May 16, 2025 • 42 mins
When the British Consulate in Leghorn falls victim to a puzzling burglary, and an enigmatic English yacht pays an unexpected visit, it sparks an enthralling journey of espionage and hidden criminal machinations. This thrilling tale sweeps the reader from London to Scotland, and finally to the oppressed lands of Finland, under the harsh rule of imperial Russia. Our protagonist is a man of exceptional acumen, a precursor to the likes of Double O Seven, who finds himself pushed to his limits as he navigates this web of intrigue and deception to uncover the truth. - Summary by Nicholas Clifford
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twelve of The Tsar's Spy. This Libervox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss. The Tsar
Spy by William le Que, Chapter twelve, The Strangler. Where
was Elma? What was the cause of her inexplicable disappearance
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into the gloomy forest while we had slept? I returned
to the hotel where I had stayed on my arrival,
a comfortable place called the Phoenix, and lunched there alone.
Both Felix the Finn and my host, the Woodcutter, had
received their dusseurs and left, But to the last named
I had given instructions to return home at once and
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report by telegraph any news of my lost one. A
thousand conflicting thoughts arose within me as I sat in
that crowded selemo, she filled with the gobbling crowd of
the commercial men of a beau. I had I reckoned
now to deal with the most powerful man in that country,
And I suffered a distinct disadvantage by being in ignorance
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of the reason he held that sweet English girl a prisoner,
the tragedy of the dastardly manner in which he had
been wilfully maimed caused my blood to boil within me.
I had never believed that, in this civilized twentieth century
such things could be. Michael Baronsky had given his pledge
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to assist me, yet he had most plainly explained to
me his fears. The Baron was intent upon again getting
Elma into his power. Was it at his orders? I
wondered that the sweet faced girl had been deprived of
speech and hearing. Had she fallen an innocent victim to
his infamous scheming about me? Men were eating strange dishes
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and talking in Finnish, while others were smoking and drinking
their vodka. But I was in no mood for observation.
My only thought was of she, who was now lost
to me. Why had she disappeared without warning? I was
at loss to imagine, Yet I could only surmise that
her flight had been compulsory. Some women possess a mysterious
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sense of intuition, a curious and indescribable faculty of knowing
when evil threatens them that presents a strange and puzzling
problem to our scientists. It is unaccountable, and yet many
women possess it in a very marked degree. Was it
therefore possible that Elma had awakened, and, being warned of
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her peril, had fled without arousing us. The suggestion was possible,
but I feared improbable. Another very curious feature in the
affair was the sudden manner in which Michael Boranski had
exerted his power and influence in order to render me
that service. He had actually bribed the Garbs of Kajana,
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he had instructed the faithful Felix, he had provided our boat,
and he had ordered the nun to open the water
gate to me. Why there was I felt convinced some
hidden motive in all that sudden and marked friendliness, that
he really hated the English I had seen plainly when
we had first met, And I had only compelled him
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to serve me by presenting the order signed by the
Emperor which made me his guest within the Russian dominions.
Even that document did not account for the length he
had gone to secure the release of the woman I
now loved in secret. The more I thought it over,
the more anxious did I become. I could discern no
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motive for his friendliness, and truth to tell, I always
distrust those who are too friendly. What straight and decided
line of action should I take. Carefully, I went over
all the strange events that had happened in England, and
while anxious to obtain some solution of the amazing problem,
yet I could not bring myself to leave Finland and
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allow Elma to fall into the clutches of that high
official who so persistently sought her end. No, I would
go to him and face him. I was anxious to
see what manner of man was the strangler of Finland. Therefore,
that same evening I left de Beaux and traveled by
rail up to the junction of Toyola, Whence, after a
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wait of six hours, I resumed by slow journey to Helsingford's.
I put up at Comps, an elegant hotel on the
long Esplanada overlooking the port, and found the town, with
its handsome streets and spacious squares, to be a much
finer place than I had believed. When I inquired of
the French director of my hotel for the residence of
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his excellency, the Governor General, he regarded me with some surprise,
saying the Baron lives up at the Palace Monsieur, that
great building opposite the salutomp the driver of R DROs.
He will point it out to you. Is his Excellency
in helsing force at the present moment? I asked? The
baron never leaves the palace, monsieur, responded the man, This
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is a strange country, you know, He added, with a grin.
It is said that his Excellency is in hourly fear
of assassination. Perhaps not without pause, I remarked, in a
low voice, at which he elevated his shoulders and smiled.
At noon, I descended from Adrasky before a long, gray,
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massive building, over the big doorway of which was a
large escutcheon bearing the Russian arms emblazoned in gold and
on entering, where a sentry stood on either side, a
colossal concerge in livery of bright blue and gold came
forward to meet me, asking in Russian, whom do you
wish to see His Excellency the governor General. Have you
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an appointment? No, his Excellency sees no one without an appointment,
the man told me somewhat roughly. I am not here
on public business, but upon a private matter. I explained,
Perhaps I may see his Excellency's secretary if you wish,
But I repeat that his Excellency sees no one without
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a previous appointment. I knew this quite well, for the
Strangler of Finland, fearful of assassination, was as unapproachable as
the Czar himself. Following the directions of the Concerge, however,
I crossed a great bare courtyard, and, ascending a wide
stone staircase, was confronted by a servant, who, on hearing
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my inquiry, took me into a waiting room and left
with my card to Colonel Luganski, whom he informed me
was the Baron's private secretary. After ten minutes or so,
the man returned, saying, the Colonel will see you if
you will please step this way, and following him, he
conducted me into the richly furnished private apartments of the palace,
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across a great hall filled with fine paintings, and then
up a long, thickly carpeted passage to a small, elegant room,
where a tall, bald headed man in military uniform stood
awaiting me. Your name is Monsieur Gregg, he exclaimed in
very good French, and I understand you desire audience of
his Excellency, the Governor General. I regret, however, that he
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never gives audience to strangers. The matter upon which I
desired to see his Excellency is of a purely private
and confidential nature, I said, for us, as I was
to the ways of foreign officialdom, I spoke with the
same firm courtesy as himself. I am very sorry, Monsieur,
but I fear it will be necessary in that case
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for you to write to his Excellency and mark your
letter personal. It will then go into the Governor General's
own hands. What I have to say cannot be committed
to writing. Was my reply. I must see Baron Oberg
upon a matter which affects him personally, and which admits
of no He glanced at me quickly, and then, in
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a low voice, inquired, is it in regard to a
well a conspiracy? His question instantly suggested to me a ruse,
and I replied in the affirmative. Then you can place
the facts before me without the slightest hesitation, he said,
going to the door and slipping the bolt into its socket.
Anything spoken into my ear is as though it were
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spoken into that of his Excellency himself. I much regret,
Monsieur the Colonel, that I must see the Baron in
person has the plot assassination as its object or revolt.
He asked pointedly that I will explain to the Baron only,
but I tell you he will not see you. We
have so many persons here with secret information concerning Finnished
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conspiracies against our Russian rule. Why if his Excellency saw
everyone who desired to see him, he would be compelled
to give audience the whole twenty four hours round. At
a glance, I saw that this elegant colonel, who seemed
to take the greatest pride over his exquisitely kept person
and his spotless uniform, did not intend to allow me
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the satisfaction of an audience of that most hated official
of the Czar. The latter was in fear of the dagger,
the pistol or the bomb, and consequently hedged himself in
by persons of the Colonel's type, courteous, diplomatic, but utterly unbending.
After some further argument, I said, at last, in a
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firm tone, I wish to impress upon you the extreme
importance of the information I have to impart, and can
only repeat that it is a matter concerning his Excellency
privately will you therefore do me the favor to take
my name to him? His Excellency refuses to be troubled
with the names of strangers, was his cold reply, as
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he turned over my card in his hand. But if
I write upon it the name nature of my business
and enclose it in an envelope, will you then take
it to him? I suggested. He hesitated for a short time,
twisting his mustache, and then replied with great reluctance. Well,
if you are so determined, you may write your business
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upon your card. I therefore took out one, and on
the back wrote in French the words, which I knew
must have the effect of obtaining an audience for me
to give information regarding Miss Elma Heath. This I enclosed
in the envelope he handed to me. When ringing a bell,
he handed it to the footman, who appeared with orders
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to take it to his Excellency and await a reply.
The response came in a few minutes. His Excellency will
give audience to the English, monsieur. Then I rose and
followed the footman through several wide corridors filled with palms
and flowers, which formed a kind of winter garden, until
we crossed a red carpeted ante room, where two statuesque
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sentries stood on guard, and the man conducting me wrapped
at the great polished mahogany doors of the room beyond.
A voice responded, the door was opened, and I found
myself in a high, beautifully painted room with long windows,
hung with pastel blue silk, with heavy gilt fringe, a
pastel blue carpet, and upon the opposite wall a great
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canopy of rich purple velvet burying the double headed eagle
embroidered in gold. The apartment was splendidly decorated, and in
the center of the paraquet floor, with his back to
the light, was the thin, wiry figure of an elderly
man in a funereal frock coat, in the lapel of
which showed the red and yellow ribbon of the Order
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of Saint Anne. His hands were behind his back, and
he stood purposely in such a position that when I
entered I could not at first see his face against
the strong gray light behind. But when when footman had
bowed and retired and we were alone, he turned slightly,
and I then saw that his bony face with high
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cheek bones, slight gray side whiskers, hard mouthed, and black
eyes set closely together. Was one that bore the mark
of evil upon it, the keen, sinister countenance of one
who could act without any compunction and without regret. Truly,
one would not be surprised that any cruel, dastardly action
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of a man with such a face the face of
an oppressor. Well, he snapped in French in a high
pitched voice. You want to see me concerning that mad
English girl? What picturesque lies do you intend to tell
me concerning her? I have no intention of telling any
untruth concerning her, was my quick response, as I faced
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him unflinchingly. She has told me sufficient to She has
told you something. Ah, I guessed as much. I expected this,
and I saw that his thin, crafty face went pale
while his eyes glanced evilly upon me. He believed that
she had revealed to me her secret. He placed his
hand upon the back of a chair, wherein was concealed
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an electric button, and next instant, a little stout man
in shabby black appeared, as though by magic, through a
secret door hidden in the dark paneling of the audience chamber.
The man who was his personal guard against the plots
for his assassination. His excellency spoke, and the words he
uttered staggered me. I stood aghast. Seize that man, he cried,
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pointing to me. He is armed. He has just threatened
to kill me. He is the man against whom we
were recently warned the englishman. Ah, I cried, standing before
the thin faced official of the Czar, the unscrupulous man
who had crushed Finland beneath the iron heel of Russia,
and who, by his lying allegation, now held me in
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his power. I see your object, Baron Oberg. You intend
to arrest me as a con spirtor search a fellow.
He has a revolver there in his hip pocket, declared
the Governor General. And in an instant the short, ferreted
eyed little man had run his hands down me and
felt my weapon. I drew it forth and handed it
to him, saying you are quite welcome to it, if
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you fear that I am here with any sinister motive.
He obtained admission by a clever ruse, the Baron explained
to the police agent, and then he threatened me. It's untrue,
I protested hotly. I have merely called to see you
regarding the young English lady alm Heath, the unfortunate lady
whom you consigned to the fortress of Kajana. The mad
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woman you mean, he laughed. She is not mad, I cried,
but is sane as you yourself. It is you who
intended that the horrors of the castle should drive her insane,
and thus your secret should be kept. What do you suggest,
he demanded, stepping a few paces towards me. I mean,
Xavier Oberg, that you would kill Elma Heath if you
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dare to do so, I answered, plainly, as I faced him, unflinchingly.
You see, he laughed, turning to the stout man at
my side. The fellow is insane. He does not know
what he is talking about. Ah, my, dear Malkoff, I've
had a narrow escape. He came here intending to shoot me.
I did not, I protested. I am here to demand
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satisfaction on behalf of miss Heath. Oh well, if the
lady cares to come here herself, I will give her
the satisfaction she desires, was his crafty reply. The lady
has escaped you, and it is therefore hardly likely she
will willingly return to helsingfors I said, it was you
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who succeeded by throwing the guard into the water in
abducting her from the castle, he remarked, But he added, sneeringly,
with a sinister smile, I presume your gallantry was prompted
by affection. Eh, that is my own affair. A deaf
and dumb woman is surely not a very cheerful companion.
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And who caused her that affliction? I cried hotly. When
she was at Chichester, she possessed speech and hearing as
other girls. Indeed, she was not afflicted when on board
the Lola in Leghorn Harbor only a few months ago.
Perhaps you recollect the narrow escape the yacht had on
the Melorious Sands. His eyes met mine, and I saw,
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by his drawn face and narrow brows, that my words
were causing him the utmost consternation. My object was to
make him believe that I knew more than I really did,
to hold him in fear. In fact, perhaps the man
whom some know as Hornby or Woodruff could tell an
interesting story, I went on. He will, no doubt when
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he meets Elma Heath and finds the terrible affliction of
which she has been the victim. His thin, bony countenance
was bloodless, his mouth twitched, and his gray brows contracted quickly.
I haven't the least idea what you mean, my dear sir,
he stammered. All that you say is entirely enigmatical to me.
What have I to do with this mad englishwoman's affairs?
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Send out this man, I said, pointing to the detective Malkoff,
who had appeared from behind the paneling of the audience chamber.
Send him out, and I will tell you, but the
representative of the Czar, always as much in dread of
assassination as his imperial master, refused. I saw that what
I had said had upset him, and that he was
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not at all clear as to how much or how
little of the true facts. I knew. The connection between
the little miniature cross of the Order of Saint Anne
and that red and yellow ribbon in his button hole
struck me forcibly at the moment, and I said, I
have no desire to make any statements before a second person.
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I came here to see you privately, and in private,
will I speak. I have certain information that will I
feel confident be of the utmost interest to you. Concerning
another woman, Armida Sentini. His lips were pressed together, and
I noticed how he started when I uttered the name
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of that woman whom I had found dead in Rannoch Wood,
and whose body had so mysteriously disappeared. And what on
earth can the woman concern me? He asked, with a
brave attempt to remain cool, still speaking in French. Only
that you knew her, was my brief reply. Then, with
my eyes still fixed upon his, I asked, will you
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not now request this gentleman to retire? He hesitated a moment,
and then, with a wave of his hand, dismissed the
man he had summoned to his aid. A moment later,
the strangler's personal protector had disappeared through that secret door
in the paneling by which he had entered. Well, asked
the baron, turning quickly to me again, his dark, evil
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eyes trying to fathom my intentions. Well, I asked, And
what pray can can you profit by denouncing me as
an assassin? Remember, Baron, that your secret is mine, I said,
in a clear voice, full of meaning. And your intention
is blackmail, eh, he snapped, walking to the window and
back again. How much do you want my intention is
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nothing of the kind. My object is to avenge the
outrageous injury to elm heath. Of course, that is only natural, monsieur,
if you have fallen in love with her, he said,
But are not your intentions somewhat ill advised considering her
position as a criminal lunatic? She is neither, I protested quickly.
Very well, you know better than myself, he laughed. The
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offense for which she was condemned to confinement in a
fortress was the attempted assassination of Madame Bakouroff, wife of
the general commanding the Uleyeburg Military Division. Assassination, I cried,
Have you actually sent her to prison as a murderess?
I have not. The Criminal Board of a Beau did so,
he said, drying. The offense has since been proved to
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have been the outcome of a political conspiracy, and the
Minister of the Interior in Petersburg last week signed an
order for the prisoner's transportation to the island of Sukhullian. Ah,
I remarked with set teeth, because you fear lest she
shall write down your secret. You are insulting. You evidently
do not know what you are saying. He exclaimed resentfully,
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I know what I am saying quite well. You have
requested her removal to Sakhullian in order that the truth
shall never be known. But Baron o berg I added,
with mock politeness, you may do as you will. You
may send elm Heath to her grave. You may hold
me prisoner if you dare, But there are still witnesses
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of your crime that will rise against you. In an instant,
he went ghastly pale, and I knew that my blind
shot had struck its mark. The man before me was
guilty of some crime, but what it was, as only
Alma herself could tell. That he had had her arrested
for an attempted political assassination only showed how ingeniously and
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craftily the heartless ruler of that ruined country had laid
his plans. He feared Elma, and therefore had conspired to
have her sent out to that dismal penal island in
the far off Pacific. You do not fear arrest, monsieur,
he asked, as though with some surprise, not in the least,
at least not arrest by you. You may be the
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representative of the Emperor in Finland, but even here there
is justice for the innocent. A sinister smile played around
the thin gray lips of the man whose very name
was hated through the Great Empire of the Czar and
was synonymous of oppression, injustice and heartless tyranny. All I
can repeat, he said, is that if you bring the
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young englishwoman here, I shall be quite prepared to hear
her appeal. And he laughed harshly. You ask that because
you know it is impossible, I said, whereat He again
laughed in my face, a laugh which made me wonder
whether Elma had not already fallen into his hands. The
uncertainty of her fate held me in terrible suspense. I
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merely wish to impress upon you the fact that I
have not the slightest interest whatever in the person in question,
he said coldly. You seem to have formed some romantic
attachment towards this young woman who attempted to poison Madame Kuroff,
and to have succeeded in rescuing her from Kajana. You
afterwards disregard the fact that you are liabled to a
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long term of imprisonment yourself, and actually have the audacity
to seek audience of me and make all sorts of
hints and suggestions that I have held the woman a
prisoner for my own ends. Not only do I repeat that,
Baron Oberg, I said quickly, but I also allege that
it was at your instigation that in Siena on operation
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was performed upon the unfortunate girl, which deprived her of
speech and hearing at my instigation, Yes, at yours. He
laughed again, but uneasily, a forced laugh, and leaned against
the edge of the big writing table near the window. Well,
what next, he inquired, pretending to be interested in my allegations.
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What do you want of me? I desire you to
give the mademoiselle Heath her complete freedom, I said. Is
that all all for the present, But her future is
not in my hands. The minister in Petersburg has degreed
her removal to Saghalien as a person dangerous to the state,
which means that she will be ill treated now to
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to death. Perhaps we do not use the nube in
the Russian prisons nowadays, he said briefly. His majesty has
decreed its abolition, But you adopt torture in Kajana and
Schusselberg instead. My time is too limited to discuss our
penal system, mesieur, he exclaimed impatiently. While I could well
see that he was anxious to escape. Before I made
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any further charges against him, I had already shown him
that Alma had spoken, and he feared that she had
told the truth. While this would embitter him against her
and cause him to seek to silence her at all hazards,
it was, of course in my own interest that he
should fear any revelations that I might make. You have
posed in England as the uncle of Elma Heath, and
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yet you hold her prisoner for what reason? I demanded?
She is held prisoner by the state for conspiracy against
Russian rule, not by herself personally who enticed her here?
Why you yourself, who conspired to throw the guilt of
this attempted murder of the general's wife upon her? You,
you the man whom they call the strangler of Finland.
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But I will avenge the cruel and abominable affliction you
have placed upon her. Her secret, your secret, Baron Oberg,
shall be published to world. You are her enemy, and
therefore mine very well. He growled between his teeth, advancing
towards me threateningly, his fist clenched and raged. Recollect, monsieur,
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that you have insulted me. Recollect that I am Governor
General of Finland. If you were Czar himself, I should
not hesitate to denounce you as the tyrant and mutilator
of a poor, defenseless woman. And to whom, pray, will
you tell this romantic story of yours, he laughed hoarsely,
to your prison walls below the lake a kajana. Yes,
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Monsieur Gregg, you will go there, and once within the
fortress you shall never again see the light of day.
You threaten me, the Governor General of Finland, he laughed
in a strange, high pitched key, as he threw himself
into a chair and scribbled something rapidly upon paper, appending
his signature in his small, crabbed handwriting. I do not threaten,
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I said, in open defliance. I shall act, and so
shall I. He said, with an evil grin upon his
bony face, as he blought it what he had written
and took it up, adding, in the darkness and silence
of your living tomb, you can tell whatever strange stories
you like concerning me. They are used to idiots. Where
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you are going, he added, grimly. Oh, and where am
I going back to Kajana? This order consigns you to
confinement there as a dangerous political conspiracor as one who
has threatened me. It consigns you to the cells below
the lake for life. I laughed aloud, and my hand
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sought my wallet. Wherein was that all powerful document, the
order of the Emperor, which gave me, as an imperial
guest immunity from arrest. I would produce it as my
trump card. Next second, however, I held my breath, and
I think I must have turned pale. My pocket was empty,
my wallet had been stolen. In entirely and helplessly, I
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had fallen into the hands of the tyrant of the Tsar,
his own personal interests would be to consign me to
a living tomb in that grim fortress of Kajana, the
horrors of which were unspeakable. I had seen enough during
my inspection of the Russian prisons as a journalist to
know that there, in strangled Finland I should not be
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treated with the same consideration or humanity as in Petersburg
or Warsaw. The Governor General consigned me to Kajana as
a political which was synonymous with the sentence of death.
In those damp, dark oubliettes beneath the water, dungeons every
whit as awful as those of the Paris Bastille. We
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faced each other, and I looked straight into his gray,
bony face and answered, in a tone of defiance. You
are governor general. It is true, but you will, I think,
reflect before you consign me an Englishman to prison with us.
I know full well that the English are hated by Russia.
Yet I assure you that in London we entertain no
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love for your nation or its methods. Yes, he laughed,
You are quite right. Russia has no use for anfeat
ally such as England is. If feet or powerful, my
country is still able to present an ultimatum when diplomacy
requires it, I said. Therefore, I have no fear send
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me to prison, and I tell you that the responsibility
rests upon yourself. And folding my arms, I kept my
eyes intently upon his, so that he should not see
that I wavered. As for the responsibility, I certainly do
not fear that, monsieur, he said, but that exposure that
will result. Are you prepared to face that? I asked,
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Perhaps you are not aware that others besides myself. One other, indeed,
who is a diplomatist, is aware of my journey here.
If I do not reach turn, your Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Petersburg will be pressed for reason which they
will not give. Then, if they do not, the truth
will be out. I said, laughing harshly, for I saw
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how determined he had become to hold me prisoner. Come
call up your mormidawn and send me to Kajana. It
will be the first step towards your own downfall. We
shall see. He growled. Ah, you surely do not think
that I, after ten years service in the British Diplomatic Service,
would dare to come to Finland upon this quest, would
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dare to face the rotten and corrupt official dumb which
Russia has placed within this country without first taking some
adequate precaution. No baron. Therefore, I defy you, and I
leave helsingfors to night. You will not. You are under arrest.
I laughed heartily and snapped my fingers, saying, before you
give me over to your police, first telegraph to your
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Minister of Finance, Monsieur de Witt, an inquirer of him?
Who and what I am, I don't understand you. You
have merely to send my name and description to the
minister and ask for a reply, I said, he will
give you instructions, or if you so desire, ask his
Majesty yourself. And why, pray, does his Majesty concern himself
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about you, he asked, at once puzzled. You will learn
later after I am confined in Kajana and your secret
is known in Petersburg. What do you mean I mean?
I said, I mean that I have taken all the
necessary steps to be forearmed against you. The day I
am incarcerated by your order, the whole truth will be known.
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I shall not be the sufferer, but you will. My
words purposely Enigmato misled him. He saw the drift of
my argument, and, being of course unaware of how much
I knew, he was still in fear of me. My
only uncertainty was of the actual fate of poor Elma.
My wallet had been stolen with a purpose, without a doubt,
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for the thief had deprived me of that most important
of all documents, the open sesame to every closed door,
the u keys of the Czar. You defy me, he said, hoarsely,
turning back to the window with a written order for
my imprisonment as a political still in his hand. But
we shall see you rule Finland, I said, in a
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hard tone. But you have no power over Gordon Gray.
I have power and intend to exert it for your
own ruin, I remarked, with a self confident smile. You
may give your torturer's orders to kill me, orders that
a fatal accident shall occur within the fortress. But I
tell you, frankly, that my death will neither erase nor
(31:51):
conceal your own offenses. There are others away in England
who are aware of them, and who will, in order
to avenge my death, speak the truth. Remember that although
Elma Heath has been deprived of both hearing and of speech,
she can still write down the true facts in black
(32:11):
and white. The Tsar may be your patron and you
his favorite, but his Majesty has no tolerance of officials
who are guilty of what you are guilty of. You
talk of arresting me, I added, with a smile, Why
you ought rather to go on your knees and beg
my silence? He went white with rage at my cutting sarcasm.
(32:33):
He literally boiled over for he saw that I was
quite cool and had no fear of him or of
the terrible punishment to which he intended to consign me,
besides which he was filled with wonder regarding the exact
amount of information which Alma had imparted to me. There
are certain persons, I went on, to whom it would
(32:55):
be of intense interest to know the true reason why
the steam yacht Lola put into Laghorn, why I was
entertained on board her, why the safe in the British
consulate was rifled, and why the unfortunate girl kept a
prisoner on board, was taken on shore just before the
hurried sailing of the vessel. And there are other mysteries
(33:18):
which the English police are trying to solve, namely the
reason Armta Santini and a man disguised as her husband
died in Scotland at the hand of an assassin. But
surely I need say no more. It is surely sufficient
to convince you that if the truth were spoken, the
revelations would be distinctly awkward. For whom he asked, opening
(33:42):
his eyes for you, come, Baron, I said, can we
not yet speak? Frankly? But he was silent for a moment,
a fact which was in itself proof that my pointed
argument had caused him to reconsider his intention of sending
me under escort back to that castle of terror. If
my journey there was in order to meet my love,
(34:05):
I would not have cared. It was the ignorance of
her whereabouts or of her fate that held me in
such deep, all consuming anxiety. Each hour that passed increased
my fond and tender affection for her. And yet what
irony of circumstance she had been cruelly snatched from me
at the very moment that freedom had been ours. I
(34:28):
think it was well that I assumed that air of
defiance with the man who had ground Finland beneath his heel.
He was unused to it. No one dared to go
against his will, or to utter taunt or threat to him.
He was paramount with all the powers of an emperor,
the power indeed of life and death. Therefore, he was
(34:49):
not in the habit of being either thwarted or criticized.
And I could see that my words had aroused within
him a boiling tumult of resentment and of rage. I
told him nothing of the loss of my wallet or
of the precious document that it had contained. My defiance
was merely upon principle. Arrest me if you like, denounce
(35:11):
me by means of any lie that arises to your lips.
But remember that the truth is known beyond the confines
of the Russian Empire, and for that reason traces will
be sought of me, and full explanation demanded. I have
taken precaution, Xavier Oberg I added, therefore, do your worst.
I repeat again that I defy you. He paced the
(35:35):
big room, his thin claw like hands still clenched, his
yellow teeth grinding, his dark, deep set eyes fixed straight
before him. If he had dared, he would have struck
me down at his feet. But he did not dare.
I saw too plainly that even though my wallet was gone,
I still held the trump card that he feared me.
(35:57):
The mention I had made of the Minister of Finance, however,
seemed to cause him considerable hesitation. That high official had
the ear of the Emperor, and if I were a friend,
there might be inquiries. As I stood before him, leaning
against a small bull table, I watched all the complex
workings of his mind and tried to read the mysterious
(36:19):
motive which had caused him to consign poor Elma to Kajana.
He was a proud bully, possessing neither pity nor remorse,
an average specimen of the high Russian official, a high
bound bureaucrat, a slave to etiquette, and possessing a veneer
of Polish. But beneath it all I saw that he
(36:39):
was a coward in deadly fear of assassination, a coward
who dreaded lest some secret should be revealed. That concealed
door in the paneling, with the armed guard lurking behind,
was sufficiently plained evidence that he was not the fearless
governor general that was popularly supposed. He the Strangler of Finland,
(37:01):
had crushed the gallant nation into submission, ruining their commerce,
sapping the country by impressing its youth into the Russian army,
forbidding the use of the Finnish language, and taxing the
people until the factories had been compelled to close down
while the peasantry starved. And now on the verge of revolt,
(37:21):
there had arisen a band of patriots who resented Ruin,
and who had already worn his majesty by letter that
if Baron Oberg were not removed from his post, he
would die. These and other thoughts ran through my mind
in the silence that followed our heated argument, For I
saw well that he was in actual fear of me.
(37:43):
I had led him to believe that I knew everything
and that his future was in my hands, while he,
on his part, was anxious to hold me prisoner and
yet dared not do so. My wallet had probably been
stolen by some lurking police spot for Russian agents abound
everywhere in Finland, reporting conspiracies that do not exist, and
(38:06):
denouncing the innocent as politicals. The baron had halted and
was looking through one of the great windows down upon
the courtyard below, where the sentries were pacing. The palace
was for him a gilded prison, for he dared not
go out for a drive in one or other of
the parks, or for a blow on the water across
(38:27):
the hug Holman or Dagario, being compelled to remain there
for months without showing himself publicly. People in a beau
had told me that when he did go out in
the streets of Helsingfors, it was at night, and he
usually disguised himself in the uniform of a private soldier
of the guard, thus escaping recognition by those who, driven
(38:48):
to desperation by injustice, sought his life. A long silence
had fallen between us, and it now occurred to me
to take advantage of his hesitation. Therefore I sat, in
a firm voice in French. I think, Baron, our interview
is at an end, is it not. Therefore I wish
you good day. He turned upon me suddenly, with an
(39:11):
evil flash in his dark eyes and a snarling imprecation
in Russian upon his lips. His hands still held the
order committing me to the fortress. But before I leave you,
you will destroy that document. It may fall into other hands,
you know. And I walked towards him with quick determination.
I shall do nothing of the kind, he snapped, without
(39:33):
further word. I snatched the paper from his thin white
fingers and tore it up before his face. His countenance
went livid. I do not think I have ever seen
a man's face assume such an expression of fiendish vindictiveness.
It was as though at that instant hell had been
let loose within his heart. But I turned upon my
(39:55):
heel and went out, passing the sentries in the anteroom,
along the flat, our filled corridors, and across the courtyard
to the main entrance, where the gorgeous concerge saluted me
as I stepped forth into the square. I had escaped
by means of my own diplomacy and firmness. The csar's representative,
the man who ruled that country, feared me, and for
(40:18):
that reason did not hold me prisoner. Yet, when I
recalled that evil look of revenge on my departure, I
could not help certain feelings of grave apprehension arising within me.
Returning to my hotel, I smoked a cigar in my
room and pondered where was Elma was the chief question
which arose within my mind. By remaining in helsingfors, I
(40:41):
could achieve nothing further now that I had made the
acquaintance of the oppressor. Whereas if I returned to a Beau,
I might perchance be able to obtain some clue to
my love's whereabouts. I called her my love because I
both pitied and loved the poor afflicted girl who was
so helpless and defenseless. Therefore, I took the midnight train
(41:04):
back to a Bow, arriving at the hotel next morning,
After an hour's rest, I set out anxiously in search
of Felix, the Drosky driver. I found him in his
log built house in the Ludnow quarter, and when he
asked me in, I saw from his face that he
had news to impart. Well, I inquired, and what of
the lady? Has she been found? Ah, your excellency, it
(41:27):
is a pity you were not here yesterday, he said,
with a sigh. Why tell me quickly what has happened.
I have been assisting the police's spy, excellency, as I
often do, and I have seen her, seen her where,
I cried in quick anxiety. Here in the bow. She
arrived yesterday morning from Tamerfores, accompanied by an Englishman. She
(41:49):
had changed her dress and was all in black. They
lunched together at the restaurant de Nour opposite the landing stage,
and an hour later left by steamer for Petersburg. An englishmen,
I cried, did you not inform the chief of police Boransky? Yes,
your excellency, but he said that their passports being in order,
it was better to allow the lady to proceed. To
(42:12):
delay her might mean her rearrest in Finland. He added,
than their passports were besaved here On embarking, I exclaimed,
what was the name? Upon that of the Englishman? I
have written it down, excellency, I cannot pronounce your difficult
English names. And he produced a scrap of dirty paper,
whereon was written in a Russian hand the name Martin Woodruff.
(42:36):
End of Chapter twelve. Recording by Tom Weiss,
Chapter twelve of The Tsar's Spy. This Libervox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss. The Tsar
Spy by William le Que, Chapter twelve, The Strangler. Where
was Elma? What was the cause of her inexplicable disappearance
(00:22):
into the gloomy forest while we had slept? I returned
to the hotel where I had stayed on my arrival,
a comfortable place called the Phoenix, and lunched there alone.
Both Felix the Finn and my host, the Woodcutter, had
received their dusseurs and left, But to the last named
I had given instructions to return home at once and
(00:44):
report by telegraph any news of my lost one. A
thousand conflicting thoughts arose within me as I sat in
that crowded selemo, she filled with the gobbling crowd of
the commercial men of a beau. I had I reckoned
now to deal with the most powerful man in that country,
And I suffered a distinct disadvantage by being in ignorance
(01:08):
of the reason he held that sweet English girl a prisoner,
the tragedy of the dastardly manner in which he had
been wilfully maimed caused my blood to boil within me.
I had never believed that, in this civilized twentieth century
such things could be. Michael Baronsky had given his pledge
(01:28):
to assist me, yet he had most plainly explained to
me his fears. The Baron was intent upon again getting
Elma into his power. Was it at his orders? I
wondered that the sweet faced girl had been deprived of
speech and hearing. Had she fallen an innocent victim to
his infamous scheming about me? Men were eating strange dishes
(01:53):
and talking in Finnish, while others were smoking and drinking
their vodka. But I was in no mood for observation.
My only thought was of she, who was now lost
to me. Why had she disappeared without warning? I was
at loss to imagine, Yet I could only surmise that
her flight had been compulsory. Some women possess a mysterious
(02:15):
sense of intuition, a curious and indescribable faculty of knowing
when evil threatens them that presents a strange and puzzling
problem to our scientists. It is unaccountable, and yet many
women possess it in a very marked degree. Was it
therefore possible that Elma had awakened, and, being warned of
(02:35):
her peril, had fled without arousing us. The suggestion was possible,
but I feared improbable. Another very curious feature in the
affair was the sudden manner in which Michael Boranski had
exerted his power and influence in order to render me
that service. He had actually bribed the Garbs of Kajana,
(02:56):
he had instructed the faithful Felix, he had provided our boat,
and he had ordered the nun to open the water
gate to me. Why there was I felt convinced some
hidden motive in all that sudden and marked friendliness, that
he really hated the English I had seen plainly when
we had first met, And I had only compelled him
(03:18):
to serve me by presenting the order signed by the
Emperor which made me his guest within the Russian dominions.
Even that document did not account for the length he
had gone to secure the release of the woman I
now loved in secret. The more I thought it over,
the more anxious did I become. I could discern no
(03:39):
motive for his friendliness, and truth to tell, I always
distrust those who are too friendly. What straight and decided
line of action should I take. Carefully, I went over
all the strange events that had happened in England, and
while anxious to obtain some solution of the amazing problem,
yet I could not bring myself to leave Finland and
(04:01):
allow Elma to fall into the clutches of that high
official who so persistently sought her end. No, I would
go to him and face him. I was anxious to
see what manner of man was the strangler of Finland. Therefore,
that same evening I left de Beaux and traveled by
rail up to the junction of Toyola, Whence, after a
(04:25):
wait of six hours, I resumed by slow journey to Helsingford's.
I put up at Comps, an elegant hotel on the
long Esplanada overlooking the port, and found the town, with
its handsome streets and spacious squares, to be a much
finer place than I had believed. When I inquired of
the French director of my hotel for the residence of
(04:47):
his excellency, the Governor General, he regarded me with some surprise,
saying the Baron lives up at the Palace Monsieur, that
great building opposite the salutomp the driver of R DROs.
He will point it out to you. Is his Excellency
in helsing force at the present moment? I asked? The
baron never leaves the palace, monsieur, responded the man, This
(05:10):
is a strange country, you know, He added, with a grin.
It is said that his Excellency is in hourly fear
of assassination. Perhaps not without pause, I remarked, in a
low voice, at which he elevated his shoulders and smiled.
At noon, I descended from Adrasky before a long, gray,
(05:31):
massive building, over the big doorway of which was a
large escutcheon bearing the Russian arms emblazoned in gold and
on entering, where a sentry stood on either side, a
colossal concerge in livery of bright blue and gold came
forward to meet me, asking in Russian, whom do you
wish to see His Excellency the governor General. Have you
(05:53):
an appointment? No, his Excellency sees no one without an appointment,
the man told me somewhat roughly. I am not here
on public business, but upon a private matter. I explained,
Perhaps I may see his Excellency's secretary if you wish,
But I repeat that his Excellency sees no one without
(06:14):
a previous appointment. I knew this quite well, for the
Strangler of Finland, fearful of assassination, was as unapproachable as
the Czar himself. Following the directions of the Concerge, however,
I crossed a great bare courtyard, and, ascending a wide
stone staircase, was confronted by a servant, who, on hearing
(06:35):
my inquiry, took me into a waiting room and left
with my card to Colonel Luganski, whom he informed me
was the Baron's private secretary. After ten minutes or so,
the man returned, saying, the Colonel will see you if
you will please step this way, and following him, he
conducted me into the richly furnished private apartments of the palace,
(06:57):
across a great hall filled with fine paintings, and then
up a long, thickly carpeted passage to a small, elegant room,
where a tall, bald headed man in military uniform stood
awaiting me. Your name is Monsieur Gregg, he exclaimed in
very good French, and I understand you desire audience of
his Excellency, the Governor General. I regret, however, that he
(07:20):
never gives audience to strangers. The matter upon which I
desired to see his Excellency is of a purely private
and confidential nature, I said, for us, as I was
to the ways of foreign officialdom, I spoke with the
same firm courtesy as himself. I am very sorry, Monsieur,
but I fear it will be necessary in that case
(07:41):
for you to write to his Excellency and mark your
letter personal. It will then go into the Governor General's
own hands. What I have to say cannot be committed
to writing. Was my reply. I must see Baron Oberg
upon a matter which affects him personally, and which admits
of no He glanced at me quickly, and then, in
(08:03):
a low voice, inquired, is it in regard to a
well a conspiracy? His question instantly suggested to me a ruse,
and I replied in the affirmative. Then you can place
the facts before me without the slightest hesitation, he said,
going to the door and slipping the bolt into its socket.
Anything spoken into my ear is as though it were
(08:26):
spoken into that of his Excellency himself. I much regret,
Monsieur the Colonel, that I must see the Baron in
person has the plot assassination as its object or revolt.
He asked pointedly that I will explain to the Baron only,
but I tell you he will not see you. We
have so many persons here with secret information concerning Finnished
(08:49):
conspiracies against our Russian rule. Why if his Excellency saw
everyone who desired to see him, he would be compelled
to give audience the whole twenty four hours round. At
a glance, I saw that this elegant colonel, who seemed
to take the greatest pride over his exquisitely kept person
and his spotless uniform, did not intend to allow me
(09:12):
the satisfaction of an audience of that most hated official
of the Czar. The latter was in fear of the dagger,
the pistol or the bomb, and consequently hedged himself in
by persons of the Colonel's type, courteous, diplomatic, but utterly unbending.
After some further argument, I said, at last, in a
(09:32):
firm tone, I wish to impress upon you the extreme
importance of the information I have to impart, and can
only repeat that it is a matter concerning his Excellency
privately will you therefore do me the favor to take
my name to him? His Excellency refuses to be troubled
with the names of strangers, was his cold reply, as
(09:55):
he turned over my card in his hand. But if
I write upon it the name nature of my business
and enclose it in an envelope, will you then take
it to him? I suggested. He hesitated for a short time,
twisting his mustache, and then replied with great reluctance. Well,
if you are so determined, you may write your business
(10:17):
upon your card. I therefore took out one, and on
the back wrote in French the words, which I knew
must have the effect of obtaining an audience for me
to give information regarding Miss Elma Heath. This I enclosed
in the envelope he handed to me. When ringing a bell,
he handed it to the footman, who appeared with orders
(10:38):
to take it to his Excellency and await a reply.
The response came in a few minutes. His Excellency will
give audience to the English, monsieur. Then I rose and
followed the footman through several wide corridors filled with palms
and flowers, which formed a kind of winter garden, until
we crossed a red carpeted ante room, where two statuesque
(11:02):
sentries stood on guard, and the man conducting me wrapped
at the great polished mahogany doors of the room beyond.
A voice responded, the door was opened, and I found
myself in a high, beautifully painted room with long windows,
hung with pastel blue silk, with heavy gilt fringe, a
pastel blue carpet, and upon the opposite wall a great
(11:24):
canopy of rich purple velvet burying the double headed eagle
embroidered in gold. The apartment was splendidly decorated, and in
the center of the paraquet floor, with his back to
the light, was the thin, wiry figure of an elderly
man in a funereal frock coat, in the lapel of
which showed the red and yellow ribbon of the Order
(11:46):
of Saint Anne. His hands were behind his back, and
he stood purposely in such a position that when I
entered I could not at first see his face against
the strong gray light behind. But when when footman had
bowed and retired and we were alone, he turned slightly,
and I then saw that his bony face with high
(12:07):
cheek bones, slight gray side whiskers, hard mouthed, and black
eyes set closely together. Was one that bore the mark
of evil upon it, the keen, sinister countenance of one
who could act without any compunction and without regret. Truly,
one would not be surprised that any cruel, dastardly action
(12:29):
of a man with such a face the face of
an oppressor. Well, he snapped in French in a high
pitched voice. You want to see me concerning that mad
English girl? What picturesque lies do you intend to tell
me concerning her? I have no intention of telling any
untruth concerning her, was my quick response, as I faced
(12:50):
him unflinchingly. She has told me sufficient to She has
told you something. Ah, I guessed as much. I expected this,
and I saw that his thin, crafty face went pale
while his eyes glanced evilly upon me. He believed that
she had revealed to me her secret. He placed his
hand upon the back of a chair, wherein was concealed
(13:11):
an electric button, and next instant, a little stout man
in shabby black appeared, as though by magic, through a
secret door hidden in the dark paneling of the audience chamber.
The man who was his personal guard against the plots
for his assassination. His excellency spoke, and the words he
uttered staggered me. I stood aghast. Seize that man, he cried,
(13:34):
pointing to me. He is armed. He has just threatened
to kill me. He is the man against whom we
were recently warned the englishman. Ah, I cried, standing before
the thin faced official of the Czar, the unscrupulous man
who had crushed Finland beneath the iron heel of Russia,
and who, by his lying allegation, now held me in
(13:54):
his power. I see your object, Baron Oberg. You intend
to arrest me as a con spirtor search a fellow.
He has a revolver there in his hip pocket, declared
the Governor General. And in an instant the short, ferreted
eyed little man had run his hands down me and
felt my weapon. I drew it forth and handed it
to him, saying you are quite welcome to it, if
(14:17):
you fear that I am here with any sinister motive.
He obtained admission by a clever ruse, the Baron explained
to the police agent, and then he threatened me. It's untrue,
I protested hotly. I have merely called to see you
regarding the young English lady alm Heath, the unfortunate lady
whom you consigned to the fortress of Kajana. The mad
(14:38):
woman you mean, he laughed. She is not mad, I cried,
but is sane as you yourself. It is you who
intended that the horrors of the castle should drive her insane,
and thus your secret should be kept. What do you suggest,
he demanded, stepping a few paces towards me. I mean,
Xavier Oberg, that you would kill Elma Heath if you
(15:01):
dare to do so, I answered, plainly, as I faced him, unflinchingly.
You see, he laughed, turning to the stout man at
my side. The fellow is insane. He does not know
what he is talking about. Ah, my, dear Malkoff, I've
had a narrow escape. He came here intending to shoot me.
I did not, I protested. I am here to demand
(15:23):
satisfaction on behalf of miss Heath. Oh well, if the
lady cares to come here herself, I will give her
the satisfaction she desires, was his crafty reply. The lady
has escaped you, and it is therefore hardly likely she
will willingly return to helsingfors I said, it was you
(15:43):
who succeeded by throwing the guard into the water in
abducting her from the castle, he remarked, But he added, sneeringly,
with a sinister smile, I presume your gallantry was prompted
by affection. Eh, that is my own affair. A deaf
and dumb woman is surely not a very cheerful companion.
(16:04):
And who caused her that affliction? I cried hotly. When
she was at Chichester, she possessed speech and hearing as
other girls. Indeed, she was not afflicted when on board
the Lola in Leghorn Harbor only a few months ago.
Perhaps you recollect the narrow escape the yacht had on
the Melorious Sands. His eyes met mine, and I saw,
(16:26):
by his drawn face and narrow brows, that my words
were causing him the utmost consternation. My object was to
make him believe that I knew more than I really did,
to hold him in fear. In fact, perhaps the man
whom some know as Hornby or Woodruff could tell an
interesting story, I went on. He will, no doubt when
(16:46):
he meets Elma Heath and finds the terrible affliction of
which she has been the victim. His thin, bony countenance
was bloodless, his mouth twitched, and his gray brows contracted quickly.
I haven't the least idea what you mean, my dear sir,
he stammered. All that you say is entirely enigmatical to me.
What have I to do with this mad englishwoman's affairs?
(17:08):
Send out this man, I said, pointing to the detective Malkoff,
who had appeared from behind the paneling of the audience chamber.
Send him out, and I will tell you, but the
representative of the Czar, always as much in dread of
assassination as his imperial master, refused. I saw that what
I had said had upset him, and that he was
(17:30):
not at all clear as to how much or how
little of the true facts. I knew. The connection between
the little miniature cross of the Order of Saint Anne
and that red and yellow ribbon in his button hole
struck me forcibly at the moment, and I said, I
have no desire to make any statements before a second person.
(17:50):
I came here to see you privately, and in private,
will I speak. I have certain information that will I
feel confident be of the utmost interest to you. Concerning
another woman, Armida Sentini. His lips were pressed together, and
I noticed how he started when I uttered the name
(18:10):
of that woman whom I had found dead in Rannoch Wood,
and whose body had so mysteriously disappeared. And what on
earth can the woman concern me? He asked, with a
brave attempt to remain cool, still speaking in French. Only
that you knew her, was my brief reply. Then, with
my eyes still fixed upon his, I asked, will you
(18:33):
not now request this gentleman to retire? He hesitated a moment,
and then, with a wave of his hand, dismissed the
man he had summoned to his aid. A moment later,
the strangler's personal protector had disappeared through that secret door
in the paneling by which he had entered. Well, asked
the baron, turning quickly to me again, his dark, evil
(18:54):
eyes trying to fathom my intentions. Well, I asked, And
what pray can can you profit by denouncing me as
an assassin? Remember, Baron, that your secret is mine, I said,
in a clear voice, full of meaning. And your intention
is blackmail, eh, he snapped, walking to the window and
back again. How much do you want my intention is
(19:17):
nothing of the kind. My object is to avenge the
outrageous injury to elm heath. Of course, that is only natural, monsieur,
if you have fallen in love with her, he said,
But are not your intentions somewhat ill advised considering her
position as a criminal lunatic? She is neither, I protested quickly.
Very well, you know better than myself, he laughed. The
(19:40):
offense for which she was condemned to confinement in a
fortress was the attempted assassination of Madame Bakouroff, wife of
the general commanding the Uleyeburg Military Division. Assassination, I cried,
Have you actually sent her to prison as a murderess?
I have not. The Criminal Board of a Beau did so,
he said, drying. The offense has since been proved to
(20:02):
have been the outcome of a political conspiracy, and the
Minister of the Interior in Petersburg last week signed an
order for the prisoner's transportation to the island of Sukhullian. Ah,
I remarked with set teeth, because you fear lest she
shall write down your secret. You are insulting. You evidently
do not know what you are saying. He exclaimed resentfully,
(20:26):
I know what I am saying quite well. You have
requested her removal to Sakhullian in order that the truth
shall never be known. But Baron o berg I added,
with mock politeness, you may do as you will. You
may send elm Heath to her grave. You may hold
me prisoner if you dare, But there are still witnesses
(20:46):
of your crime that will rise against you. In an instant,
he went ghastly pale, and I knew that my blind
shot had struck its mark. The man before me was
guilty of some crime, but what it was, as only
Alma herself could tell. That he had had her arrested
for an attempted political assassination only showed how ingeniously and
(21:09):
craftily the heartless ruler of that ruined country had laid
his plans. He feared Elma, and therefore had conspired to
have her sent out to that dismal penal island in
the far off Pacific. You do not fear arrest, monsieur,
he asked, as though with some surprise, not in the least,
at least not arrest by you. You may be the
(21:31):
representative of the Emperor in Finland, but even here there
is justice for the innocent. A sinister smile played around
the thin gray lips of the man whose very name
was hated through the Great Empire of the Czar and
was synonymous of oppression, injustice and heartless tyranny. All I
can repeat, he said, is that if you bring the
(21:52):
young englishwoman here, I shall be quite prepared to hear
her appeal. And he laughed harshly. You ask that because
you know it is impossible, I said, whereat He again
laughed in my face, a laugh which made me wonder
whether Elma had not already fallen into his hands. The
uncertainty of her fate held me in terrible suspense. I
(22:14):
merely wish to impress upon you the fact that I
have not the slightest interest whatever in the person in question,
he said coldly. You seem to have formed some romantic
attachment towards this young woman who attempted to poison Madame Kuroff,
and to have succeeded in rescuing her from Kajana. You
afterwards disregard the fact that you are liabled to a
(22:36):
long term of imprisonment yourself, and actually have the audacity
to seek audience of me and make all sorts of
hints and suggestions that I have held the woman a
prisoner for my own ends. Not only do I repeat that,
Baron Oberg, I said quickly, but I also allege that
it was at your instigation that in Siena on operation
(22:57):
was performed upon the unfortunate girl, which deprived her of
speech and hearing at my instigation, Yes, at yours. He
laughed again, but uneasily, a forced laugh, and leaned against
the edge of the big writing table near the window. Well,
what next, he inquired, pretending to be interested in my allegations.
(23:19):
What do you want of me? I desire you to
give the mademoiselle Heath her complete freedom, I said. Is
that all all for the present, But her future is
not in my hands. The minister in Petersburg has degreed
her removal to Saghalien as a person dangerous to the state,
which means that she will be ill treated now to
(23:42):
to death. Perhaps we do not use the nube in
the Russian prisons nowadays, he said briefly. His majesty has
decreed its abolition, But you adopt torture in Kajana and
Schusselberg instead. My time is too limited to discuss our
penal system, mesieur, he exclaimed impatiently. While I could well
see that he was anxious to escape. Before I made
(24:05):
any further charges against him, I had already shown him
that Alma had spoken, and he feared that she had
told the truth. While this would embitter him against her
and cause him to seek to silence her at all hazards,
it was, of course in my own interest that he
should fear any revelations that I might make. You have
posed in England as the uncle of Elma Heath, and
(24:28):
yet you hold her prisoner for what reason? I demanded?
She is held prisoner by the state for conspiracy against
Russian rule, not by herself personally who enticed her here?
Why you yourself, who conspired to throw the guilt of
this attempted murder of the general's wife upon her? You,
you the man whom they call the strangler of Finland.
(24:51):
But I will avenge the cruel and abominable affliction you
have placed upon her. Her secret, your secret, Baron Oberg,
shall be published to world. You are her enemy, and
therefore mine very well. He growled between his teeth, advancing
towards me threateningly, his fist clenched and raged. Recollect, monsieur,
(25:12):
that you have insulted me. Recollect that I am Governor
General of Finland. If you were Czar himself, I should
not hesitate to denounce you as the tyrant and mutilator
of a poor, defenseless woman. And to whom, pray, will
you tell this romantic story of yours, he laughed hoarsely,
to your prison walls below the lake a kajana. Yes,
(25:34):
Monsieur Gregg, you will go there, and once within the
fortress you shall never again see the light of day.
You threaten me, the Governor General of Finland, he laughed
in a strange, high pitched key, as he threw himself
into a chair and scribbled something rapidly upon paper, appending
his signature in his small, crabbed handwriting. I do not threaten,
(25:57):
I said, in open defliance. I shall act, and so
shall I. He said, with an evil grin upon his
bony face, as he blought it what he had written
and took it up, adding, in the darkness and silence
of your living tomb, you can tell whatever strange stories
you like concerning me. They are used to idiots. Where
(26:17):
you are going, he added, grimly. Oh, and where am
I going back to Kajana? This order consigns you to
confinement there as a dangerous political conspiracor as one who
has threatened me. It consigns you to the cells below
the lake for life. I laughed aloud, and my hand
(26:37):
sought my wallet. Wherein was that all powerful document, the
order of the Emperor, which gave me, as an imperial
guest immunity from arrest. I would produce it as my
trump card. Next second, however, I held my breath, and
I think I must have turned pale. My pocket was empty,
my wallet had been stolen. In entirely and helplessly, I
(27:01):
had fallen into the hands of the tyrant of the Tsar,
his own personal interests would be to consign me to
a living tomb in that grim fortress of Kajana, the
horrors of which were unspeakable. I had seen enough during
my inspection of the Russian prisons as a journalist to
know that there, in strangled Finland I should not be
(27:23):
treated with the same consideration or humanity as in Petersburg
or Warsaw. The Governor General consigned me to Kajana as
a political which was synonymous with the sentence of death.
In those damp, dark oubliettes beneath the water, dungeons every
whit as awful as those of the Paris Bastille. We
(27:44):
faced each other, and I looked straight into his gray,
bony face and answered, in a tone of defiance. You
are governor general. It is true, but you will, I think,
reflect before you consign me an Englishman to prison with us.
I know full well that the English are hated by Russia.
Yet I assure you that in London we entertain no
(28:08):
love for your nation or its methods. Yes, he laughed,
You are quite right. Russia has no use for anfeat
ally such as England is. If feet or powerful, my
country is still able to present an ultimatum when diplomacy
requires it, I said. Therefore, I have no fear send
(28:28):
me to prison, and I tell you that the responsibility
rests upon yourself. And folding my arms, I kept my
eyes intently upon his, so that he should not see
that I wavered. As for the responsibility, I certainly do
not fear that, monsieur, he said, but that exposure that
will result. Are you prepared to face that? I asked,
(28:50):
Perhaps you are not aware that others besides myself. One other, indeed,
who is a diplomatist, is aware of my journey here.
If I do not reach turn, your Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Petersburg will be pressed for reason which they
will not give. Then, if they do not, the truth
will be out. I said, laughing harshly, for I saw
(29:12):
how determined he had become to hold me prisoner. Come
call up your mormidawn and send me to Kajana. It
will be the first step towards your own downfall. We
shall see. He growled. Ah, you surely do not think
that I, after ten years service in the British Diplomatic Service,
would dare to come to Finland upon this quest, would
(29:33):
dare to face the rotten and corrupt official dumb which
Russia has placed within this country without first taking some
adequate precaution. No baron. Therefore, I defy you, and I
leave helsingfors to night. You will not. You are under arrest.
I laughed heartily and snapped my fingers, saying, before you
give me over to your police, first telegraph to your
(29:56):
Minister of Finance, Monsieur de Witt, an inquirer of him?
Who and what I am, I don't understand you. You
have merely to send my name and description to the
minister and ask for a reply, I said, he will
give you instructions, or if you so desire, ask his
Majesty yourself. And why, pray, does his Majesty concern himself
(30:19):
about you, he asked, at once puzzled. You will learn
later after I am confined in Kajana and your secret
is known in Petersburg. What do you mean I mean?
I said, I mean that I have taken all the
necessary steps to be forearmed against you. The day I
am incarcerated by your order, the whole truth will be known.
(30:43):
I shall not be the sufferer, but you will. My
words purposely Enigmato misled him. He saw the drift of
my argument, and, being of course unaware of how much
I knew, he was still in fear of me. My
only uncertainty was of the actual fate of poor Elma.
My wallet had been stolen with a purpose, without a doubt,
(31:06):
for the thief had deprived me of that most important
of all documents, the open sesame to every closed door,
the u keys of the Czar. You defy me, he said, hoarsely,
turning back to the window with a written order for
my imprisonment as a political still in his hand. But
we shall see you rule Finland, I said, in a
(31:28):
hard tone. But you have no power over Gordon Gray.
I have power and intend to exert it for your
own ruin, I remarked, with a self confident smile. You
may give your torturer's orders to kill me, orders that
a fatal accident shall occur within the fortress. But I
tell you, frankly, that my death will neither erase nor
(31:51):
conceal your own offenses. There are others away in England
who are aware of them, and who will, in order
to avenge my death, speak the truth. Remember that although
Elma Heath has been deprived of both hearing and of speech,
she can still write down the true facts in black
(32:11):
and white. The Tsar may be your patron and you
his favorite, but his Majesty has no tolerance of officials
who are guilty of what you are guilty of. You
talk of arresting me, I added, with a smile, Why
you ought rather to go on your knees and beg
my silence? He went white with rage at my cutting sarcasm.
(32:33):
He literally boiled over for he saw that I was
quite cool and had no fear of him or of
the terrible punishment to which he intended to consign me,
besides which he was filled with wonder regarding the exact
amount of information which Alma had imparted to me. There
are certain persons, I went on, to whom it would
(32:55):
be of intense interest to know the true reason why
the steam yacht Lola put into Laghorn, why I was
entertained on board her, why the safe in the British
consulate was rifled, and why the unfortunate girl kept a
prisoner on board, was taken on shore just before the
hurried sailing of the vessel. And there are other mysteries
(33:18):
which the English police are trying to solve, namely the
reason Armta Santini and a man disguised as her husband
died in Scotland at the hand of an assassin. But
surely I need say no more. It is surely sufficient
to convince you that if the truth were spoken, the
revelations would be distinctly awkward. For whom he asked, opening
(33:42):
his eyes for you, come, Baron, I said, can we
not yet speak? Frankly? But he was silent for a moment,
a fact which was in itself proof that my pointed
argument had caused him to reconsider his intention of sending
me under escort back to that castle of terror. If
my journey there was in order to meet my love,
(34:05):
I would not have cared. It was the ignorance of
her whereabouts or of her fate that held me in
such deep, all consuming anxiety. Each hour that passed increased
my fond and tender affection for her. And yet what
irony of circumstance she had been cruelly snatched from me
at the very moment that freedom had been ours. I
(34:28):
think it was well that I assumed that air of
defiance with the man who had ground Finland beneath his heel.
He was unused to it. No one dared to go
against his will, or to utter taunt or threat to him.
He was paramount with all the powers of an emperor,
the power indeed of life and death. Therefore, he was
(34:49):
not in the habit of being either thwarted or criticized.
And I could see that my words had aroused within
him a boiling tumult of resentment and of rage. I
told him nothing of the loss of my wallet or
of the precious document that it had contained. My defiance
was merely upon principle. Arrest me if you like, denounce
(35:11):
me by means of any lie that arises to your lips.
But remember that the truth is known beyond the confines
of the Russian Empire, and for that reason traces will
be sought of me, and full explanation demanded. I have
taken precaution, Xavier Oberg I added, therefore, do your worst.
I repeat again that I defy you. He paced the
(35:35):
big room, his thin claw like hands still clenched, his
yellow teeth grinding, his dark, deep set eyes fixed straight
before him. If he had dared, he would have struck
me down at his feet. But he did not dare.
I saw too plainly that even though my wallet was gone,
I still held the trump card that he feared me.
(35:57):
The mention I had made of the Minister of Finance, however,
seemed to cause him considerable hesitation. That high official had
the ear of the Emperor, and if I were a friend,
there might be inquiries. As I stood before him, leaning
against a small bull table, I watched all the complex
workings of his mind and tried to read the mysterious
(36:19):
motive which had caused him to consign poor Elma to Kajana.
He was a proud bully, possessing neither pity nor remorse,
an average specimen of the high Russian official, a high
bound bureaucrat, a slave to etiquette, and possessing a veneer
of Polish. But beneath it all I saw that he
(36:39):
was a coward in deadly fear of assassination, a coward
who dreaded lest some secret should be revealed. That concealed
door in the paneling, with the armed guard lurking behind,
was sufficiently plained evidence that he was not the fearless
governor general that was popularly supposed. He the Strangler of Finland,
(37:01):
had crushed the gallant nation into submission, ruining their commerce,
sapping the country by impressing its youth into the Russian army,
forbidding the use of the Finnish language, and taxing the
people until the factories had been compelled to close down
while the peasantry starved. And now on the verge of revolt,
(37:21):
there had arisen a band of patriots who resented Ruin,
and who had already worn his majesty by letter that
if Baron Oberg were not removed from his post, he
would die. These and other thoughts ran through my mind
in the silence that followed our heated argument, For I
saw well that he was in actual fear of me.
(37:43):
I had led him to believe that I knew everything
and that his future was in my hands, while he,
on his part, was anxious to hold me prisoner and
yet dared not do so. My wallet had probably been
stolen by some lurking police spot for Russian agents abound
everywhere in Finland, reporting conspiracies that do not exist, and
(38:06):
denouncing the innocent as politicals. The baron had halted and
was looking through one of the great windows down upon
the courtyard below, where the sentries were pacing. The palace
was for him a gilded prison, for he dared not
go out for a drive in one or other of
the parks, or for a blow on the water across
(38:27):
the hug Holman or Dagario, being compelled to remain there
for months without showing himself publicly. People in a beau
had told me that when he did go out in
the streets of Helsingfors, it was at night, and he
usually disguised himself in the uniform of a private soldier
of the guard, thus escaping recognition by those who, driven
(38:48):
to desperation by injustice, sought his life. A long silence
had fallen between us, and it now occurred to me
to take advantage of his hesitation. Therefore I sat, in
a firm voice in French. I think, Baron, our interview
is at an end, is it not. Therefore I wish
you good day. He turned upon me suddenly, with an
(39:11):
evil flash in his dark eyes and a snarling imprecation
in Russian upon his lips. His hands still held the
order committing me to the fortress. But before I leave you,
you will destroy that document. It may fall into other hands,
you know. And I walked towards him with quick determination.
I shall do nothing of the kind, he snapped, without
(39:33):
further word. I snatched the paper from his thin white
fingers and tore it up before his face. His countenance
went livid. I do not think I have ever seen
a man's face assume such an expression of fiendish vindictiveness.
It was as though at that instant hell had been
let loose within his heart. But I turned upon my
(39:55):
heel and went out, passing the sentries in the anteroom,
along the flat, our filled corridors, and across the courtyard
to the main entrance, where the gorgeous concerge saluted me
as I stepped forth into the square. I had escaped
by means of my own diplomacy and firmness. The csar's representative,
the man who ruled that country, feared me, and for
(40:18):
that reason did not hold me prisoner. Yet, when I
recalled that evil look of revenge on my departure, I
could not help certain feelings of grave apprehension arising within me.
Returning to my hotel, I smoked a cigar in my
room and pondered where was Elma was the chief question
which arose within my mind. By remaining in helsingfors, I
(40:41):
could achieve nothing further now that I had made the
acquaintance of the oppressor. Whereas if I returned to a Beau,
I might perchance be able to obtain some clue to
my love's whereabouts. I called her my love because I
both pitied and loved the poor afflicted girl who was
so helpless and defenseless. Therefore, I took the midnight train
(41:04):
back to a Bow, arriving at the hotel next morning,
After an hour's rest, I set out anxiously in search
of Felix, the Drosky driver. I found him in his
log built house in the Ludnow quarter, and when he
asked me in, I saw from his face that he
had news to impart. Well, I inquired, and what of
the lady? Has she been found? Ah, your excellency, it
(41:27):
is a pity you were not here yesterday, he said,
with a sigh. Why tell me quickly what has happened.
I have been assisting the police's spy, excellency, as I
often do, and I have seen her, seen her where,
I cried in quick anxiety. Here in the bow. She
arrived yesterday morning from Tamerfores, accompanied by an Englishman. She
(41:49):
had changed her dress and was all in black. They
lunched together at the restaurant de Nour opposite the landing stage,
and an hour later left by steamer for Petersburg. An englishmen,
I cried, did you not inform the chief of police Boransky? Yes,
your excellency, but he said that their passports being in order,
it was better to allow the lady to proceed. To
(42:12):
delay her might mean her rearrest in Finland. He added,
than their passports were besaved here On embarking, I exclaimed,
what was the name? Upon that of the Englishman? I
have written it down, excellency, I cannot pronounce your difficult
English names. And he produced a scrap of dirty paper,
whereon was written in a Russian hand the name Martin Woodruff.
(42:36):
End of Chapter twelve. Recording by Tom Weiss,
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