BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 27
prison, was not released upon this evidence, but died on his way to Siberia. The count was forcibly confined to his house for several days, and, though he escape'd the fate of his neighbor, he was subjected to much annoyance, until the Procurator was dismissed from his office for a glaring offence against a more favored individual. When the local noble's name occurred to Ferrari, he had just previously received an official token of the Imperial favor and at the same time a large acquisition of wealth. But all this was too late so far as his allegiance to the Czar was concerned ; he had long since lent his secret aid to the general agita- tion, but with a secrecy which defied the keenest eye.
Ferrari, unfortunately, had no knowledge of these details, and so keenly did the count protect himself that it is possible, had the Italian sought refuge on his estate, he would have given him up to the police. That would have entirely depended on circumstances : for Stravensky was a man of moods, and of late he had given the new Procurator every reason to believe that he was active in the interests of the Czar and his officers.
While Ferrari was holding within himself a council of war, there issued from the village a dozen troopers, no doubt from the local barracks, who came sweeping across the plain in the direction of the spot where he lay con- cealed in the shadow of the bridge.
At first blush, he gave himself up for lost, but determined to die hard. Sheathing his knife, he drew his revolver, and crouched behind the timbers of the bridge, that he might, at least, empty every barrel before he was taken. But the horsemen dashed across the bridge and disappeared over the plain and away into the woods beyond, on their way, no doubt, to the residence of Petronovitch, the old palace of the Provincial Government.
The Italian, with an involuntary prayer of thankfulness, now crept from his retreat and made his way back to the
