[Illustration: “I rushed wildly up and endeavoured to stop the horrible punishment.” _A Secret Service._] [_Page 33_ ] A SECRET SERVICE BEING STRANGE TALES OF A NIHILIST BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX AUTHOR OF “_Zoraida_,” “_The Great War in England in 1897_,” “_Guilty Bonds_,” “_Stolen Souls_,” “_The Temptress_,” “_Devil’s Dice_,” _&c._ _SECOND EDITION_ London: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited Warwick House, Salisbury Square, E.C. New York and Melbourne 1896 [_All rights reserved_] PREFACE. While writing for _The Times_ a series of articles dealing with the Russian Revolutionary movement and the condition of political exiles in Siberia, I became acquainted with the original of Anton Prèhznev. Strange as his stories chronicled in these pages may appear, there are nevertheless in London at the present moment many refugees from the Tzar’s empire who could relate facts of an even more startling character. Tzaricide is unfortunately as popular in Russia as it ever was, and the so-called Nihilists have, since the accession of Nicholas II., relinquished none of their activity. There was but little genuine mourning for Alexander III., and the feigned national affliction was speedily succeeded by joyful anticipations of a new and prosperous era. But Russia has already found that her golden hopes have faded. The powerful, unscrupulous officials surrounding the young sovereign, prompted by those evil principles that made Russia under Alexander III. a blot upon European civilisation, have, by painting in lurid colours a rude and ungrateful nation whom to govern is now his thankless task, quickly succeeded in crushing any projected reforms. Thus the despairing nation continues to writhe under the oppression of corrupt officials, and those who dare lift their voices in protest are arrested and hurried without trial to far Siberia. The land is inundated with the swelling flood of the people’s sorrow as rivers in spring, abundant with water, overflow the fields, and it will always be as long as an irresponsible, cruel, and despotic autocracy holds and directs her destinies.