"Now there is no one living who can say that Riekje's child is not my child." "Hey! Dolf," voices called to him from the quay. He recognized those who had seen him bring Jacques Karnavash to the bank. Their rude hearts had trembled for him like women's hearts; they had clung to him and said: "Dolf, you are worth all of us put together." Suddenly he had fallen on the pavement, but they had carried him near the kitchen fire of an inn, had revived him with gin and looked after him until he felt strong enough to run back to his beloved Riekje. "Dolf," they now cried. And when Dolf turned, the old boatman clasped him in his arms and said: "My dear son, I love you as if you were my own flesh and blood." The others pressed his hand heartily, saying: "Dolf, we shall at least have known one really brave fellow before we die." "As for me, comrades," said Dolf, laughing, "I shall not die before I drink a glass with you to the health of the fine little chap Riekje gave me the other night." IN LOVE WITH THE CZARINA BY MAURICE JOKAI From "In Love with the Czarina and other Stories." Translated by Louis Felbermann. Published by Frederick Warne & Co. In the time of the Czar Peter III. a secret society existed at St. Petersburg which bore the title of "The Nameless." Its members used to assemble in the house of a Russian nobleman, Jelagin by name, who alone knew the personality of each visitor, they being, for the most part, unknown to one another. Distinguished men, princes, ladies of the court, officers of the Guard, Cossack soldiers, young commercial men, musicians, street-singers, actors and actresses, scientific men, clergymen and statesmen, used to meet here. Beauty and talent were alone qualifications for entry into the Society, the members of which were selected by Jelagin. Every one addressed the other as "thee" and "thou," and they only made use of Christian names such as Anne, Alexandra. Katharine, Olga, Peter, Alexis, and Ivan. And for what purpose did they assemble here? To amuse themselves at their ease. Those who, by the prejudices of caste and rank, were utterly severed, and who occupied the mutual position of master and slave, tore the chains of their barriers asunder, and all met here. It is quite possible that he with whom the grenadier-private is now playing chess is the very same general who might order him a hundred lashes to-morrow, should he take a step on parade without his command! And now he contends with him to make a queen out of a pawn!