"You thwarted them in this.Then they concocted the scheme whereby my reputation was to be the price, instead of the count's.When Paulvitch entered my cabin he explained it to me.If I would obtain the information for them he promised to go no farther, otherwise Rokoff, who stood without, was to notify the purser that I was entertaining a man other than my husband behind the locked doors of my cabin.He was to tell every one he met on the boat, and when we landed he was to have given the whole story to the newspaper men.
"Was it not too horrible? But I happened to know something of Monsieur Paulvitch that would send him to the gallows in Russia if it were known by the police of St.Petersburg.
I dared him to carry out his plan, and then I leaned toward him and whispered a name in his ear.Like that"--and she snapped her fingers--"he flew at my throat as a madman.
He would have killed me had you not interfered.""The brutes!" muttered Tarzan.
"They are worse than that, my friend," she said.
"They are devils.I fear for you because you have gained their hatred.I wish you to be on your guard constantly.
Tell me that you will, for my sake, for I should never forgive myself should you suffer through the kindness you did me.""I do not fear them," he replied."I have survived grimmer enemies than Rokoff and Paulvitch." He saw that she knew nothing of the occurrence in the Rue Maule, nor did he mention it, fearing that it might distress her.
"For your own safety," he continued, "why do you not turn the scoundrels over to the authorities? They should make quick work of them."She hesitated for a moment before replying.
"There are two reasons," she said finally."One of them it is that keeps the count from doing that very thing.
The other, my real reason for fearing to expose them, I have never told--only Rokoff and I know it.I wonder," and then she paused, looking intently at him for a long time.
"And what do you wonder?" he asked, smiling.
"I was wondering why it is that I want to tell you the thing that I have not dared tell even to my husband.
I believe that you would understand, and that you could tell me the right course to follow.I believe that you would not judge me too harshly.""I fear that I should prove a very poor judge, madame,"Tarzan replied, "for if you had been guilty of murder Ishould say that the victim should be grateful to have met so sweet a fate.""Oh, dear, no," she expostulated; "it is not so terrible as that.
But first let me tell you the reason the count has for not prosecuting these men; then, if I can hold my courage, Ishall tell you the real reason that I dare not.The first is that Nikolas Rokoff is my brother.We are Russians.
Nikolas has been a bad man since I can remember.He was cashiered from the Russian army, in which he held a captaincy.
There was a scandal for a time, but after a while it was partially forgotten, and my father obtained a position for him in the secret service.
"There have been many terrible crimes laid at Nikolas' door, but he has always managed to escape punishment.Of late he has accomplished it by trumped-up evidence convicting his victims of treason against the czar, and the Russian police, who are always only too ready to fasten guilt of this nature upon any and all, have accepted his version and exonerated him.""Have not his attempted crimes against you and your husband forfeited whatever rights the bonds of kinship might have accorded him?" asked Tarzan."The fact that you are his sister has not deterred him from seeking to besmirch your honor.
You owe him no loyalty, madame."
"Ah, but there is that other reason.If I owe him no loyalty though he be my brother, I cannot so easily disavow the fear I hold him in because of a certain episode in my life of which he is cognizant.
"I might as well tell you all," she resumed after a pause, "for I see that it is in my heart to tell you sooner or later.
I was educated in a convent.While there I met a man whom I supposed to be a gentleman.I knew little or nothing about men and less about love.I got it into my foolish head that I loved this man, and at his urgent request I ran away with him.
We were to have been married.
"I was with him just three hours.All in the daytime and in public places--railroad stations and upon a train.