BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 383
Philip Forsyth, weary with travel and attacked with fever, had fainted, and his strange dreamy forecast of the two figures in that sketch which still lay upon the easel near Primrose Hill was realized, with this exception, that strong hands were near to protect and rescue him.
Dick Chetwynd had hardly put his arm round his friend than he was roughly dragged into the roadway and literally flung at the feet of Captain Karakazov, who saluted him with some coarse words in Russian. The next moment, Dick, on his feet, glaring at the officer, hurled at him a few equally strong expletives in English. Both having thus somewhat soothed their angry agitation, Dick, in French, said :
"Sir, I have orders for you from the Minister of War at St. Petersburg, and a cipher also from His Imperial Majesty 'of still more importance."
" Permit me to see them," said the officer.
While they spoke the evening was rapidly changing into night. A lantern was brought, in the gleam of which Dick Chetwynd showed his authoritative writings to Captain Karakazov.
"They are sufficient," said the officer, "and I beg you will accept my apologies."
" If these orders are promptly carried out I assuredly will ; otherwise "
" The orders will of course be promptly obeyed," reading the St. Petersburg instructions, and laying emphasis on the words. " The unconditional release of the prisoner, Philip Forsyth."
" By order of the Czar," said Chetwynd somewhat theatrically, quite contrary to his usual habit and manner, but inspired by the surroundings, angered by his rough usage, and anxious to emphasize to the fierce young Russian, by whose orders he had been assaulted, the tremendous Imperial authority against which he leaned his
