of Ungern's
officers came in. We were chatting animatedly when suddenly we heard the
horn of an automobile, which instantly threw the officers into silence.

"The General is passing somewhere near," one of them remarked in a
strangely altered voice.

Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long. The
clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed: "The Baron!"

He entered the door but stopped on the threshold. The lamps had not yet
been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron instantly
recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the hostess,
greeted everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of tea offered
him, drew up to the table to drink. Soon he spoke:

"I want to steal your guest," he said to the hostess and then, turning
to me, asked: "Do you want to go for a motor ride? I shall show you the
city and the environs."

Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my
revolver into it, at which the Baron laughed.

"Leave that trash behind! Here you are in safety. Besides you must
remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune will ever be
with you."

"All right," I answered, also with a laugh. "I remember very well this
prediction. Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks 'Fortune' means
for me. Maybe it is death like the rest after my hard, long trip, and I
must confess that I prefer to travel farther and am not ready to die."

We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding
great lights. The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue and
remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating ourselves.

"To the wireless station!" commanded the Baron.

We veritably leapt forward. The city swarmed, as earlier, with the
Oriental throng, but its appearance now was even more strange and
miraculous. In among the noisy crowd Mongol, Buriat and Tibetan riders
threaded swiftly; caravans of camels solemnly raised their heads as we
passed; the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed in pain; and all
was illumined by splendid great arc lights from the electric station
which Baron Ungern had ordered erected immediately after the capture
of Urga, together with a telephone system and wireless station. He also
ordered his men to clean and disinfect the city which had probably not
felt the broom since the days of Jenghiz Khan. He arranged an auto-bus
traffic between different parts of the city; built b