SWIFT RETRIBUTION.
Retribution does not always go with justice, however, as in this case,
notably.
William Barnwell was hurried away to exile, for reasons the reader fully
understands; but even then Prince Mastowix felt far from secure. The
unaccountable absence of that correspondence haunted him day and night.
But not for long, however, for that treasonable document was in the
hands of General Walisky, prefect of police, and by him presented to the
Czar and his ministers, together with all the particulars in the case.
Action was at once taken and search made for the young American who had
innocently acted as the messenger.
But the spirit of the fiend was soon shown, for Mastowix had destroyed
every trace of the American's individuality, blending it with others
who, like him, were simply known by numbers.
From the moment a political prisoner is thrown into prison in Russia, he
loses his identity, although the authorities keep a secret roll
containing the names and other particulars regarding the unfortunate
wretches, but that roll is never seen by the outside world.
In the fortress-like Bastile over which Prince Mastowix held sway, he
had charge of this fearful secret record; but the better to blot his
existence out, should inquiries ever be made, he applied a false name to
the "No. 20"; described him as a Russian, a Nihilist, who had been
caught in holding correspondence with Paul Zobriskie, and who had also
assaulted Prince Mastowix.
But he was arrested and taken before the tribunal, where in the most
defiant manner, he demanded to know why a person of his distinguished
title and record as a servant of the czar was now a prisoner.
"Prince Mastowix," said the president of the tribunal, "it ill becomes a
traitor to the State to exhibit such arrogance."
"Who dare say I am a traitor--who dare say it lies in his throat!"
hissed Mastowix, although he felt in his heart that something dreadful
was impending.
"Silence! Here is a document addressed to you from New York, by Paul
Zobriskie, in which he addresses you in unmistakable terms of
fraternity, and refers to other correspondence, together with certain
other information which he had received, and which could never have
reached him save through you. What have you to say?"
It required all the nerve the traitor had to prevent him from falling to
the floor. The members of the tribunal watched him narrowly, and saw
that he grew very pale.
But finally he found strength to speak.
"It is false both in matter and spirit," he said; but the next uppermost
question in his thoughts was--what spy could have obtained possession of
the document?
"And you plead?"
"Not guilty!" he replied, aggressively.
"Call Tobasco," said the president, and a guard soon produced the police
spy, and he was sworn.
"Do you recognize that document?" the president asked, handing him
Zobriskie's letter?
"I do."
"Give us the history of it."
"I first saw it in New York, in the hands of Paul Zobriskie, on board
the steamer Baltic, then about to sail. I was watching Zobriskie, and
saw him approach a young man and ask him if he was going to St.
Petersburg, and on being informed that he was, asked him if he would
deliver this letter to Prince Mastowix, at the same time enjoining him
to be very careful and not let it reach another's hands."
"It is false, vile spy!" roared the prince.
"Silence!" shouted the president. "Proceed!"
"The young American agreed to do as directed, and having had occasion to
suspect that Prince Mastowix was a Nihilist leader in disguise, I
resolved to follow the bearer of the letter, although I could not learn
that he was a Nihilist. I did so, and watched him closely. I saw him
visit the prince, and contrived to follow in the disguise of an
attendant. I saw him give him the letter, and for doing so he was
arrested. The boy struggled and finally escaped. During the confusion in
the courtyard the prince ran out to learn what it was about, and I then
contrived to steal the letter, which still lay upon his table, and to
escape with it without detection. I took it to the prefect of police."
Mastowix was so completely staggered at this that he sat glaring wildly
at the spy, unable to move or speak.
The members of the tribunal consulted for only a moment.
Finally the president spoke:
"Prince Mastowix that was, Peter Mastowix that is, this document and the
evidence has been placed before our imperial master, the Czar, and by
his orders you have been brought here for trial and condemnation. The
tribunal adjudges you guilty of treason to the State, and sentences you
to death. Remove the prisoner!"
Bowed and completely broken, the guilty wretch, the petty tyrant who had
heaped wrong, misery and death upon so many others, was taken from the
inquisition, crushed and broken.
Three days later he was led out into the yard of the very prison over
which he had long and cruelly held rule, and shot to death by the guard,
the very men whom he commanded oft before.
There is neither justice nor pity among the Russian nobles, and no
remorse in the hearts of the peasant soldiery who have been brutalized
for a thousand years. So this guard shot their late commander as they
would have fired upon a dog; indeed, if there was any feeling in their
breasts, it was one of revenge for the many brutal wrongs they had
suffered at his hands.
It was a severe blow to the Nihilists of Russia, this discovery and
death of Mastowix, but as no cause was assigned for it, they were left
to conjecture, although they feared the worst.
Mastowix was ambitious; he even had the hardihood to look to the
extinction of the royal family at the hands of this powerful order, and
trusted to chance to place himself high in power, if not on the very
throne of a new dynasty.
And he was of great service to the Nihilists, for he could keep them
well posted continually. But that fatal letter cut him off, while yet
his hope was in the bud, as well as other prominent members of the
order, for eight others whose names were mentioned by Zobriskie were
also arrested and sentenced to exile in the terrible mines of Siberia.