" But we are of another race. Our traditions, our religion,
are different; *' and for some time the Prince continued to con-
verse as became the conservative philosopher he had the rep-
utation of being. A chill, almost a gloom, had fallen upon
all present. Isidore gave an almost perceptible shiver, as if
touched by the bitter blasts of Siberia. Henry Harris was
sorry he had alluded to the matter, and soon after with-
lirew.
But it was not of political matters he thought as he
mounted his tarantass and was driven to his hotel ^' I had
not imagined," he said to himself, " that she could seem so
lovely ! And what did Prince Kalitzoff mean by his linger-
ing glances at her ? He is still young and of a passionate
temperament. A Russian is either utter master or utter



THE DEPTHS, 301

slave. Under a mere varnish of politeness Kalitzoff is, at
best, a semi-civilized savage, a Tartar, and I must be on my
guard. Snppose lie should dare ? "



CHAPTER LVm.
THE DEPTHS.
One evening the young American summoned his man
Toffski into a room in which Lord Conyngham and himself
were busy preparing themselves for a midnight expedition
into the deepest depths of St. Petersburg. The moujik
was, as has been said, an undersized and very thickset man.
