B Y?ORDER*OF THE CZAR: 5 1
ukase, but after the outbreaks'/issued a Commission of Inquiry in such form and with such instructions as made the persecution of the Jews seem justifiable ; and such added restrictions have followed the commission that the Rus so-Jewish question is summed up by a great publicist of the day in these words : " Are three and a half millions of human beings to perish because they are Jews ?" The answer, judged by the present active policy in Russia, is " Yes."
All of which the present narrator hopes will not discount the reader's interest in the house of Klosstock and the doomed community of Czarovna, whence by-and-bye we shall travel to London, there to pick up other human interests and human fates, that are strangely linked with such of the actors in these opening scenes as may not fall victims to the lust and greed of their assailants, and the tyrannical and cruel despotism of the Government.
CHAPTER IX.
THE CRY OF A BROKEN HEART.
GENERAL PETRONOVITCH had finished a hasty meal, and was smoking a cigar over some heavy red wine, when Anna was announced.
" The Jew merchant's daughter," said his military servant. " I told her you could not give audience to any- one."
"You are a fool !"
" Yes, your Highness," said the man " I said I would inquire if you had leisure."
" Admit her ; see that we are not disturbed."
The man withdrew. The General smiled and drained a tumbler to the dregs.
" By the mass, a pleasant encounter ; I would not have
