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troubleso the tomen

to the house

The bailiffs and soldiers were still there, occupied with sealing the

doors and closets Joseph Ribas approached the to Stephano, said, "Sir, I shall call you to account for this

over-hasty and illegal proceeding!"

"I aht!" morosely answered Stephano "Here is the command to

attach this villa It has fallen to the Russian crown as the property of

the traitor Rasczinsky"

"There is only the one error to be corrected," said Joseph Ribas, "that

this villa was not the property of Count Rasczinsky, as he soo sold it to his friend, my master And as, so far as I know, the

illustrious count, my master, never was a traitor, you will please to

respect his property!"

"You will have first to authenticate your assertions!" responded

Stephano, with a rude laugh

"Here is the docu a

paper to Stephano The latter, after attentively reading the documents,

bowed reverentially, and said: "Sir, it appears that I was certainly

ned by his

grace the Russian a to my orders"