54 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.
"Pauloff," called the General, ringing his bell. The attendant entered, Anna looked up.
" Pauloff, bring me pen and ink."
Pauloff went to a cabinet and brought the writing mate- rials. Petronovitch wrote upon a sheet of paper, folded it and handed it to Pauloff with these words " An order for the postponement of the punishment of the rabbi Losinski ; send a messenger to the commander of the prison forth- with."
Anna covered her face with her hands and wept tears of joy.
" Will you read the order, madame ? " said Petrono- vitch, showing it to her.
" No, no, I trust you."
" And the messenger will inform the commander that the order for Losinski's release shall follow, you under- stand ? "
" Yes, your Excellency," the man replied, leaving the room, Petronovitch following and quietly raising the portiere to bolt the door.
" There, we are not so black as we are painted, are we ? " he said, approaching Anna, and laying his hand upon her shoulder.
" You are very merciful," she said.
Petronovitch took a seat by her side.
" And what is to be my reward for all this, and the much more I am to do for you ? "
" Eternal thanks and prayers, and the blessed conscious- ness of a great act of charity ! "
"Just so," he said, his sensual face paling with the emotion of an unholy passion. " And so you are to marry the rabbi ? "
" Yes," said Anna, permitting his near approach without a movement one way or the other, willing, poor creature, to submit to some amount of insult for those she loved.
