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CHAPTER XXVI.

THE TRAVELLERS ARE DETAINED.

OTHING could be more courteous than the reception by the Governor of the travellers. He was "sorry,"

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indeed he was "desolated," to be obliged to detain them (especially as they had made so long a detour) on account of a slight irregularity in one of their passports; which irregularity especially concerned "that gentleman." Here the Governor suddenly turned upon the unfortunate Professor, who was little able to withstand the searching looks which were directed upon him both by the Governor and the Governor's private secretary, who sat at a little table in the corner of the room. "Doubtless

that gentleman," the Governor said, "would easily explain the discrepancy when he came to talk to him alone." He, the Governor, would not trouble the young lady and her father to wait any longer. Mr. Wilson would rejoin them at the hotel. By the emphasis which the Governor laid upon the words Mr. Wilson, Ruth conjectured at once that the pretext for detaining them was a discrepancy between the name of Wilson and that of Signor Ferrari, who had been mentioned in the Paris papers as having been the Maestro under whose tuition Miss Danvers arrived at her musical pre-eminence. Ruth saw that if they were to be saved, she must interfere at once, and not allow the good Professor to undergo the cross-questioning of the Governor and his cunning-looking private secretary. She said, with a meaning smile directed at the Governor, that Mr. Wilson, her good teacher, who had condescended to finish that musical education which had been begun under Signor Ferrari, was not responsible for any error or misdescription that there might be in the pass

port in respect to his name, for that she had taken out the passport both for her father and for him, being, as she slily remarked to the Governor, from her professional career, more accustomed to business than either of them.

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The Governor, whose politeness during the interview never varied, felt himself obliged to discuss the difficulty with Ruth. It was, as she expected, this change of name for her Maestro which furnished the pretext for detention. offered her explanations to the Governor, which were apparently well received. No doubt, he said, her explanation was satisfactory; but duty compelled him to make further inquiries; and, as he said, he was not entirely his own master in this case, as the matter, he believed, had already been placed in the hands of the high police at St. Petersburg. Everything that could be done, should be done, to remedy this little error, and to enable them to prosecute their journey without further interruption. Meanwhile, perhaps, Mademoiselle Danvers would have the kindness to favour the town, over which

he had the honour to preside, with an exhibition of her musical skill, which, he was pleased to say, enjoyed a European reputation.

Ruth saw at once that difficulties were thickening around her, and that if they were to be surmounted, she must now take a bold step. She was not altogether so much disconcerted by this contre-temps as might have been expected. She had often rehearsed in imagination the various parts which she might have to play in this difficult enterprise; and this was one of them.

Nothing would afford her greater pleasure, she said, than to give a public representation, especially on a day which was so dear to all good Russians (the Governor had mentioned that the succeeding day was the Emperor's fête day); but, as Ruth added, her contract with the St. Petersburg manager was very strict, and would not, she thought, allow her to appear publicly on any stage except the great theatre of St. Petersburg.

The Governor thought that if he could see this contract, it was probable that he might find

a way of satisfying the St. Petersburg manager, and yet allowing the public of his distinguished town to have an opportunity of hearing the accents of so great a singer.

Ruth thought not; and, at any rate, she said, she could not have the advantage of his Excellency's inspection of the contract, as it had been deposited with her lawyers in London. At this moment she noticed the meaning looks which passed between the Governor and his sly-looking private secretary. But if, she added (for she now saw that the worst must be encountered), any other means could be devised by which she could. gratify his Excellency and the principal persons of by giving them a specimen of her poor musical powers, which her friends of the press in Paris and in London had greatly overrated, nothing would give her greater pleasure.

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The Governor, a vain man, saw at once an opportunity of giving a great musical party, of making himself very popular in the town, and of adding an unusual honour to the celebration of the Emperor's fête day.

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