'I will tell you that, and your own hurt, in one word. I know what you were thinking of as I came in. Revenge is a fine thing, Prince

Vassili Shuiski: is it not so?'

6

'He must be a spy, sent by the impostor to try me,' thought Shuiski again. Very cunning trick, but I will be even with him.'

'You may be something of a doctor, but you are no sorcerer, you scamp! I was thinking when you came in what sort of a woman this Polish bride of our young Tsar will be.'

'You are lying!' said the monk coolly, 'because you are afraid I am a spy of the Tsar. Listen! Look at me, Prince, and you will think so no longer. Did I not say, revenge is sweet? Well, we both want it-I more than you, perhaps. Do you know me yet, or must I tell you who I am? I am Gregory Otrépieff. We saw each other at Uglitch, twelve years ago.'

'Otrépieff!' cried Shuiski, with a start that made his shoulders ache again; 'why, fool that I am, of course! Yet I might be forgiven if I forgot you; twelve years have left their mark on you. Well, you renegade scoundrel, fine work have made here! They say you were

you

this impostor's right hand; and they say, too, he has cut you off and cast you away-ah, there's the sting! I see it in your face.'

'Ay,' said Otrépieff, without emotion, it is So. He thought, poor young fool, he could kick away the ladder by which he had mounted. Well, Prince, you see now I am no spy. Do you understand me yet? I come to cure you.'

Why, no doubt we have all heard fine stories of your deeds on behalf of this scoundrel, my good Otrépieff. They say-he said himself—you had put him on the throne; but as to getting him off again, who are you? What can you do?'

'I'm the only man in Russia who can undo my own work.'

Shuiski laughed derisively. You don't like being pushed contemptuously away, I suppose; but you know the proverb, "The runaway monk blackguards his own convent."

'You think I'm bragging,' said Otrépieff. Well, it's not easy. But think, who knows the Tsar as well as I do-I who pulled him out of a fire at ten years old, and have been a father to him ever since?'

Shuiski laughed again. 'It's a wise father that

Q

knows his own child. You didn't know, did you, your adopted son would play you such a dirty trick as this?'

'No,' said the monk quietly, 'I did not; but let that pass. Shall I prove to you that you cannot do without me?'

'Yes, by all means.'

'If I tell you the one thing you must do to overturn him, if I tell you the way to do it, and show you how to do it-nay, do it myself-will you believe me?'

6

'Perhaps.'

Then,' said Otrépieff, 'listen: There must arise another impostor. You did not think of that, you boyars, cunning as you are; yet that is the only way.'

'How will that do any good? We shall only have two impostors instead of one.'

Otrépieff smiled scornfully. 'I told you, you needed me. You do not know the people; I do. If there should arise a new impostor, they will begin to doubt about this first one. Now, do you see?

Shuiski uttered an ejaculation.

By

Otrépieff, you are the devil! Another impostor!

what an idea!

A new claimant !

Yes, you

must be the devil himself. But where are we

to find him?'

'Leave that to me,' said the monk. 'Only, let a month from to-day go by before you attempt any new schemes. And in the meantime you must change your attitude. Do not oppose anything the Tsar may do that tramples on old customs and observances. Rather try and incite him to violate national prejudices in every possible way; the end will come all the sooner. Do you see?'

6

I

Otrépieff,' said Shuiski, 'you are a miracle. You are right; we are all babies compared with you. We needed you-needed you badly. tell you, when the impostor has fallen, I will not forget you.'

6

'I know what you are thinking of,' answered Otrépieff, with a peculiar smile; you mean to be Tsar yourself. Advice is always thrown away, but I warn you, do not think of it; if so, you will come to a bad end. As for me, I shall not need your rewards by then. I want no rewards; I work for my own hand, and for no one else.

Remember, wait for a month. Before it is

over you shall hear strange news.'

He turned and went out.

LVI

The days flew by. March was dying, but it was icy cold at Moscow. The snow lay deep upon the ground.

The council broke up.

In three months,

then, we shall be all ready, and then, woe to the Tartars!' exclaimed Dmitri. 'But practice, my lords, practice is what we want now. I hope you are all coming out to Viazema this morning, gentlemen, to see our sham fight. Those who find themselves too old to brave the deadly snowballs will find plenty of sport in looking on. We begin at two.'

'Three months hence,' muttered Shuiski under his breath, as the Tsar left the room, 'the Tartars will trouble you no more.'

Over the white snow the gay sledges flew along, the bells tinkling, the whips cracking,