeks ago. You remember some of you, our parting here, the naming of our rendez- vous for Paul Petroski, for Ferrari, for myself. We met again, I and the General Petronovitch ; once more, as the Countess Stravensky, Anna Klosstock again had the honor to find favor in his cruel eyes. Not as in the old days did she struggle to be free from that cruel evil glance. She invited it, sought it, courted it in the very presence of his wife ; won him to her side, as Gretchen might have won the Fiend, methinks, had she .desired. I beckoned; he came. I tolerated the pressure of his false lips upon this
