Ivan the Terrible. He was said to be the living image of the dead
Tsar, save that he was swarthy and black-haired, like the dowager
Tsarina, and there were two warts on his face, such as it was
remembered had disfigured the countenance of the boy Demetrius.

Thus Basmanov, adding that he had dispatched a messenger into
Lithuania to obtain more precise confirmation of the story. That
messenger--chosen in consequence of something else that Basmanov
had been told--was Smirnoy Otrepiev.

The Tsar Boris sat back in his chair, his eyes on the gem
encrusted goblet, the stem of which his fingers were mechanically
turning. There was now no vestige of the smile on his round white
face. It had grown set and thoughtful.

"Find Prince Shuiski," he said presently, "and send him to me
here."

Upon the tale the boyar had brought him he offered now no
comment.

"We will talk of this again, Basmanov," was all he said in
acknowledgment that he had heard, and in dismissal.

But when the boyar had gone, Boris Godunov heaved himself to his
feet, and strode over to the fire, his great head sunk between
his massive shoulders. He was a short, thick-set, bow-legged man,
inclining to corpulence. He set a foot, shod in red leather
reversed with ermine, upon an andiron, and, leaning an elbow on
the carved overmantel, rested his brow against his hand. His eyes