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Updated: June 9, 2025
When Prince Mastowix returned to his room from ordering the guard to pursue and recapture William Barnwell, the first thing he did was to seek for the paper he had left upon his table when the alarm of escape rang out so startlingly in the courtyard, the very paper that the young American had placed in his hands only a few moments before, and which Tobasco, the secret spy of the government, had secured during the confusion incidental to Barnwell's escape, and in which he had acted a friendly part.
"I was not aware of it, sir." "But it is a fact, nevertheless." "I am sorry to know that. But I am a stranger here." "I observe that you are not a Russian." "No, I am an American just discharged from Siberia." "Siberia!" exclaimed the man, starting. "Yes; I agreed to deliver a letter, of which I knew nothing, to Prince Mastowix, from Paul Zobriskie, of New York." "Paul Zobriskie?" "Yes.
Mastowix was ambitious; he even had the hardihood to look to the extinction of the royal family at the hands of this powerful order, and trusted to chance to place himself high in power, if not on the very throne of a new dynasty. And he was of great service to the Nihilists, for he could keep them well posted continually.
Petersburg, Barnwell was driven to a good hotel, intending while there to finish his visit and deliver the letters meantime, that, however, being only of a slight consideration; for, although he understood that it was a message of importance, it, so far as he was concerned, was only a slight, friendly obligation in the delivering of it to Prince Mastowix, after which he would be free to do as he liked.
In those Nihilistic days such a proceeding as that would never do, and after further consultation with the prince, the detectives and officers were ordered to search the stranger for concealed weapons. "No, sir, I refuse," said Barnwell. "I am a simple American citizen, with a message for Prince Mastowix, and if that is not sufficient I will retire."
"Paul Zobriskie is the greatest terror that Russian tyranny knows. He is a bugbear; but why should he be in correspondence with Prince Mastowix?" "I know nothing about it." "There is a mystery somewhere," mused the man. "If there is, I know nothing about it." "Were I at liberty, I would take pains to find out what this mystery is." "But how can they hold me?"
If what you say of yourself is true, why did you not appeal to the American Minister at St. Petersburg?" "I was not permitted to do so, sir, but was thrown into a dungeon." "Did you know Zobriskie was a Nihilist?" "I did not. He accosted me when on the eve of sailing, and asked me as a favor to hand the letter to Prince Mastowix. I did so without suspecting that I was in any danger."
"Mastowix!" exclaimed Batavsky, and this time he tottered to his feet. He was trembling violently, and his eyes, before half closed, were now wide open and glaring at Barnwell strangely. "Prince Mastowix, did you say?" "Yes, sir; the governor of the Bastile." "Executed, did you say?" "Yes, sir." "Heaven be praised!" cried the old man, falling heavily upon his couch.
"This hope of revenge on Mastowix has buoyed me up during all these years; but now that I find that you have been the innocent cause of bringing retribution upon him, I feel that my life's object, my object for living, no longer exists, and a relapse from that high excitement is coming on, and I may die at any moment; but, thank goodness, perfectly sane." "Oh, do not talk so, please.
In the fortress-like Bastile over which Prince Mastowix held sway, he had charge of this fearful secret record; but the better to blot his existence out, should inquiries ever be made, he applied a false name to the "No. 20"; described him as a Russian, a Nihilist, who had been caught in holding correspondence with Paul Zobriskie, and who had also assaulted Prince Mastowix.
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