BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 39
She fell fainting into his arms, and as he laid her upon a seat and called the woman of the house, the police knocked at the door and entered.
" You are my prisoner come ! " said the first officer.
" What is my offence ? " asked Losinski.
" No words," said the officer, laying a rough hand upon him, " come ! "
Losinski was hurried before the Governor, who attacked him v/ith brutal effrontery as " a conspirator, a traitor, a cursed Jew ; " and repeating the very words of caution Losinski had used in addressing his flock : " I am cruel, am I ? I am not the weak fool your previous Governor was, eh ? No justice or charity is to be expected from me ? You denounce the faithful servant of His Imperial Majesty to your people, do you ? You would foment a rebellion, would you ? Speak, Jew, what have you to say ? "
" Arraign me before the judges in open court and let me know the charge you bring against me, and I shall know how to defend myself."
"I do arraign you now, before this Court Martial, this Council of War," said the General, waving his hand so as to indicate his staff, who bowed their hands with the submissiveness of slaves. " Do you deny the truth of what I allege ? You shall see that I am just if I am severe, as it behoves justice to be in these days of conspiracy and rebellion. Stand forth, you Judas, there ! "
He named him well the witness for he was a member of Losinski's flock a half imbecile, God-forsaken wretch, whom the police had suborned by threats and money to betray the rabbi.
" You heard the Losinski warn his flock against me, the Governor, appointed by our holy father, the Czar?"
" I did," said the witness.
" He said they might neither expect justice nor charity from me ? "
