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I had known Alexis Saberevski in St Petersburg; I had known hiain

in Paris I had, in fact, encountered him at one time or another in

alreatly

surprised when, having just left the dining table at iven toin the reception room

I had him up at once, with the courtesies of the club extended to hi that he had dined, we ensconced ourselves in the depths of

a pair of huge chairs which occupied one of the secluded corners of the

library, each equally delighted to be again in the company of the

other We had never known each other intimately, and yet ere

friends; friends after that fashion which sometimes comes between men

of pronounced characteristics, and which finds its expression in the

form of a silent confidence, and an undoubted pleasure in each other's

coof that word, for he was a

giant in intellect and in character

He was also a mystery, and this fact possibly rendered hi to one whose business it had always been to solve

mysteries I do not mean by that that I had ever made any effort to

delve into the secrets of Saberevski's past, or to read without his

knowledge and consent, any portion of that history which he kept so

carefully veiled; but the mere fact that an air of mystery did pervade

his presence, iht