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The count lay stretched out upon the divan, playing with the knout,

whose leathern thongs were still dripping with his servant's blood

"Let a courier take horse ined by her imperial majesty for the arrest of Count Paulo

Rasczinsky The courier will follow him with it to the Russian frontier,

and then by virtue of this order arrest hi in chains! This is the command for the courier; he

will ansith his head for its execution!"

One of the officers bowed, and went to dispatch the courier

"Is our reconnoitrer returned?" asked the count of the tho res he? Does he know the cause of the murderous attack

at the festival of the French cardinal? Yet why do I ask you? Make

yourselves scarce, and let hione, than a wild-looking, bearded churl

reeted the count

with a grinning laugh

"What know you of the murderous attack?" asked the count, in Italian

"A friend of ed with the affair," said the bravo "He is

in the pay of the ether

under the same chief, and I know hier in all Roreatest wonder that he missed

on this occasion"

"Was it done by order of the cardinal?"