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〃Yes； yes； and I justified Gay in such a manner；〃 said the Colonel； 〃but Rezukhin； who has just arrived today； has brought letters of Gay's to the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit。 By order of Baron Ungern； Gay and his family have today been sent to the headquarters of Rezukhin and I fear that they will not reach this destination。〃
〃Why？〃 I asked。
〃They will be executed on the road！〃 answered Colonel Kazagrandi。
〃What are we to do？〃 I responded。 〃Gay cannot be a Bolshevik； 〃because he is too well educated and too clever for it。〃
〃I don't know； I don't know！〃 murmured the Colonel with a despondent gesture。 〃Try to speak with Rezukhin。〃
I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel Philipoff entered and began talking about the errors being made in the training of the soldiers。 When I had donned my coat； another man came in。 He was a small sized officer with an old green Cossack cap with a visor； a torn grey Mongol overcoat and with his right hand in a black sling tied around his neck。 It was General Rezukhin； to whom I was at once introduced。 During the conversation the General very politely and very skilfully inquired about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the last three years； joking and laughing with discretion and modesty。 When he soon took his leave； I availed myself of the chance and went out with him。
He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards； in his quiet voice； said：
〃Dr。 Gay is the agent of the Soviets； disguised as a White in order the better to see； hear and know everything。 We are surrounded by our enemies。 The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake any treachery for money。 Such is Gay。 Anyway； what is the use of discussing him further？ He and his family are no longer alive。 Today my men cut them to pieces five kilometres from here。〃
In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small； dapper man with such soft voice and courteous manners。 In his eyes I read such hate and tenacity that I understood at once the trembling respect of all the officers whom I had seen in his presence。 Afterwards in Urga I learned more of this General Rezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and boundless cruelty。 He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern； ready to throw himself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone his master might indicate。
Only four days then had elapsed before 〃my acquaintances〃 died 〃by a long knife；〃 so that one part of the prediction had been thus fulfilled。 And now I have to await Death's threat to me。 The delay was not long。 Only two days later the Chief of the Asiatic Division of Cavalry arrivedBaron Ungern von Sternberg。
CHAPTER XXXIII
〃DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU〃
〃The terrible general； the Baron；〃 arrived quite unexpectedly； unnoticed by the outposts of Colonel Kazagrandi。 After a talk with Kazagrandi the Baron invited Colonel N。 N。 Philipoff and me into his presence。 Colonel Kazagrandi brought the word to me。 I wanted to go at once but was detained about half an hour by the Colonel； who then sped me with the words：
〃Now God help you！ Go！〃
It was a strange parting message； not reassuring and quite enigmatical。 I took my Mauser and also hid in the cuff of my coat my cyanide of potassium。 The Baron was quartered in the yurta of the military doctor。 When I entered the court； Captain Veseloffsky came up to me。 He had a Cossack sword and a revolver without its holster beneath his girdle。 He went into the yurta to report my arrival。
〃Come in；〃 he said； as he emerged from the tent。
At the entrance my eyes were struck with the sight of a pool of blood that had not yet had time to drain down into the groundan ominous greeting that seemed to carry the very voice of one just gone before me。 I knocked。
〃Come in！〃 was the answer in a high tenor。 As I passed the threshold； a figure in a red silk Mongolian coat rushed at me with the spring of a tiger； grabbed and shook my hand as though in flight across my path and then fell prone on the bed at the side of the tent。
〃Tell me who you are！ Hereabouts are many spies and agitators；〃 he cried out in an hysterical voice； as he fixed his eyes upon me。 In one moment I perceived his appearance and psychology。 A small head on wide shoulders； blonde hair in disorder； a reddish bristling moustache； a skinny； exhausted face； like those on the old Byzantine ikons。 Then everything else faded from view save a big； protruding forehead overhanging steely sharp eyes。 These eyes were fixed upon me like those of an animal from a cave。 My observations lasted for but a flash but I understood that before me was a very dangerous man ready for an instant spring into irrevocable action。 Though the danger was evident； I felt the deepest offence。
〃Sit down；〃 he snapped out in a hissing voice； as he pointed to a chair and impatiently pulled at his moustache。 I felt my anger rising through my whole body and I said to him without taking the chair：
〃You have allowed yourself to offend me； Baron。 My name is well enough known so that you cannot thus indulge yourself in such epithets。 You can do with me as you wish； because force is on your side； but you cannot compel me to speak with one who gives me offence。〃
At these words of mine he swung his feet down off the bed and with evident astonishment began to survey me； holding his breath and pulling still at his moustache。 Retaining my exterior calmness； I began to glance indifferently around the yurta； and only then I noticed General Rezukhin。 I bowed to him and received his silent acknowledgment。 After that I swung my glance back to the Baron； who sat with bowed head and closed eyes； from time to time rubbing his brow and mumbling to himself。
Suddenly he stood up and sharply said； looking past and over me：
〃Go out！ There is no need of more。 。 。 。〃
I swung round and saw Captain Veseloffsky with his white； cold face。 I had not heard him enter。 He did a formal 〃about face〃 and passed out of the door。
〃'Death from the white man' has stood behind me；〃 I thought； 〃but has it quite left me？〃
The Baron stood thinking for some time and then began to speak in jumbled； unfinished phrases。
〃I ask your pardon。 。 。 。 You must understand there are so many traitors！ Honest men have disappeared。 I cannot trust anybody。 All names are false and assumed； documents are counterfeited。 Eyes and words deceive。 。 。 。 All is demoralized； insulted by Bolshevism。 I just ordered Colonel Philipoff cut down； he who called himself the representative of the Russian White Organization。 In the lining of his garments were found two secret Bolshevik codes。 。 。 。 When my officer flourished his sword over him； he exclaimed： 'Why do you kill me； Tavarische？' I cannot trust anybody。 。 。 。〃
He was silent and I also held my peace。
〃I beg your pardon！〃 he began anew。 〃I offended you； but I am not simply a man； I am a leader of great forces and have in my head so much care； sorrow and woe！〃
In his voice I felt there was mingled despair and sincerity。 He frankly put out his hand to me。 Again silence。 At last I answered：
〃What do you order me to do n