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diff --git a/old/67546-0.txt b/old/67546-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a0b5e4b..0000000 --- a/old/67546-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12538 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of In the Name of a Woman, by Arthur W. -Marchmont - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: In the Name of a Woman - A Romance - -Author: Arthur W. Marchmont - -Illustrator: D. Murray Smith - -Release Date: March 2, 2022 [eBook #67546] - -Language: English - -Produced by: D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE NAME OF A WOMAN *** - - - - - - IN THE NAME OF - A WOMAN - - - - -[Illustration: “SHE FIRED TWO SHOTS IN RAPID SUCCESSION.”--_Page 19._] - - - - - _IN THE NAME OF - A WOMAN_ - - _A Romance_ - - _By_ - _A. W. MARCHMONT_ - - _Author of_ - _“By Right of Sword,” “A Dash - for a Throne,” etc._ - - _Illustrated by - D. MURRAY SMITH_ - - _Third Edition._ - - [Illustration] - - _NEW YORK_ - _Frederick A. Stokes Company - Publishers_ - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY - ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. A NIGHT ADVENTURE IN SOFIA 1 - - II. “NOW YOU WILL HAVE TO JOIN US” 11 - - III. THE PRINCESS CHRISTINA 21 - - IV. “THE WEB IS WIDE, THE MESHES HARD TO BREAK” 32 - - V. “SPERNOW” 43 - - VI. THE DUEL AND AFTER 54 - - VII. AT THE BALL 67 - - VIII. AT THE PALACE 79 - - IX. “I HAVE UNBOUNDED FAITH IN YOU” 90 - - X. “IN THE NAME OF A WOMAN” 101 - - XI. BETRAYED 112 - - XII. THE SPY 123 - - XIII. FACE TO FACE 135 - - XIV. THE COUNTESS’S RUSE 148 - - XV. A HOPELESS OUTLOOK 161 - - XVI. “IF I WERE A WOMAN” 171 - - XVII. A DASTARDLY SCHEME 183 - - XVIII. THE FIGHT 194 - - XIX. MY ARREST 202 - - XX. A WARNING 214 - - XXI. FIGHT OR FLIGHT 226 - - XXII. THE HOUR OF INDECISION 236 - - XXIII. IN FULL CRY 247 - - XXIV. THE ATTACK 257 - - XXV. SUSPENSE 267 - - XXVI. A FORLORN HOPE 280 - - XXVII. A FRIEND IN NEED 291 - - XXVIII. A FEARSOME DILEMMA 303 - - XXIX. GENERAL KOLFORT TO THE RESCUE 313 - - XXX. THE PUSH FOR THE FRONTIER 323 - - XXXI. THE RUINED HUT 335 - - XXXII. “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN” 352 - - XXXIII. THE END 358 - - - - -IN THE NAME OF A WOMAN - - - - -CHAPTER I - -A NIGHT ADVENTURE IN SOFIA - - -“Help!” - -The cry, faint but strenuous, in a woman’s voice, rang out on the heavy -hot night air, and told me that one of those abominable deeds that -were so rife in the lawless Bulgarian capital was in progress, and I -hastened forward in angry perplexity trying to locate the sound. - -I knew what it meant. I had been strolling late through the hot, close -streets between the Park and the Cathedral, when a woman closely hooded -had hurried past me, dogged by a couple of skulking, scuttling spies, -and I had turned to follow them. Across the broad Cathedral Square I -had lost sight of them, and, taking at random one of the streets on the -opposite side of the square, I was walking and listening for some sound -to guide me in their direction. - -“Help!” came the cry again, this time close to me from behind a pair -of large wooden gates, one of which stood ajar. I pushed it open and -crossed the courtyard before a large house, loosening as I ran the -blade of the sword-stick I carried. The house was in darkness in the -front, and as I dashed round to the back the cry was uttered for the -third time, while I caught the sounds of struggling. - -There was a light in one of the lower rooms, the long casement window -of which stood partly open, and the beams came straggling in a thin -line between some nearly closed curtains. With a spring I caught the -ledge, and, drawing up my head level with the window, looked in. - -What I saw told me that my worst fears were being realised. The woman -who had passed me in the street was struggling with frantic effort -to hold the door of the room against someone who was fighting to -get in. Her cloak was off, and her head and face uncovered. She was -a tall, lithe, strenuous creature, obviously of great strength and -determination, and the whiteness of the face, now set and resolute, was -thrown up into the strongest contrast by a mass of bright red hair, -some of which the fierceness of the struggle had loosened. She was -striving and straining with enormous energy, despite the fact that she -was bleeding badly from a wound somewhere in the shoulder or upper arm. - -As I glanced in, she turned her head in my direction with the look -of a tigress at bay; and I guessed that she was calculating the -possibilities of escape by means of the window. But the momentary -relaxation of her resistance gave the men a better chance, and, to my -horror, I saw one of them get his arm in and slash and thrust at her -with his knife. - -She answered with a greater effort of her own, however, and succeeded -in jamming the man’s arm between the door and the lintel, making him -cry out with an oath that reached me. - -But so unequal a struggle could only end in one way, and that very -speedily unless I intervened; so I scrambled on to the window ledge, -and with a cry leapt into the room. At the noise of my appearance, -mistaking me no doubt for a third ruffian come to attack her, the -woman’s courage gave out; she uttered a cry of despair and rushed away -to a corner of the room. She released the door so suddenly that the two -men came staggering and blundering into the room, almost falling, and I -recognised them as the two rascals I had seen following her. - -“Have no fear, madame; I am here to help you,” I said, and, before the -two ruffians had recovered from the surprise of my appearance, I was -upon them. One could not stop his rush till he was close to me, and, -having him at this disadvantage, I crashed my fist into his face with -a tremendous blow, knocking him down with such force that his head -fell with a heavy thud against the floor, and his dagger flew out of -his hand and spun clattering across the room almost to the feet of the -woman. - -The second was more wary, but in a trice I whipped out my sword, held -him at bay, and vowed in stern, ringing tones that I would run him -through the body if he wasn’t outside the room in a brace of seconds. -I saw him flinch. He had no stomach for this kind of fight, and he was -giving way before me when a cry from the man I had knocked down drew -our attention. - -The woman, seeing her chance, had picked up the rascal’s dagger, and -with the light of murder in her eyes, was stealing upon the fallen man. - -Instantly I sprang between her and him. - -“No, no, madame; no bloodshed!” I cried to her; and then to the men, -“Be off, while your skins are whole!” The words were not out of my lips -before the unarmed man had already reached the door in full flight, -and his companion, seeing I meant to act only on the defensive, and -recognising the uselessness of any further attack, followed him, though -less precipitately. - -“Why did you stop me killing such a brute?” cried the woman angrily, -her eyes blazing. “They both meant to murder me, and would have done it -if you had not come. They had earned death.” - -“But I did not come to play the butcher,” I answered somewhat sternly, -repelled by her indifference to bloodshed. - -“Follow them and kill them now!” she cried vindictively. “Do you hear? -Kill them before they carry the story of this rescue to their masters;” -and in her frenzy she took hold of my arm and shook it, urging me -toward the door. - -“Better see to your wound,” I returned, as I sheathed my sword. - -“Bah, you are mad! I have no patience with you!” She shrugged her -shoulders as though I were little better than a contemptible coward, -and walked to the end of the room and stood in the lamplight half -turned away from me. - -The pose revealed to me the full majestic grace of her form, while -the profile of her face, as thrown into half shadow by the rather dim -light of the room, set me wondering. It was not a beautiful face. The -features, nose and mouth especially, were too large, the cheek bones -too high, the colour too pale; but it was a face full of such power and -strength and resource that it compelled your admiration and silenced -your critical judgment. A woman to be remarked anywhere. - -But when she turned her eyes upon me a moment later, they seemed -to rivet me with an indescribable and irresistible fascination. In -striking contrast to the rich red hair and the pale skin, the eyes were -as black as night. The iris almost as dark as the pupil, the white -opalescent in its clearness, and fringed with lashes and brows of deep -brown. She caught my gaze on her, and held it with a look so intense -that I could scarcely turn away. - -Her bosom was heaving, and her breath coming and going quickly with her -exertions and excitement, and after a moment, without saying a word, -she threw herself into a low chair and hid her face in her hands. - -Who could she be? That she was a woman of station was manifest. The -richness of her dress, the appointments of the room, told this plainly, -even if her mien and carriage had not proclaimed it; and yet she seemed -alone in the house. It was a position of considerable embarrassment, -and for the moment I did not know what to do. - -I had no wish to be mixed up in any such intrigue as was clearly at the -bottom of this business; and though I was glad to have saved her life, -I was anxious to be gone before any further developments should involve -me in unpleasant consequences. - -There was no more dangerous hornet’s nest of intrigue and conspiracy -than Sofia to be found in Europe at that time, and the secret mission -which had brought me to the city about a fortnight before was more than -enough to tax all my energies and power, without any such additional -complication as this adventure seemed to promise. My object was to -get to the bottom of the secret machinations by which Russia was -endeavouring to close her grip of iron on the throne and country of -Bulgaria, and, if possible, thwart them; and I had been trying and -testing by every secret means at my command to find a path that would -lead me to my end. It must be a delicate and dangerous task enough -under the best auspices, but if I were to be embarrassed now by the -coils of any private vengeance feud, I ran a good chance of being -baffled completely. - -Even before this night the difficulties in my way had appeared as -hopeless as the perils were inevitable; and I had felt as a man might -feel who had resolved to stay the progress of a railway train by laying -his head on the metals. But if this affair were as deadly as it seemed, -I might find my head struck off before even the train came in sight. - -Yet to leave such a woman in this helpless plight was the act of a -coward, and not to be thought of for a moment; and I stood looking at -her in sheer perplexity and indecision. - -She lay back in her seat for some minutes, making no attempt to call -assistance, not even taking her hands from her face, and paying no heed -whatever to her wound, the blood from which had stained her dress. - -I roused myself at length, and, feeling the sheer necessity of doing -something, went to the door and called loudly for the servants. - -“It is useless to call; there is no one in the house,” she said, her -voice now trembling slightly; and with a deep sigh she rose from her -chair, and after a moment’s pause crossed the room to me. She fixed her -eyes upon my face; her look had changed from that of the vengeful Fury -who had repelled me with her violent recklessness of passion to one of -ineffable sweetness, tenderness, and gratitude. Out of her eyes had -died down all the wildness, and what remained charmed and thrilled me, -until I felt myself almost constrained to throw myself at her feet in -eagerness to do whatever she bade me. - -“You will think me an ingrate, or a miser of my thanks, sir,” she said -in a tone rich and soft; “and yet, believe me, my heart is full of -gratitude.” - -“Please say no more,” I replied, with a wave of the hand; “but tell -me, can I be of any further service? Your wound--can I not get you -assistance?” - -She paid no heed to the question, but remained gazing steadfastly into -my eyes. Then her face broke into a smile that transfigured it until it -seemed to glow with a quite radiant beauty. - -“Yes, indeed, you can serve me--if you will; but not only in the -manner you think. The servants have deserted the house. I am alone -to-night--alone and quite in your power.” She lingered on the words, -paused, and then added: “But in the power of a man of honour.” - -“How can I serve you? You have but to ask.” - -“I wish I could think that,” was the quick answer, with a flash from -her eyes. “But first for this,” and she rapidly bared the wound, -revealing an arm and shoulder of surpassing beauty of form. “Can you -bind this up?” For the moment I was amazed at this complete abandonment -of all usual womanly reserve. The action was deliberate, however, and I -read it as at once a sign of her trust and confidence in me, and a test -of my honour. The hurt was not serious. The man’s blade had pierced the -soft white flesh of the shoulder, but had not penetrated deep; and I -had no difficulty in staunching the blood and binding it up. - -“It is not a serious wound,” I said reassuringly. “I am glad.” - -“That is no fault of the dastard who struck at me. It was aimed at my -heart.” - -She showed not the least embarrassment, but appeared bent on making me -feel that she trusted me as implicitly as a child. When I had bound up -the wound she resumed her dress, taking care to put the stains of blood -out of sight; and then, with a few swift, graceful movements, for all -the stiffness of the hurt, she coiled up the loose tresses of her hair. - -When she had finished she went to a cabinet, and, taking wine and -glasses, filled them. - -“You will pledge me?” and she looked the invitation. “We women are so -weak. I am beginning to feel the reaction.” - -I was putting the glass to my lips when she stopped me. - -“Stay, I wish to know to whom I owe my life?” - -So powerful was the strange influence she exerted that I was on the -point of blurting out the truth, that I was Gerald Winthrop, an -Englishman, when I steadied my scrambled wits, and, mindful of my -secret mission in the country and of the part I was playing, I replied: - -“I am the Count Benderoff, of Radova.” - -She saw the hesitation, but put it down to a momentary reluctance to -disclose my identity, for she answered: - -“You will not repent having trusted me with your name, Count.” Then, -with a flashing, subtle underglance, she added, “And do you know me?” - -“As yet, madame, I have not that honour, to my regret.” - -“Yet I am not unknown in Bulgaria,” and she raised her head with a -gesture of infinite pride. - -“I am a stranger in Sofia,” said I, in excuse of my ignorance. - -“Even strangers know of the staunch woman-friend of his Highness the -Prince. I am the Countess Anna Bokara.” - -I knew her well enough by repute, and her presence in the house alone -and defenceless was the more mystifying. - -“Permit me to wish you a speedy recovery from your wound, Countess,” -and to cover the thoughts which her words started I raised my glass. -She seemed almost to caress me with her eyes and voice as she replied: - -“I drink to my newest friend, that rare thing in this distracted -country, a man of honour, the Count Benderoff, of Radova.” As she set -her glass down she added: “My enemies have done me a splendid service, -Count--they have brought me your friendship. They could not have made -us a nobler or more timely gift. The Prince has need of such a man as -you.” - -I bowed but did not answer. - -“You are a stranger here, you say. May I ask your purpose in coming?” - -“I am in search of a career.” - -“I can promise you that,” she cried swiftly, with manifest pleasure. -“I can promise you that certainly, if you will serve his Highness as -bravely as you have served me to-night. You must not think, because -you see me here, seemingly alone and helpless, that I have lost my -influence and power in the country. My enemies have done this--Russia -through the vile agents she sends here to wound this distracted country -to the death--suborning all that is honourable, debasing all that is -pure, undermining all that is patriotic, lying, slandering, scheming, -wrecking, destroying, working all and any evil, bloodshed, and horror, -to serve the one end ever in their eyes--the subjugation of this -wretched people. My God! that such injustice should be wrought!” - -The fire and passion flamed in her face as she spoke with rapid -vehemence. - -“But it is by such men as you that this can best be thwarted--can only -be thwarted. I tell you, Count, the Prince has need of such men as you. -Pledge me now that you will join him and--and me. You have seen here -to-night the lengths to which these villains would go. Because of my -influence with the Prince, and in opposition to Russia, I have been -lured here by a lying message; lured to be murdered in cold blood, as -you saw. You saved my life; I have put my honour in your hands; you -have offered to serve me. You are a brave, true, honourable man. You -must be with us!” she cried vehemently. “Give me your word--nay, you -have given it, and I can claim it. You will not desert me. Make the -cause of truth and honour yours, and tell me that my Prince and I may -rely on you.” - -She set me on fire with her words and glances of appeal, and at the -close she laid her hands on mine, until I was thrilled by the infection -of her enthusiasm, while her eyes sought mine, and she seemed to hunger -for the words of consent for which she waited. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -“NOW YOU WILL HAVE TO JOIN US” - - -Tempting as the offer was which my strange companion made me, I could -not bring myself to accept it without time for consideration, and my -hesitation in replying irritated and seemed to anger her. - -She thrust my hands away from her with petulant quickness. - -“You are a man of strangely deliberate discretion, Count,” she said as -she turned away to the end of the room and threw herself into her chair -again, from which she regarded me with a glance half scornful, half -entreating. - -“If I do not accept at once, believe me it is from no lack of -appreciation of the honour you offer me or the charm with which it is -offered, but circumstances compel me to be deliberate.” - -“Circumstances?” she cried, with a shrug of disdain and disappointment. - -“I regret that I cannot explain them.” - -I could not, without telling her the whole reason of my presence in -Sofia; and that was of course impossible. My secret commission was from -the British Government, and the intrigue which I had to try and defeat -was designed to depose her Prince, and set on the throne in his place a -woman who would be a mere tool in the hands of Russia. - -I am half a Roumanian by birth, my father having married the Countess -of Radova, and my childhood had been spent in the Balkan peninsula. -It was on one of my visits to the estates in Radova that I had come -across the scent of this newest Russian intrigue, and as I had already -had close communications with the British Foreign Office and accepted -one or two missions of a secret character, I had volunteered for this, -believing that single-handed I could effect secretly much more than -could be done by the ordinary machinery of diplomacy. The Balkan States -were in a condition of ferment and unrest; the war between Bulgaria -and Servia had ended not long previously; Russia was keenly bent -upon rendering her influence impregnable; and as no other European -Government would interfere, our Foreign Office was loath to take open -measures. - -At such a juncture my services were readily accepted, and I had arrived -in Sofia a couple of weeks before, and was just forming my plans, when -this startling incident had occurred. - -I had stipulated for a perfectly free hand as to the course I should -pursue, and the means I should adopt to secure my end--a concession -that had been granted me with the one stipulation that if I failed -or if trouble arose through my agency our Foreign Office would be at -liberty to disown me. - -It will thus be seen how strongly I was tempted to accept the offer -which the Countess Bokara made me, and which I knew she was in a -position to carry out. But still I hesitated, unwilling to commit -myself definitely to either side prematurely, lest such open alliance -with the one side should make me a mark for the hostility of the other. - -My instincts, sympathies, English associations and wishes all prompted -me to accept the offer and throw myself heart and soul into the cause -of the Prince; but I had to walk by the cooler guidance of judgment, -and it had before been in my thoughts rather to seek an alliance with -the Russian party and find among their ranks the men and means for a -counter intrigue to thwart theirs. - -I resolved, therefore, not to pledge myself to this witching woman, -whose strange personality wielded such fascinating influence. - -Few as were the moments that sufficed for these reflections, they were -too many for my companion’s patience. - -“How came you here to-night so opportunely?” she asked, breaking the -silence suddenly. - -“You passed me on the other side of the Cathedral Square, and I then -observed you were being followed. I followed in my turn, lest you -should be in need of assistance.” - -“There are not many men in Sofia who would have dared to interfere in -such a cause. But for you I should be dead now,” she shuddered, “and -the Prince would have had one friend the less--or may I not say, two -friends?” - -“The Prince will always have a friend in me,” I returned guardedly. - -She made a movement of impatience. - -“I want no general phrases.” Then after a pause and in a different -tone, she added: “Tell me, what arguments are the strongest that I can -use with you, my friend? You said just now you were seeking a career. -Have you ambitions? If so, I can promise you a splendid fulfilment of -them. Do you wish riches? They shall be yours! Have you a heart? I -will find you as fair a bride as man’s eyes can rest upon. Have you -judgment? Aye, have you anything--except a commitment to the other -side--and I can prevail with you. Join us, and before three months are -over your head you shall be the Prince’s right hand--and mine.” The -subtle witchery of her tone in the last two words was indescribable. - -But I would not let her prevail, though her words and manner were -well-nigh dazzling enough to carry me out of myself. The magnetism of -her mere presence was overpowering. - -“You are not fair to me, Countess. A man cannot reason coldly in -the presence of such charms as you exert,” I answered, stooping to -flattery, though telling the truth. - -She shook her head and tapped her foot on the ground. - -“Say no, bluntly, if you will, but do not try to slip away with -words of cheap and empty flattery. I am not appealing to you to join -for my sake, gladly as I would welcome you, but for the sake of the -Prince, for the cause of truth, for the honour and safety of Bulgaria. -Stay----” as I was about to answer, “I have seen you act and I have -read your character. I do not make mistakes. I know you are to be -trusted. You have saved my life, at a greater risk than you may think, -for you will be a marked man now; and I will do more than put my -life in your hands--I will tell you everything. You will not reveal -it--though, Heaven knows, betrayal is the religion of most men here,” -she exclaimed bitterly. - -“I would rather you told me none of your secrets,” I said, but she -swept my protest aside with a wave of the hand. - -“You wonder why you find me here in this house alone at night. You must -wonder; I will tell you. It is my mother’s house--my own is across the -city near the Palace--and to-night her own maid came to me with an -urgent message that my mother had been stricken down suddenly and was -dying, and that I must come at once. It was a lie, of course, though -for the moment it blinded me. I hurried here on foot, too anxious even -to wait for a carriage to be got ready, and when I arrived the place -was empty. While I was wondering whether I had been betrayed, the men -you saw--to whom keys of the place had been given--entered, and would -assuredly have murdered me but for your arrival. That is how Russia -plays her cards in Bulgaria.” - -“How do you know they were Russian agents?” - -“How do I know that when I am hungry I want to eat? Wearied, I need -sleep? Bah! do you think I have no instincts, and do not know my -enemies? How do I know their plans and plots?” She fired the questions -at me with vindictive indignation and a smile of surprise that I should -even ask such a thing. Then her expression changed to one of deep -earnestness, her tone hard and bitter. - -“I will tell you how you shall know it, too. They have tried every -other means but this to separate me from my Prince. Threats at which I -laughed; bribes to be anything I pleased, which I scorned; hints of his -assassination, which I carried to him; everything--till only this was -left; and now this,” and she touched her wound lightly. “And even this, -thanks to your valour, Count, has now failed. And their object, you -will ask? They have a plot to drive my Prince from Bulgaria, because he -will not be their tool. You know he will not; all Europe knows it, and -knows too that the only chance for Bulgaria’s real independence is that -he shall remain on the throne here. And remain he shall, I swear, by -the great God they all profess to worship, in spite of all their crafty -intrigue and bloodthirsty plotting. And yet, mark you, the worst danger -lies not with them, but with the fools and traitors in Bulgaria itself -whom they delude or suborn. There is not a self-interest to which they -do not appeal, from the ambition of the fool to the corruptness of the -knave. And God knows, both knaves and fools are plentiful enough here.” - -“And their scheme?” I asked, moved by her intense earnestness. - -She looked at me sharply. - -“Then you do wish to hear it?” she asked, referring to my former -protest. “You shall. There is a woman--a seemingly innocent, -soft-natured thing, all sweetness and grace, but a devil; with the -beauty of an angel and the heart of a vampire--a devil.” - -Her fury was instant, overwhelming, absorbing. - -“Did they propose marrying her to your Prince?” I asked, making a shot. - -She darted at me a swift glance that might have been winged with hate -at the mere suggestion. Then her eyes changed, and she laughed and said -softly: - -“You are the man for us. Calm as a sword and as sharp as the point. -Yes, they dared even that--but I was in the way. In another woman’s -hands they thought he might have been won round. But rather than see -him the husband of that fiend, Christina, I myself would have plunged -a dagger into his heart--and they guessed this, I suppose, and changed -the plan. She is the Princess of Orli, as probably you know--for I -don’t suppose you are quite as unknowing as you seem--and apparently -is all for Bulgaria and the Bulgarians. Like you, she is a Roumanian, -and like you, if I read you right, she is driven from her country by -the all-powerful Russian predominance--at least, that’s what she says. -Isn’t that why you left?” she asked, with quick shrewdness. - -“The Russian predominance there is undoubted,” I answered. - -She liked the answer and laughed. - -“Good! you are cautious, and I don’t blame you. For the lips that -breathe out rashness breathe in danger, my friend. But now, will you -join us? You can see the career that awaits such a man as yourself -here--at the right hand of the Prince.” - -“But if the Princess Christina is opposed to Russia, how does she -threaten Bulgaria?” - -“Aye, if?” and she laughed scornfully. “There is another complication. -The woman has sold herself to the Russians. She is betrothed secretly -to one of the worst of them all, a man of infinite vileness and -treachery--the Duke Sergius. And the plot is that as soon as this -Christina is on the throne, the precious pair are to be married, and -Russia triumphs in despite of anything Europe may say to the contrary.” - -“I see,” and so in truth I did; for in a moment the kernel of the -whole movement was laid bare to me, as well as the objective of all my -work in Bulgaria. I remained some moments buried in thought, and all -the time my companion’s eyes were searching my face for a clue to my -thoughts. “It is very Russian,” I said at length, equivocally; and at -the words she made a quick gesture of impatience. - -“You will not give me a sign,” she cried, and jumped to her feet -impulsively. “But you will join us?” she asked. She came close to me -as she waited for the answer, and when I did not answer, she added -quickly, “Why do you hesitate?” - -Before I could reply, we both heard a noise somewhere in the house. - -“What can that be?” I asked. “You said there was no one in the house.” - -“None, that I know;” and we both stood listening intently. “Those -rascals may have left the place open and let in some of the thieves -that infest the streets.” - -“Those are no thieves’ footsteps,” I answered, as quick steps were -heard approaching the room. - -“It may be another attempt on me--but I have a brave defender now,” she -said, under her breath. - -I had a revolver with me and took it out of my pocket, glancing to see -that the chambers were all loaded. - -“You had better stand back at the end of the room there,” and I went -towards the door. - -At that moment it was opened quickly, and three men in uniform entered. - -“Stand!” I called. “What do you want here?” - -“I am an agent of the Government and hold an order for the arrest of -the Countess Bokara,” answered the leader, coming to a sudden halt when -he saw me in the way armed. - -“Well, you cannot execute it now.” - -“My orders are imperative, sir, and you will resist me at your peril.” - -“I shall resist,” said I shortly. “Where’s your order?” - -“I have it, that is enough,” he replied with equal curtness. - -“Produce it!” - -“That is not in my instructions.” - -“Then I don’t believe you have it. Leave the house before there is any -further trouble.” - -“I must do my duty. Georgiew,” he called to one of the two men, who had -kept close to the door in fear, but now stepped up to his leader’s side. - -“Who has signed your order?” asked the Countess, interposing. - -“One whose authority is sufficient for me.” - -“But not for me,” she cried. I turned, and found to my surprise that -she had come to my side, and was staring with fixed intensity into the -man’s face. “Not for me,” she repeated. - -“You must be prepared to accompany me, madame, nevertheless, and I -trust you will come at once, and without causing trouble. We are three -to one, sir, and fully armed; resistance will be useless,” he added to -me. - -“If you were thirty to one I would not give way unless you produced -your authority,” I answered, my blood beginning to heat under his -manner and tone. - -“I ask you for the last time, madame, to come with me,” and, with a -sign to the others, he made ready to attack me. - -“Aye, for the last time,” said my companion, between her teeth, and -before I could guess her intention, she gave a startling proof of her -desperate resource and deadly recklessness. - -With a suddenness that took me entirely by surprise, she snatched -the revolver from me, and levelling it with quick aim, she fired two -shots in rapid succession with deadly effect, for the two men standing -near us fell dead at our feet, shot through the head. The third, who -had kept near the door, with a coward’s prudence, took to his heels -incontinently, and left us alone with the dead. - -“Good God! what have you done?” I cried, aghast at her deed. “These men -were soldiers.” - -She laughed into my scared face. - -“You don’t suppose death counts for much in this country. This is only -spy carrion,” and with the utmost _sang-froid_ she stooped and rifled -the pockets of the dead leader, turning the body over for the purpose, -and took from his pocket a paper which she held up for me to read. “I -was sure of it.” - - “What the bearer does is by my order and authority. - - (Signed), M. KOLFORT, _General_.” - -“General Kolfort is the implacable leader of the Russian party, and -that document was my death warrant,” she said. - -In a moment I saw my danger, and she read my thought instantly. - -“Yes, you are committed, my friend; now you will have to join us,” and -she smiled triumphantly in my face. “I am glad.” - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE PRINCESS CHRISTINA - - -The amazing turn which events had taken through the terrible act of my -companion filled me with consternation at the possible effects to us -both; and after I had satisfied myself that the two men were dead and -so beyond help, I paced the room in anxious, perturbed thought. - -She was not in the least perturbed, and filled the minutes by going -carefully through the leader’s papers in search of anything that would -tend to the confusion of her enemies. A low exclamation of pleasure -told me that, when she found what she sought. - -She showed no jot or tittle of remorse at this shedding of blood. To -her the two men were no more than a couple of wild beasts who had -attacked her, and had been killed in her self-defence. She was as hard -and callous as any public executioner could have been. - -“See here!” she cried at length. “Here are proofs enough of the -villany,” and she put papers into my hand which showed plainly -enough that the whole matter had been planned by those high in the -Russian party. One was no less than a clear but brief statement of -instructions. If the first attempt at secret assassination failed, this -endeavour by means of a pretended arrest by men in uniform dressed to -look like officers was to be made, and the Countess was to be hurried -to Tirnova to be dealt with there, should she reach the fortress alive. - -“You will need these when the attempt is made to implicate you. Yours -is a deadly sin--to have come between Kolfort and his vengeance--and -you will need all your wits to get out of it with your life, even with -these papers, unless you throw yourself under the protection of the -Prince and his party. As I said, you will have to join us now, Count.” - -“I shall still take time to consider,” I answered rather shortly. -“You have given me plenty of food for thought. But now, what of your -immediate safety? You cannot stay here.” - -“Nor you, either. You let the third man escape, and by this time he is -carrying his news of failure with feet winged with fear. I have done -with this carrion,” and she cast a look of repugnance at the dead men, -and turning away, resumed her cloak with great haste. “You will not -decide now?” she asked, as she was ready to go. - -“No, I must have time. But where will you go now?” - -“I shall communicate with you. You will be a marked man from this -hour, and easy to find,” she said significantly; “and if you are in -danger sooner than you expect, do not hesitate to let me know. Our next -meeting will be in the Prince’s palace, and the sooner the better.” - -“Where will you go now?” I repeated. - -“Do not fear for me. You will need all your efforts to save your own -skin. Come!” She left the light burning, and led the way out of the -house by a back entrance that opened on to a narrow alley, along which -we hurried. - -“I will see you safe to your home,” I said, when she stopped at the -mouth of it and held out her hand. She smiled. - -“No, no, I am in no danger; but for you, take this path as far as it -goes, turn sharp to the right until you come to an avenue of trees, and -at the bottom of that you will know where you are. Good-night, Count! -and once more I thank you with all my heart for your service. But we -shall both live to see my thanks in an alliance that will do great -things for the Prince and for Bulgaria.” - -She gave me her hand, and though I pressed her to let me see her safely -across the city, she would not, but put me on my honour not to follow -her, and turning, sped away, keeping in the shadow, and going at such a -speed that she was soon out of my sight. - -Then I followed the way she had told me, and found myself close to the -street in which my hotel was situated. I walked slowly from that point, -my brain in a whirl of excitement at all that had happened in the -crowded hours of that night. - -When I reached my hotel it was only to pace my room in restless, -anxious, brain-racking thought of the net of complications in which I -found myself involved, and the hundred dangers which appeared to have -sprung up suddenly to menace me. It was in vain that I threw myself -on my bed. I could not sleep. If I dozed, it was only to start up at -the bidding of some dream danger, threatening me with I know not what -consequences. It was long past the dawn before I slept, and when the -servant called me, I sprang up, thinking it was my instant arrest that -was intended. - -But my wits were cooler and more collected for the rest, and when hour -after hour of the anxious day passed and nothing happened, I began to -think I had exaggerated the risks of my position. - -In the cool of the evening I rode out, and on my return ventured to -find out and pass through the street of the previous night’s adventure. -Nothing unusual was astir. No one paid the least heed to me. I might -have been an ordinary tourist without the least interest in anything -but the scenery. So it was at my hotel. Nothing happened that evening -nor on any of the three remaining days of the week, and I occupied -myself with the business of preparing the large house which I had taken -for my residence. - -Yet, even the lack of any consequences to me had a grim significance. -It seemed a fearsome thing, indeed, that murder could be attempted -openly, and two of the would-be assassins shot dead in the effort, and -yet the life of the city flow on without the least interruption, and, -as it appeared, with never a person to ask a question about them or -show the faintest interest in the event. Truly, as my strange companion -in the adventure had said, death counted for little in the grim game of -intrigue that was being played in the country. - -I had provided myself with a few letters of introduction, and, -knowing the average poverty of the people and the high esteem set on -riches, I had dropped a number of judicious hints that I was a man of -considerable wealth. I had taken the largest house I could find in the -city, and by these means had opened a way into a certain section of -society. It had been my original intention to use such opportunities -as would thus be afforded to carry out my original intention. But the -adventure with the Countess Bokara would render this less necessary -should I resolve to accept the offer of close service with the Prince -which she had made me; and the few guarded inquiries I was able to -make as to her influence confirmed completely my previous belief in her -power to fulfil all she had promised. - -Several days passed, and I was in this condition of comparative -uncertainty when, toward the close of the week following my adventure, -an incident occurred which gave me startling proof that, for all the -apparent quietude, I myself was, as she had declared, a marked man. - -I was sitting alone in a _café_ one evening, my friends having left -me, when my attention was attracted to the movements of three men, two -being in uniform, at a table in a far corner of the place. They were -busily occupied over some papers, and a constant succession of men kept -coming to them, as it seemed to me, for some kind of instructions. As -business was constantly transacted in this way at the _cafés_, I had at -first no more than a feeling of idle curiosity; but when the thing had -continued for an hour or more, my interest deepened, and I watched them -closely, although, as I thought, unobserved by them. - -At length a message was given them which appeared to cause great -surprise, and they paid their score and hurried out of the place. - -I followed them, still impelled mainly by curiosity; and as they -were engrossed in conversation, talking and gesticulating, I had no -difficulty in keeping them in sight as they passed through several -streets, and at length entered a large house which filled one side of a -small quadrangle, close on the street. - -I stood awhile at the corner, scanning the house curiously, and made -a mental note to ascertain to whom it belonged, and was in the act of -turning away to retrace my steps to the hotel, when a man came out of -the house, glanced about him as though in some doubt, and then looked -closely at me. He walked to the corner of the street opposite, still -looking at me, and after a minute of doubt, crossed to me. - -“I am to give you this, sir,” he said, speaking with the manner of a -confidential servant. - -“To me? I think not. What name?” I asked. - -“I had no name given to me, but I was to say it was ‘In the Name of a -Woman!’” - -“‘In the Name of a Woman?’” I repeated. It could not be for me. I knew -no such pass-word, and I connected it instantly with what I had seen -at the _café_. I was about to send the man away, when it occurred to -me that it might be a message from the Countess Bokara, and that, from -a love of mystery, she had chosen this exceedingly ambiguous method of -communication. I took the letter which the man held out, therefore, and -read a message written in a woman’s handwriting:-- - - “Follow the Bearer, - In the Name of a Woman.” - -I was disposed to smile, but checked myself on seeing the servant’s -eyes fixed upon me. - -“I am to follow you,” I said gravely. - -Without a word he led the way back to the house, through the deep -gloomy archway, in which I noticed a number of servants and others -lounging and waiting, and up three or four steps into the house. -Turning to make sure that I was behind him, the man crossed a hall, in -which were more men, some in uniform, through a curtained archway at -the end, and up a broad stairway on to a wide landing-place until he -paused before a large dark oak door. He opened this quietly and stood -aside for me to enter. - -As I did so, some words came to my ears that were certainly not -intended for a stranger to hear. - -“Curse the business. I am sick of the place. The sooner this thing’s -over and Christina is on the throne and married to Sergius, the sooner -we shall be back in Moscow and out of this beastly hole.” - -The voice was loud and strident, and the language Russian; and the -speaker, a young red-haired man, in an officer’s uniform, laughed -noisily. I was in the room before the sentence ended, but I came to an -abrupt halt in my surprise, and perceiving at once the mistake that had -been made, I half turned to leave the room again. But the man who had -brought me had already closed the door. - -My surprise was not one whit greater than that of the three men in the -room, however, who were standing together by a table with their backs -to the door, and not having heard it open, did not know I was there -till the officer who had spoken turned round. - -“Hullo! who the devil’s this?” he exclaimed. “What do you want, sir?” -and I saw his hand go to his sword hilt. - -His companions turned quickly on hearing him, and stared at me with -evident amazement. - -“Be quiet, Marx,” said one of them in Russian, a much older man, -and apparently in command. Then in Bulgarian to me, “May I ask your -business, sir?” - -“On my word, I know no more than yourself,” I answered, keeping my eye -on the red-haired man whose threatening looks I did not at all like. “I -am here ‘In the Name of a Woman,’ I presume. A messenger accosted me a -few minutes since in the street close by and gave me a written message -to follow him. He brought me here--and that’s all I know.” - -“A cool devil, on my word,” exclaimed the red-headed man, and whispered -something to the third which I could not catch. - -“There has seemingly been some mistake,” said the elder man suavely. -“You have not been long in the room, sir?” - -“Certainly not, the door has but barely closed.” - -“You are too much of a gentleman, of course, to intrude yourself upon -us unannounced and listen to our private conversation.” There was an -ominous suggestion of threat in the words, and behind them I could -detect not a little anxiety and embarrassment. - -One of the other officers gave a little sneering laugh. - -“You wish to know whether I have overheard anything? I speak Russian, -and as I entered I could not help hearing what was being said.” - -A look of concern showed on all three faces as I spoke. - -“You will have the goodness to repeat what you overheard,” said the -elder man, his voice hardening and deepening. - -I repeated in Russian almost word for word what had been said, and the -man whose unguarded words I had overheard turned very white. - -An embarrassing silence followed. - -“And what meaning do you attach to the words, sir?” - -“I do not see that they concern me, or that I am called upon to give -any explanation,” I answered coolly. - -“By God! you shall answer,” broke in impetuously and passionately the -red-haired man, as he made a couple of strides toward me. - -His superior frowned upon him and muttered a word of caution. - -I began to feel glad that I had brought my sword-stick with me. - -“One moment; excuse me,” said the elder man, whose great uneasiness was -now very manifest, and the three held a hurried consultation, in which -I could see the red-haired man urging some plan from which the elder -strongly dissented. Then the latter turned again to me. - -“I must press you to answer my question, sir,” he said. - -“The words could have only one possible meaning,” I replied, seeing no -use in equivocation. “The hope was expressed that Christina, presumably -the Princess of Orli, would soon be on the throne and married to the -Duke Sergius, in order that the speaker might be free to return to -Moscow.” I spoke very deliberately. - -“I told you so. The fellow may be a spy and can’t go free after that,” -exclaimed the fiery officer. “Have up the men at once and let him be -secured until we find out all about him,” and he went to the bell-pull -to summon the servants or more probably soldiers. - -My next act surprised him and stayed his hand, however. I had observed -a couple of heavy bolts on the door, and thinking that I had better -have three men to deal with than thirty, I shot them into their -sockets, and setting my back to the door, said shortly: - -“There should be nothing in this which we cannot settle amongst -ourselves, gentlemen, and with your permission I prefer to have no one -else here until it is settled.” - -This was too much for the two younger men. They drew their swords at -once and came toward me. - -“You will stand aside from that door at once, or take the -consequences,” said the red-haired man. - -My answer was to whip my sword from the stick and put myself on the -defensive. The door stood in an angle of the room, excellently placed -for my purpose, as my two opponents would be much hampered in attacking -me together, and I was not afraid of what either could do single-handed. - -Their anger at my resistance made them deaf to the protests and -expostulations of their superior. The red man was the first to cross -swords, and he was so indifferent a swordsman that I could have -disabled him had not the second perceived his inferiority and made at -me in his turn. - -A very pretty fight followed, but infinitely perilous to me. Even if -I were successful I could not see how possibly to escape from the -house, which as I knew was swarming with men. But I went to work with a -will, and soon had cause to thank the advantage I gained owing to the -position of the door. - -The object of the less furious of the two was rather to disarm than -to wound, and I noticed that he neglected more than one opportunity -of wounding me. The other was a hot-headed fool, however, and was -obviously dead bent on killing me; but a couple of minutes later I had -an excellent chance of settling matters with him. He was fighting in -a furious, haphazard, reckless fashion, when the second man stumbled -from some cause and was out of the fray for several passes. I made the -most of the respite, and pressing the fight to the utmost, I ran my -assailant through the sword-arm, inflicting a wound which caused him to -drop his sword. I kicked it behind me, and was thus free to devote my -whole attention to my other assailant. - -I was cleverer with the weapon than he, as I perceived to my intense -satisfaction, and was considering where I would wound him and end the -fight, when my luck turned. I trod by mischance on the hilt of the -sword at my feet, stumbled, and, unable to save myself, fell staggering -at full length on the floor. - -It was all over, and I gave myself up for lost, when a most unexpected -and infinitely welcome interruption came. - -A door at the other end of the room, which was hidden by the curtains -and tapestries that covered the walls, opened, and I heard a woman’s -soft clear voice, in which vibrated a note of indignation and anger, -exclaim: - -“Gentlemen, what is this brawling?” - -The others turned at the sound of the voice, and I scrambled to my feet -in an instant, gripped my weapon again, and was once more ready against -attack; though I stared with all my eyes at the lovely face of the -queenly woman who had entered. - -“Put up your swords, gentlemen, instantly!” she said; and in obedience -the man who still had his weapon sheathed it and fell back abashed -behind his superior officer. - -Intuitively I recognised the Princess Christina. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -“THE WEB IS WIDE, THE MESHES HARD TO BREAK” - - -“As beautiful as an angel, and with the heart of a vampire.” - -This bitter description rushed to my thoughts as I gazed at the -Princess Christina. Surely never had treachery, cruelty, and ambition a -fairer guise than hers, if treacherous and cruel she could be. - -But the thought started another suspicion. Had this scene all been -planned by her to catch me in the toils? It was a dramatic enough -entrance for me into her circle, and certainly clever. It had been made -to appear as if I had forced my way into the house, had overheard a -compromising secret, had had my very life placed in danger, and then at -the critical moment it was to her coming I owed my safety. If this were -so, I could understand why the less hot-headed of my two assailants had -first rushed to the assistance of his comrade, but had then refrained -from pressing the advantage of the odds against me in the fight, and -had not attempted even to wound me. - -Could that lovely, ingenuous-looking woman have laid such a scheme, and -then have carried it out with such shrewd stage-management, putting -that little ring of anger into her voice at all the clatter of the -fight? - -If so the danger that had seemed to threaten me had never existed, and -I might as well do as she bade, and put up the sword which had never -been needed in earnest. With a smile at the notion I sheathed it, and -waited for the next development of the comedy. - -Yet the anger in her eyes seemed sincere enough, and if she was only -acting she understood her business well; for the indignation on her -face and the liquid notes of her perfect voice moved me to regret even -my share in the fracas, though it had been none of my seeking. - -“Major Zankoff, have you such poor command of your subordinates that -they must seek to shed blood almost in my very presence?” At the rebuke -the eldest of the three men winced and bit his lip, but made no reply -except a bow. “You know my will, sir!” she continued, with the mien -of an empress; “and any repetition of this forgetfulness will find me -deeply angered even against you.” - -“Madame, I am already punished,” replied the major, with the bow of a -courtier and the shrewdness of a diplomat. - -“As for you, gentlemen,” she said, turning to the other two, “I shall -use my influence to see that you are relieved from duties which you -must surely find irksome, since you seek relaxation in this cut and -thrust work. Be good enough to leave me.” - -This was a somewhat embarrassing request, for I was by the door, and -still held my foot on the fallen sword. I was not disposed to have the -door open lest others should be brought in, and they were not willing -that I should have a chance of escape, carrying their secret with me. -The three exchanged looks, and then the major came to the rescue. - -“There is a matter that needs explanation to you, madame----” he began, -when she cut him short. - -“I will hear nothing, Major Zankoff, until these gentlemen have left -me.” - -Another embarrassing pause followed, in which she let her eyes glance -toward me and rest a moment on my face, with an effect I cannot -describe. In an instant it seemed as if all my doubts of her sincerity -dropped from me like a cloak. I felt absolutely assured, not only of -her purity and truth, but of my own complete safety in trusting her, -and with an impulse that was as irresistible as it was instantaneous, I -cut the knot of the difficulty. - -I picked up the fallen sword, left my place by the door, and handed it -back to the owner. - -He flashed a curse at me out of his eyes that I should have been the -cause and witness of his humiliation, and muttered in a tone too low to -reach other ears than mine, as he bent his head in sheathing the weapon: - -“I will find you out, sir.” - -“Count Benderoff, Hôtel de l’Europe,” I whispered, meeting his look -with one as stern as his own, and then stood aside for him and his -companion to pass out of the room. - -The Princess waited in silence until the door had closed behind them, -and then addressed me: - -“Why have you come to bring your quarrels here, sir?” - -“I think I can best explain----” began Major Zankoff. - -“I have asked this gentleman for his explanation, Major,” she broke in, -and I liked her calm assertion of authority. - -“I have brought no quarrel here, Madame,” and I explained very briefly -the facts up to the moment of her entrance. - -She bent her dark eyes on me during the recital, and gradually the -colour of her cheeks deepened, until at the close, with a flush of -indignation and anger, she cried: - -“You have been shamefully treated, sir--shamefully and outrageously. -Because by chance some hot-headed idler cannot keep his tongue -still, but must blab of matters he does not understand, shall murder -be attempted? Major Zankoff, what had this gentleman done that you -should sanction this atrocious act? We owe you an ample apology, sir; -and I, the Princess Christina of Orli”--drawing herself to her full -height--“tender it to you. I do not ask your name. I ask nothing, but -only tell you I am profoundly sorry and deeply grieved that this should -have occurred. Major Zankoff, it is my express wish that you will see -this gentleman safely out of the house, and conduct him to any part of -the city he desires. His safety will be your personal charge.” - -And with this she swept across the room and herself held open the door -for me to leave. - -Her beauty and grace, and, much more, the instinctive justice of her -act and implied trust in my honour, conquered me. I did not wish to -leave her, and lingered gazing at her in admiration. This was the -Countess Bokara’s vampire. If this was how she gained her victims, I, -at any rate, was ready to be one of them. As we stood thus, she holding -the door and I unwilling to go, our eyes met, and I was filled with one -consuming, burning impulse to serve her. - -Then came an interruption, which I for one welcomed profoundly. - -An old man, in the uniform of a high Russian officer, entered through -the door which she had used, and in a high-pitched voice said sharply: - -“This is a somewhat unusual scene. What does it mean?” - -I was watching the Princess closely, and saw an expression of some -disconcertment and alarm rush into her eyes, to be as quickly forced -down and followed by what I half dared to hope was a look of solicitude -on my account. The eyes seemed to beg me to leave while the way was -still open. - -But I would not have gone for a fortune. I was ten thousand times more -eager to stay. - -Major Zankoff gave an expressive shrug of the shoulders as he said -in reply to the question: “There has been a little misunderstanding, -General.” - -The small, alert, piercing eyes seemed to take in the situation at one -sweeping glance that dwelt lastly on my face. - -“Princess, can I have a word with you? Major Zankoff, close the door -and guard it. We want no one in--or out,” he let the last two words -drop from his lips as though they were an after-thought and not -intended to be spoken aloud. - -“I am telling this gentleman that he is at liberty to leave here, -General,” she answered, lifting her head with what I read as an -intentional assertion of authority, not made, however, without an -effort. - -“Very good of you, very good indeed,” he replied drily. “But as the -gentleman does not seem disposed to go, suppose we close the door. -There is a draught for one thing, and pretty situations should never be -strained. Besides, I wish to have a word with him myself.” - -My wits had been somewhat mazed by the unexpected character of the -meeting with the Princess and the whirl of strange and disturbing -thoughts which she had started, but these last words of the old -soldier recalled me to myself quickly enough. - -“With me?” I said in surprise. - -“Certainly, with you,” he answered sharply. - -The suggestion of solicitude for me still lingered on the Princess’s -face as she left the door and went to the old man. - -“I have passed my word for his safety, General,” and she looked -meaningly at him. - -“Do I look so fierce and terrible an object, madame, that the gentleman -will be afraid to trust himself alone with me, think you?” - -“I have passed my word for his safety,” she repeated, and turning to -me, she added, “You may depend upon that, sir,” and as she left the -room she gave me a look from her glorious eyes which seemed to say much -more than even her words. - -The old soldier smiled sardonically, and bowed low to her as she passed -him. - -“Umph! And now, sir, will you come with me; or are you, as madame was -disposed to think, afraid to trust yourself with me? Zankoff, I do not -wish to be disturbed,” he said abruptly to the Major. - -He led me to a room beyond and motioned me to a chair, near the table -at which he seated himself. - -“You know, I presume, where you are, who I am, and who that is we have -just left!” he began. - -“I do not know all, but I can make a shrewd guess. She is the Princess -Christina; you, I presume, General Kolfort, and this house, either -yours or hers.” - -“As you say, a very shrewd guess--even for one known to have such quick -wits as the Count Benderoff, of Radova.” He intended to surprise me, -as indeed he did, by the mention of my name; but I showed no sign of -this, although he looked for it. - -“Why did you force your way in here--unless, indeed, you had an object -which I shall only be too glad to welcome?” - -“I will make another guess,” I answered. “I came through your own -contriving, General;” and this time it was he, not I, who had to -conceal surprise--for my guess was right. - -He looked at me and nodded his head. - -“It is my business to know all newcomers to Sofia,” he said. “And you -are too notable and have started too much comment for me not to know of -you. My agents serve me well, and I thought it was full time for you -to declare yourself. There are only two courses open to a man making -a career in this country, as you have said you intend to do. Only two -sides, one of which a man must take. You must be either for or against -the interests of Russia--which is it to be?” - -This was plain talking in all truth. - -“I have been in the country too short a time to have weighed the -considerations which must determine me.” - -“Good; evasive but politic, though not, of course, convincing.” - -“Yet true,” said I shortly. - -“Very well. We’ll take it at that;” and he looked at me as if he were -pondering carefully the arguments he should use to convince and win me. -“Yet you’ve not been quite inactive, have you, although here so short a -time?” - -“You mean----?” - -“What should I mean?” he asked, throwing up his hands with an -indifference that was belied by the sharp glint of his eyes. - -Did he know of that night adventure, after all? If so, I had indeed -walked into the spider’s web. - -“No, I have not been inactive, certainly not,” I answered carelessly. -“I have had to find a house suitable for my position and my means. I am -a man of some wealth, and the work has taken time and care.” - -“No doubt. But I did not mean that kind of activity, Count. My sources -of information are many--and secret. Few things are done in Sofia -without my knowing them, as well as those who do them.” - -“Through your spies, you mean?” - -He waved the term aside and passed over the question. - -“We have had an accident lately, rather an awkward affair, which -resulted in the death of a couple of our agents; but a third escaped -and tells a strange story. Even your short acquaintance with Bulgarian -affairs will tell you that the consequences may be serious for those -concerned in their death.” - -“I can understand that. But with what object do you make me the -recipient of such a confidence?” I asked coolly. - -“You have made some shrewd guesses during our talk; I will leave you -to make another in that matter. It may be only a parable; or, on the -contrary, a matter of life or death for those concerned. In any case, -the person concerned is known to me.” The threat was conveyed with -unmistakable significance. I understood him well enough, and he knew -that I did; but I answered lightly: - -“I don’t see that this affects me.” - -“I hope with all my heart that it never will,” he said quickly, “for -nothing would please me better than to have you enrolled on our side!” - -He paused to let this, his first argument--an appeal to my fears--have -due weight, and watched me keenly to note results. Apparently he was -not too well satisfied with them. - -“You have probably asked yourself why I am anxious, as I confess I am, -that you should be with us, and yet if you reflect you will readily -understand the reason. I have told you that there are but two courses -open to a man who mixes in politics here. He must take a side. There -is no possible alternative--no possible alternative. Well, I know -much about you--more than you think, and I do not wish that a man who -has shown such courage as you, on other occasions than to-day,” he -put in meaningly, “who has those parts of head and heart that carry a -man far in troubled times like these; a man wealthy, daring, shrewd, -honorable, ambitious, resourceful, and bound to wield influence, should -enter the lists against me. Such a man must make a leader, and these -Bulgars readily follow when the right man leads. It is all against our -cause that such qualities should be devoted to the service of a craven -Prince.” - -“You speak with great frankness.” - -He smiled and raised his eyebrows, giving a slight toss of the head. - -“I can be frank with perfect safety. You are in my power, Count.” - -“I have the word of Princess Christina----” - -“I do not mean in this house, I mean in this country,” he interposed. -“If you do not know the reach of my hands, it is time you learnt it. No -man crosses this frontier without my knowledge, and no one recrosses -it against my will. Do not mistake me; I don’t speak at random, nor am -I uttering a mere empty boast. I am stating a plain fact. And the power -which I wield you can share, if you will.” - -It was skilfully turned and cleverly put, and for the moment I was -silent. - -“The web is wide, the meshes hard to break, Count; and I brought you -here that you might see how wide and how hard. You were right just now -in that shrewd guess of yours--I did bring you here. First, for that -little dramatic test of your courage; next, that you should see for -yourself the glorious woman in whose cause we fight; and lastly, that -you should understand the obstacles that lie in the path of those who -would oppose us. You say you seek a career. Well----” He paused here -and looked most keenly at me as he added, “Englishmen have done the -same before----” - -I could not repress a start of surprise at the thrust, and he stopped -to enjoy it. - -“Yes, Englishmen--and Roumanians. But it is very rare for a Roumanian -to combine the qualities which distinguish you, Count Benderoff. -You perhaps know the English. If I mistake not, your father was an -Englishman, and you may have met a certain Hon. Gerald Winthrop. I have -such a man in my mind when I speak to you.” - -I sat gnawing my lip, my brows knitted in thought, and had no reply, -while he looked at me with a smile at my evident consternation. - -Then he gave a sudden and unexpected turn to the matter. - -Pushing his chair back, he rose, and said in a frank and apparently -friendly tone: - -“I have taken you by surprise. Of course I know that, and do not -wish to push the advantage unfairly. Don’t decide now. I want your -decision to be deliberate and the result of judgment, and not mere -embarrassment. I will make you a fair offer. The frontier is free for -you for three days--nay, for a week. Join us within that time, or let -my agents report to me that you have crossed it. I want your services -because I value them, but I do not intend my enemies to have them. If -you really wish to make a career, I can help you as no one else can. I -want no oaths; they don’t bind me, and in this place bind no one beyond -the limits of self-interest. If you join us, you would have to be -faithful, or your life would be a mere candle-flame to be snuffed out -at will. That is a better guarantee than any mere oaths. If you decide -to throw in your lot with us, I shall be glad to see you at any time. -If not, I hope we shall not meet again.” And he held out his hand. - -I took it, not over cordially, and left him, dismayed, perplexed and -anxious, but with an appreciation of his power keen enough to have -satisfied even him. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -“SPERNOW” - - -A night’s reflection brought but slight relief to my anxiety and doubt. -How that wily Russian general had succeeded so easily and promptly in -discovering all about me, I was at a loss to guess; nor was it of much -profit to inquire. He had the facts, and the question was how he would -use them; and the first gleam of an answer came from a very small thing. - -He had offered me first three days in which to leave the country, and -then had extended the time to a week. Why? I came to the conclusion at -length that he had probably a double reason, for he was not the man to -do anything without a clear reason. He was all against my joining the -party of the Prince, and was probably resolved to go to extreme lengths -to prevent me. But he knew also, though he had been crafty enough not -to admit it openly, that I was an Englishman; and that fact might well -embarrass him in dealing with me. - -Any ill-treatment of a British subject at such a juncture might bring -about just such grave complications with our Foreign Office as might -imperil the whole Russian under-current policy. That was, therefore, -unquestionably one of my strong cards to play, and I resolved to use it -promptly. - -I judged that in all probability my correspondence would be tampered -with, and would, if necessary, pass under his own eyes; so I wrote a -letter to a friend in England, stating the fact plainly that I had had -an interview with General Kolfort, the Russian leader, in which the -fact that I was a British subject had been discussed between us, and -added a few words of assumed annoyance that this should have happened, -as it might interfere with my plans in making a career in Bulgaria. I -put in some other general matter such as might be written in a friendly -letter, and finished with a request that my correspondent would send -me two or three articles I had left in his care. This was all fable, -of course; but I wrote it to make it more difficult for the General to -suppress the letter. Then I added a postscript, with the usual sting in -it. - -“If you get a chance, you might drop a side hint to Edwardes, of the -Foreign Office, that I am here, and known to be English.” - -I sealed the letter with careful clumsiness, so that the envelope could -easily be opened without the seal being broken, marked it “Urgent. -Strictly private,” and then gave it to a waiter to post. If I was under -the surveillance he had suggested, I felt convinced that nothing more -was necessary to ensure its getting immediately into the General’s -hands. It would at least give him food for thought. - -Then as to his second object. Why had he given me any time at all? A -Russian party, strong and unscrupulous enough to plan the assassination -of the reigning Prince himself--as they had done--would have thought -nothing of keeping me, a mere Roumanian Count (as I told them I was -when they had me on the previous evening), rushing me off incontinently -to the frontier, and bidding me be off about my business under fear of -a stray bullet should I attempt to return. But he had given me a week -to deliberate, and I drew the inference that he was really anxious to -have an Englishman on his side, and that he meant to use the week to -bring strong inducements to bear upon me. - -And through all these reflections one dazzling remembrance flashed, -as the sun will flash through thin foliage after a summer shower--the -great steady glare caught and reflected from a myriad drops on the -wet, dancing leaves. It was the memory of the glorious beauty of the -Princess, with that look of solicitude for me and of fear of the -General which I had seemed to catch. - -I had no more desire to fly the country than I had had to leave her -witching presence, and a thousand thoughts rushed through my mind, -bewildering, stirring, fascinating me, and all urging me to stay until -I had at least probed the meaning of her look, and determined whether -I could in any way serve her. If she really stood in need of a friend, -how gladly---- And at that point I broke the thought with a laugh at -my own silly conceit. She had a hundred, aye, a thousand men at her -command. And I was a fool. - -But I would not leave the country if I could help it, and I ordered a -horse and rode out, first to see how nearly my house was ready, and -then away for a gallop in the country. - -On my return I learned that two officers had called and asked for me; -had left word that, as their business was urgent, they would return -early in the afternoon. I did not know the names--Captain Dimitrieff -and Lieutenant Grassaw--and I could not think what they wanted with me, -but I resolved to wait in for them; and while I was waiting, a servant -brought me a card from another stranger--Lieutenant Spernow. - -The moment he entered I liked his pleasant, cheery looks, and -his frank, unrestrained, self-possessed manner impressed me most -favourably. With a smile he offered me his hand, and said: - -“I have come in a quite unusual way, Count Benderoff. I am sent, in -fact, to make your acquaintance. I am assured we shall speedily be -friends.” - -“I am certainly at your service,” I answered, unable to resist a smile -at his singular introduction. - -“It has an odd sound after all, hasn’t it; and yet, do you know, I’ve -been thinking how I should put it and rehearsing, all the way. It does -sound devilish odd from a stranger, but I do hope--for reasons that -weigh infinitely with me, I can assure you--that so odd an introduction -will really lead to friendship.” - -“You say you were sent to me?” I asked, cautiously. - -“Yes; I assure you I am frankness itself. They never trust me with -important secrets; I blurt them out;” and he laughed, as though that -were rather a good trait. “Old Kolfort sent me--Old Kolfort for one.” - -“I saw General Kolfort last evening,” I replied, drily. “But sit down -and have a cigar, and then tell me why he is so interested in providing -me with friends.” - -“That’s a good straight question, but I’ll be hanged if I can answer -it. He’s such a sly old fox, with fifty secret reasons for every plain -one. Thanks, I’ll have a cigar. Well, he sent for me this morning--you -know, I am on the Russian tack in all this business, and that for a -reason which I’m pretty sure to let out before I’ve been many minutes -with you; in fact, bound to, come to think of it--and--let’s see, -where was I? Oh, yes; he sent for me, and said, ‘Lieutenant, I have a -pleasant duty for you--and an important one. I wish you to go to Count -Benderoff and make a friend of him--he told me your hotel--and do what -you can to make his stay in Sofia pleasant, as it may be only a very -short one. You’re the best man I know to let him see what’s worth -seeing in the city, and to let him know what’s worth knowing.’” - -“It promises to be a very kind act on his part.” I spoke sincerely, and -my visitor smiled at the words. - -“It shall be, if you’ll let me, Count, I assure you. But that old fox -always has a bitter wrapped up somewhere in the sweet; and as I was -leaving, after having talked you over, of course, he pretended to -remember something, and said, ‘Oh, by the way, take this letter to the -Count with an apology from me. By an unfortunate mistake it has got -opened by some clumsy idiot, and was brought to me to know what should -be done. Tell the Count I’m very sorry, but perhaps he may not care -to send it for a week or so, after all.’ ‘What is it?’ said I. ‘Of no -consequence; but the little act will be an introduction for you.’ Then -I saw it was one of those infernal things that are always being done in -this country--an intercepted letter, and I felt inclined to fling it in -his face, only I daren’t. I let him have a word or two about choosing -me for such work, but I brought it, and I’m afraid you’ll think I’m -a regular cad to lend myself to such a thing. But I’ll tell you why -I decided to bring it in a minute; and I hope I needn’t assure you I -don’t know a word of what’s inside.” - -I accepted his word without hesitation, and believed in his -expressions of disgust at the mission. I took the letter readily -enough, and was indeed glad that my little ruse had succeeded so -completely. Then I gave it a finishing touch. - -“I suppose he’ll expect you to report what I said. Well, here’s the -answer.” I struck a match and set fire to the letter, holding it until -it was consumed. “It’s not of the least consequence, I assure you, for -I took the precaution to send off a duplicate in proper disguise.” - -“The devil you did. I’m infernally glad to hear it. I love to hear of -old Crafty being licked at his own game.” Then he started and rapped -the table as he laughed and asked: “Was that a decoy? Oh, that’s -lovely. I won’t tell him. I hate the old tyrant, and he knows it; but -he knows, too, that I’m horribly afraid of him. And that’s what he -likes. Gad, that’s good!” and he lay back in his chair and laughed -aloud at the thought of the General being outwitted. “And he was so -damned serious, too, that I know he thought he’d done a mighty smart -thing.” - -He was obviously sincere, and it was impossible not to see that he -thoroughly enjoyed what he deemed a good joke. When he had had his -laugh out, he gave a little sigh of relief as he said: - -“Well, that’s over, and I hope you’ll acquit me of any personal part in -the matter or humbug.” - -“My dear sir, I acquit you of everything except of having done an -unpleasant thing pleasantly,” I answered, cordially. - -“Thanks. And now, is your stay going to be very short in Sofia? I must -tell you before you answer that that’s a thing old Crafty told me to -find out. I suppose he has some underground reason or other? He’s a -beggar for that.” - -“Frankly, I don’t know. I hope not, but I don’t yet know.” - -“Well, I was surprised when he mentioned it, because we’d heard that -you’d taken a big house, and were going to make a bit of a splash, you -know. And, by Jove, it would be a blessing, for most of the houses here -are just deadly dull.” - -“‘_We_ heard,’ you say?” - -“How quick you are!” he answered with a smile, and he had a slightly -heightened colour as he went on. “Yes, we--we two; not old Kolfort, -you know. But--well, we’ve had a chat about you more than once; and -last night, after you’d been at the General’s house, we had a regular -consultation about you--and, to tell you the truth, that’s another -reason why I’ve come.” - -“I don’t think I understand.” - -“No, of course you don’t. I don’t altogether. I think; but----” He -hesitated, and pulled at his cigar for some moments in a little -embarrassment. “You see, it’s a bit difficult to make you understand -without telling what a man doesn’t care to talk about. I suppose -something happened at the General’s that affected you closely, and made -you--hang it all! Wait a minute, and let me try and think how I was to -put it.” - -I smiled again at this, and watched him as he fidgeted with his cigar -somewhat nervously and uneasily. - -“You saw the Princess there, didn’t you? I don’t know, but I heard -something or other; and, anyway, she must have been speaking to--to -someone who spoke to me. Doesn’t that sound rather ridiculous?” - -But I scarcely heard his question. The reference to the Princess -Christina had set my thoughts whirling at the bare idea that he was in -some remote way a messenger from her, and that she was sufficiently -interested in me to make these indirect inquiries as to my movements -and intentions. - -“Yes, I saw the Princess last night,” I said, breaking the pause. “Do -you come from her?” I was astonished at the steadiness of the tone in -which I spoke. - -“Well, yes; but yet not exactly--oh, hang it all, I’d better out -with it. I shall only make a mess of things;” and he laughed gaily, -and flushed. “I came to you mainly because I was asked to do so by -Mademoiselle Broumoff, who is one of her closest companions; and -Mademoiselle Broumoff and I are, in fact, betrothed. Now you’ve got it, -Count; and that’s why I fiddled about just now, and didn’t know quite -what to say.” - -“I am much mistaken if Mademoiselle Broumoff, whose acquaintance I -shall hope to make, is not an exceedingly fortunate girl, lieutenant; -and I speak without the least affectation when I say that your news -interests me deeply.” - -It did, in all truth. To have as a friend someone who was in the close -confidence of the Princess herself, was a stroke of good fortune which -I could indeed appreciate; and I resolved to bind this handsome young -officer to me by all possible bonds. - -“The one commission is an antidote to the other, at any rate, I hope,” -said Spernow; “and if it’s any gratification to you to know it, you can -rest assured that the Princess takes a lively interest in you, and for -some reason or other feels herself under some sort of obligation to -you. Frankly, I don’t know what it is; but I do know there are plenty -of our fellows who’d like to stand in your shoes in such a thing. You -can’t think how we worship that woman!” he cried, with a flash of -sudden enthusiasm. - -“I can think of no cause for such a feeling of obligation,” said I, -speaking indifferently to hide the tingling glow of delight at his -words. - -“Oh, of course. By Jove, I was nearly forgetting,” he exclaimed, with a -jerk, as he plunged his hand into his pocket and brought out a packet -of papers. “Are you engaged for to-morrow night?” - -“I? No indeed.” - -“Then you’ll be able to come all right. I’ve got you a card for the -ball at the Assembly. It’s a big do; and most of the folks worth -knowing will be there, if you want to know them.” - -“Is this from the General?” - -“Well, not exactly, though he’ll be glad enough for you to go. -Mademoiselle Broumoff put me up to it.” - -“Then I may have the pleasure of seeing her there?” - -“Of course, she’s going, rather; and the Princess too. You’ll come?” - -“I shall be very pleased. It is just the chance I shall welcome.” - -Was this another little personal attention from the Princess, or merely -a development of the policy of winning me to the Russian side? I was -turning this over, and thinking how far I could get the answer from -Spernow, when a servant came to say that the two officers who had -called earlier in the day had returned. - -I told the man to show them in, and explained matters to Spernow. He -knew them, he said, but not their errand. - -This was soon explained, and caused me no little surprise. - -“We come from Lieutenant Ristich,” said Captain Dimitrieff, speaking -very formally and stiffly. - -“And who is Lieutenant Ristich?” I asked. “I do not know him.” - -“You met yesterday at General Kolfort’s house, and he considers that -you insulted him. Will you be good enough to tell me who will act for -you? The facts have been explained to me.” - -“Do you mean that the lieutenant wishes to force a quarrel upon me? I -remember him now, of course; but I know of no insult, and certainly I -have no quarrel with him.” - -The captain raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. - -“Shall I say, then, that you prefer to apologise?” he asked, -superciliously. - -“Certainly not,” I returned sharply, stung by his manner. “What I mean -is that nothing passed which need make another encounter between us -necessary.” - -“That is an _impasse_.” - -“I cannot help that,” said I, indifferently. - -“Well, you must either fight, sir, or refuse to fight; and in the -latter case the lieutenant says he will be driven to the extreme course -of publicly insulting you.” - -“This is monstrous,” I answered angrily. “It is nothing less than -forcing a quarrel upon me, as I say. But if that is the lieutenant’s -mood, and he wishes for another lesson in swordsmanship, I’ll give it -him. I have but very few friends here in Sofia, but the matter shall be -arranged without delay. Perhaps----” I looked across at Spernow. - -“Can I be of any assistance, Count?” he said, eagerly. - -“I shall be deeply obliged if you will. Perhaps these gentlemen will -retire to another room for a few minutes, and then you can wait on -them, and matters can be put in course before they leave the hotel.” - -They went, and I explained all that was necessary to Spernow, telling -him that I attached little importance to the affair, and that I had -already proved myself much more than a match for the lieutenant with -the sword; that as the challenged party I should choose swords; but -that the conditions were to be made as little stringent as possible, so -that the fight could be stopped as soon as either was wounded, however -slightly. - -He went away then, and when he returned said that he had made all -arrangements, and that we were to meet early the next morning at a spot -just outside the town, often used for the purpose. - -“Mademoiselle Broumoff will take a keen interest in this business, -Count,” he said, as he was leaving me later. “Lieutenant Ristich is an -object of her deepest hatred; and so will the Princess for the matter -of that. He is no favourite of hers either.” - -“You will say nothing, of course, until it is over; and you will get -a friend to act with you, and perhaps you will both breakfast with me -afterwards.” - -“With pleasure. You take it coolly, Count,” he said as we shook hands. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE DUEL, AND AFTER - - -It was a glorious morning, the air crisp, fresh and clear, when I rose -early, and found Spernow waiting for me in the courtyard of the hotel. -He introduced his friend, Captain Zoiloff, who would act as my other -second in the duel. - -“I got Zoiloff to come because he’s well up in these matters,” said -Spernow, “and I’m not. He’ll keep us right.” - -I did not take the affair of the duel seriously; my bout with Ristich -at the General’s house had shown me my greater skill, and I had no -intention of even wounding him seriously, and no fear whatever that he -would be able to touch me. I said as much to my companions as we walked -together to the ground. - -“Ristich is very mad against you for some reason or other,” said -Spernow. “And he’s a hare-brained chap, so I should look out.” - -“He is not much of a swordsman,” put in Zoiloff, “but he has one or two -clever strokes that have served him well enough in other affairs of -this kind;” and he went on to describe them. But he found me a somewhat -inattentive listener, and after a short time the talk turned to other -matters. - -We were first on the ground, and Captain Zoiloff promptly set to work -to choose the most suitable spot, and the positions which we should -respectively take up. He displayed a manifest relish for the task, and -was evidently an old campaigner in this sort of thing. - -He had scarcely concluded his work when the other party arrived, -bringing with them a doctor. They saluted us formally, and without any -delay the seconds consulted together, decided upon the ground, and -selected the weapons. - -While they were thus engaged Ristich and I stood apart, and I saw that -he was very pale and moody-looking, glancing every now and again at me -with patent ill-feeling and animosity. - -“Ristich has got his marching orders,” said Spernow to me, when he and -Zoiloff came to explain what they had arranged. - -“How do you mean?” - -“He is being sent back to Russia, and leaves to-day.” - -“I heard him declare he wanted to go,” said I. - -“Yes, but not in semi-disgrace. He puts it down to you, and that’s what -makes him so bitter. They tell me he raged like a fiend when he heard -it last night, and he means mischief.” - -I glanced across at him. He had thrown off his uniform, and I saw, too, -that his sword-arm was bandaged. Till that moment I had forgotten all -about the wound I had inflicted. - -“Stay a moment,” I cried to my seconds. “He is wounded. I can’t fight a -disabled man,” and I told them what had occurred. - -“That’s his lookout,” said Zoiloff, in a very business-like tone. “He -is the challenger.” - -“I won’t fight a cripple,” I said resolutely; and at that they called -the other seconds aside, and a long conference ensued, in the course -of which Ristich was more than once consulted. I saw him explaining -matters to his seconds, and flourishing one of the rapiers to show that -he could use it quite well. - -“He insists that the fight must go on,” said Zoiloff on his return to -me, “and I really don’t see that you can object.” - -“But it isn’t fair,” I protested. “Under ordinary circumstances, and -with the full use of his arm, the man isn’t my equal with the sword, -and, disabled in that way, the thing’s absurd.” - -“His point is that he has to leave Sofia, and that, as he is determined -to fight you, he will have no other chance. I shouldn’t insist, Count -Benderoff, if I were in your place. It will only cause talk. The doctor -has examined the wound and says Ristich is fit to fight, and he has -shown us, as you may have seen, that he has complete command of his -sword.” - -“It makes me appear ridiculous to fight a wounded man,” I urged. “Try -further protest, and say I will meet him anywhere at any time when he -is well again. I will travel to Russia if necessary.” - -“I am afraid that we shall only get some sneering reply that you don’t -want to fight, or something of that sort.” - -“I would rather be sneered at for not fighting a wounded man than fight -one,” said I. “I will take care of my reputation.” And they went across -to repeat the protest and deliver the message. - -It was as fruitless as the former one, and when Zoiloff returned he was -very angry. - -“I will not repeat his message,” he said; “but it was most insulting. -You must fight, Count. If we have any more conferences we shall only -have more duels. I think you have acted most honourably; but, believe -me, you can only press this further at great risk to your name.” - -He spoke so earnestly, and Spernow joined with him, that I allowed -myself to be persuaded, and threw off my coat and waistcoat and made -ready. - -We took up our positions under the shadow of some trees, and when my -opponent was close to me the look of hate in his eyes, as they rested -on mine, confirmed what Spernow had told me of his intention and desire -to do his worst. - -But from the moment when our blades crossed and the word was given us -to engage, I knew that the issue must rest with me. Ristich attacked -me immediately with great violence and impetuosity, in the hope of -finishing the matter before his weakened strength should give out. I -had no difficulty in defending myself, however, and, had I been in the -same vengeful mood as he was, I could have run him through. - -My object was not that. I wished merely to wound him slightly, or -disarm him; and I tried two or three times to do the latter, though -without success. I fought as coolly and warily as if we were in the -school trying a bout with the foils, and this coolness aggravated my -opponent intensely, so that he lost all self-control. - -Watching patiently for my opportunity, I found it when he had made -one of his reckless, angry thrusts, and with a quick counter I drove -the point of my sword into his shoulder. Then I drew back instantly -and threw up my weapon off the guard. Whether he saw this or not, or -whether his rage blinded him to his wound and to all else besides, I -know not, but instantly he thrust out his weapon with a blow aimed -straight at my heart. - -I saved myself only by springing back, while a shout of indignation -came from Zoiloff. - -“A foul stroke; I call you to witness, gentlemen, a foul and dastardly -stroke,” he cried, excitedly, as he rushed in and struck up my -opponent’s sword. “Count Benderoff has behaved splendidly, and if your -sword had gone home, Lieutenant Ristich, it would have been murder. A -most foul stroke.” - -In a moment he was the centre of a group, all as excited as himself. -Ristich protested that he had not seen me draw back from the fight, -that he had not felt that he was wounded, and that he was eager to -continue the fight. But Zoiloff would not hear of it. - -“I withdraw my man, certainly,” I heard him say, and he brought matters -to a dramatic conclusion. “I declare the stroke a foul one, foully -dealt, and if anyone questions that, I am ready to make good my words -now and here;” and he singled out Captain Dimitrieff and addressed him -pointedly: “What say you, Captain?” - -He looked very dangerous as he paused for an answer, and the Captain -clearly had no wish for a quarrel with him. - -“Of course, the fight is over,” he answered, evasively. - -“Exactly, and we’ll leave it at that,” said Zoiloff, drily, as he -turned on his heel and came to me with Spernow. “I never saw a more -dastardly thing. I wouldn’t have believed even a Russian would have -done such a thing.” A speech that set me wondering. - -“They won’t cross Zoiloff,” whispered Spernow to me as I was dressing, -rapidly. “He’s a demon at the business. I’m glad I brought him.” - -“What did he mean about ‘even a Russian?’” I asked. - -“He hates ’em as much as I do. I’ll tell you another time,” replied -Spernow. - -“I congratulate you, Count Benderoff, on a lucky escape. That man -meant to murder you; and Dimitrieff ought to be ashamed of himself -for not speaking out plainly. But they hang together in a way that’s -disgusting, these----” He checked himself suddenly, with a quick glance -at me, as though he had said more than enough before a stranger. - -“I hope he really did not know I was not on guard,” I answered. - -“I’m afraid it’s a hope not much stouter than a spider’s web;” and he -laughed bitterly. “The man meant murder, and was mad when he saw you -could hold him so easily. You use the sword like a master, Count--I -should like to try the foils with you.” - -“Nothing would please me better than a few hints from you,” said I, -readily. “I am a good deal out of practice.” - -“Then I shouldn’t care to play with you in earnest when you are in -practice,” was his deftly flattering reply. “If we are to quarrel, I’d -better pray for it to be soon;” and his taciturn face broke into a -smile. - -“It’s something to earn Zoiloff’s praise in these things, Count,” said -Spernow, laughing. “He’s generally as chary of it as a coy woman of her -kisses.” - -“You are both breakfasting with me, I hope,” I said, as we moved off -the ground. “Then we can go round to the house I am getting ready, and, -if you like, I can have my first lesson in the shooting gallery which I -am having fitted up there.” - -“Nothing would give me greater pleasure; but unfortunately, as I told -Spernow, I have an engagement which I cannot break,” said Zoiloff. “But -I can be with you in about a couple of hours from now, and then I -shall be at your service. I should like nothing better than to see your -gallery.” And we arranged it so. - -While we were at breakfast I asked Spernow to tell me, as he had -promised, how it was that so much hatred of the Russians existed among -the very men who were on their side. Such a fact, if it were one, might -have considerable influence upon me. - -“I am the worst hand in the world at explaining things,” he answered. -“But it is quite true. We don’t trust them, but we trust each other -less, Count; that’s about the size of it, I think. We must have some -kind of steady leadership, and what is there here? Look at the men -who are at the head of things, and what are they except a crowd of -nobodies, risen from nowhere, and setting their course solely by the -compass of self-interest. The needle points always in that direction, -and all the rest goes running round it.” - -“But why trust Russia?” - -“Why not? So far as we can see, the one steady influence in this -country is directed by her. We hate Russia, but we are afraid of her; -and where else can we look for any hope of help?” - -“The Prince,” I suggested. - -“He is as powerless as his poorest subject, and he has round him a -crew that are after nothing but their own personal ends. They yell -about patriotism and independence and all the rest of it, but would -sell themselves to-morrow to the highest bidder. They only don’t sell -themselves, because nobody thinks them worth buying. The only real -power is wielded by Russia, and I suppose we think it’s better to -make friends in advance with what must be the controlling hand in -the country. It’s not a very high game, is it--but where’s a better? -Men like Zoiloff would only too gladly jump at a chance of something -better.” - -“And the Princess Christina?” - -“Ah!” And his face lighted with enthusiasm. “We do all but worship her, -not only for herself, but because we have come to believe she will in -some way do what we want to see done--draw out the best that lies in -Bulgarian life. She is truth itself, and right, justice, and honour are -the cardinal articles of her faith.” - -I looked at him in surprise and began to see there was more in him than -I had at first thought. - -“You think more seriously of these matters than I had believed,” I said. - -“I?” and he laughed. “Ah, it does not do for us Bulgarians to let the -Russians believe we take either our affairs or ourselves too earnestly. -But some of us are sound enough in heart at least. Enough of politics, -however; why should I bore you with them?” And he turned away to -lighter topics, rattling off a dozen stories of the latest gossip and -tittle-tattle about the society of the city. - -I did not check him, for it struck me that he was anxious rather that I -should retain my first impressions of him than begin to look on him as -taking a serious interest in the affairs of the country. - -After breakfast we went round to my house and I showed him the -alterations I had made. He took the keenest interest in everything, -declaring that my wealth would make me at once an important figure in -Sofia, and that in a few weeks I should have half the city flocking to -my doors. - -When Zoiloff came we went to the shooting gallery, and both the men -were vastly interested in everything I had done. I had had the place -fitted as a gymnasium, with every kind of appliance that money could -provide; many of them sent specially from England. - -“I did not know that you Roumanians cared for these things at all,” -said Zoiloff. “I have not done you justice.” - -“I am half an Englishman,” I answered, purposely--for I had begun to -alter radically the original part for which I had cast myself. If I was -to stay in Sofia, I felt that I must wrap round me the protection which -that magic formula, British subject, alone could give. The announcement -surprised them both. - -“Ah, that accounts for it,” exclaimed Zoiloff. “You English are a -wonderful people. But why do you come to Sofia? Pardon me, I have no -right to put such a question,” he added hastily. - -“I am also half a Roumanian; and the freedom of Bulgaria is essential -for the independence of that country.” - -I turned away as I spoke, and pretended not to notice the swift, shrewd -look which both men turned upon me. - -“I shall hope to know much more of you, Count Benderoff,” said Zoiloff, -with so much earnestness that I thought my words had touched the chord -in him I intended. - -“I think it is my turn to be surprised in you,” said Spernow. “And I -hope that we three may come to understand each other well.” - -Were these invitations from them both to speak more openly? I thought -so, but felt that for the present I had said enough. - -“Shall we try the foils?” I asked. - -“With pleasure,” agreed Zoiloff; and while he was making ready he -glanced round the spacious gallery and added: “What a magnificent hall -you have here; there is room to drill half a company of soldiers, as -well as train a band of athletes!” - -“Yes,” I answered with a laugh. “It would be a fine house for a -revolutionary movement.” And at this they both started, and again shot -shrewd, searching glances at me; but I was busy selecting the foils. - -“You English are a wonderful people,” said Zoiloff again, but this time -very drily. - -We set to work then with our fencing, and to my surprise, and much to -Zoiloff’s admiration, I proved slightly the better swordsman. He had -not a spark of jealousy or envy in his composition, and when I had -beaten him for the third or fourth bout in succession, he only laughed -and said: - -“I am your first recruit, Count; and you are a master I am well content -to work from--and follow.” - -“Good,” exclaimed Spernow, “I will be the second--if you will have me, -Count.” - -“My dear Spernow, I could wish no better friends or comrades in any -work than you two.” At this answer Zoiloff, taciturn and reserved -though he was by nature, offered me his hand impulsively, and said with -great earnestness, as I took it: - -“Now I am sure we understand each other, and shall work together for -the same cause, Count;” and the warmth of his hand-grip told me that in -him I should have a firm friend. - -Spernow was not nearly so skilful a swordsman, and knew it; but he was -anxious to learn, and we arranged that we three should make a rule of -meeting daily for such practice; and when we were separating I said: - -“As you can see, I take a great interest in these things, and I should -like you to do me the favour of bringing with you such friends of yours -as you think would like to come and would help us by taking an interest -in the work here.” - -Zoiloff’s dark eyes lighted meaningly as they held mine. - -“You would soon have a large circle of friends, Count.” - -“Every friend of Bulgaria would be a friend of mine,” I answered. - -“You mean all that that implies?” - -“I mean all that that implies; and the wider interpretation you give to -it the better I shall be pleased.” - -“It should be a day of good omen for the country when your house is -thrown open for that purpose. A party of really patriotic Bulgarians -is no mere dream-project--though they will be young men, mostly. By -Heavens, but I am glad Spernow induced me to go out with you this -morning.” - -When they had gone, I stayed to think over all the chances which this -unexpected turn of matters suggested. It might yet be checkmate indeed -to Russian plans, if we could find the means to form such a party of -young ardent patriots from within the very ranks of those supposed to -be devoted to Russian interests. There were possibilities calculated to -satisfy the wildest ambitions and effect the most drastic changes. - -It would be a perilous task enough at the outset, for I could not doubt -that, should the project get wind, as was most probable in that land of -spies and treachery, General Kolfort would spare no efforts and stop at -no measures to crush it under the wheels of his enormous power. - -But it was worth the effort. To me it was infinitely more welcome than -any secret counter-mining intrigue, such as I had had in contemplation. -It would be a real sturdy stroke in the cause of freedom, and, if once -successful, no man could tell how far or wide or deep its glorious -effects might not be felt. - -It roused me till the blood coursed quickly through my veins and my -pulse beat with feverish throbs, for in it I saw the real interest and -honour of the Princess Christina herself. The men who had been with -me were both pledged to the eyelids to serve her, I knew; and I knew -further that every man they brought to the house to join us would have -the same enthusiasm in her behalf. Who could tell but that by these -means I might yet be the agent to place her on the throne, but without -the hampering restrictions of any Russian marriage? - -This thought was whirling in my head as I walked back to my hotel, -there to receive another startling surprise. - -Some one was waiting to see me, had been waiting for two hours, on -important business. - -“I am Major Grueff, and am the bearer of a letter to Count Benderoff, -of Radova. Have I the pleasure of speaking to him?” - -“Yes, what is it?” I asked, concealing my surprise. - -“His Highness has given you a captain’s commission in the Sofia -Regiment, Count, of which I am the Major in command, and has requested -me to carry back your answer to this letter.” - -I opened it and found it a request that I should wait upon the Prince -on the following day. - -There was no doubt as to the meaning of this. It was the Countess -Bokara’s work; and as I penned my reply, that I should gladly accept -his command, I called to mind her declaration that our next meeting -would be at the Prince’s palace. - -“I am glad to welcome you to the regiment, Count,” said the major; but -he spoke in a tone I did not like, and I conceived an instinctive but -invincible prejudice against him. “And, as I have been so long waiting, -I will get you to excuse my hurrying away.” - -I did not attempt to stay him; for I wished to be alone to think over -this new development. - -If I accepted the captaincy, what could it mean except that I committed -myself to the Prince’s side? And this at the very moment when the other -and vastly more congenial plan had begun to take shape in my mind. - -I thought I could see again the alluring but cruel face of the Countess -Bokara, and hear the ring of triumph in her voice as she had turned to -me after her cold-blooded deed: - -“Now you will have to join us!” - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -AT THE BALL - - -The ball that night was a very brilliant affair, and when I arrived the -rooms were already somewhat crowded. I found Spernow waiting for me -near the entrance. - -“You are a little late, Count; we began to fear that perhaps you were -not coming. Mademoiselle Broumoff is anxious for me to present you at -once. Will you come with me?” - -As we threaded our way through the throng, he told me the names of many -of those present, but I was looking everywhere for the Princess, and -felt disappointed at not seeing her. - -Mademoiselle Broumoff was sitting alone in a corner at the far end, -and I saw her eyes light up as she caught sight of us. She was not -pretty, but her face was bright and clever, with an ever-changing play -of expression that made it very attractive; while a pair of deeply set -thoughtful eyes spoke of great intelligence. - -As soon as I had been presented, she made a place for me at her side -and sent Spernow away with a reminder that he had a number of duty -dances with important partners. - -“You have kept him from them so long, Count, that he will have a busy -time,” she said with a smile. - -“I have kept him? I have but this minute arrived.” - -“Of course, that is the reason. I had commissioned him to bring you -straight to me, and you are late.” - -“I did not know that such an honour was depending on my arrival, or I -would have been earlier,” I said with a bow. - -“I have been most anxious, and half feared you meant to disappoint us;” -and in a light strain we chatted pleasantly. I soon perceived that my -companion was bent upon creating a favourable impression, while on my -side I was not less desirous of making a friend of one who was so close -an intimate of the Princess. We danced the next waltz together, and at -the close of it she asked me to lead her to one of the conservatories. - -I observed that she was careful to select a quiet corner, where we -could speak without fear of being overheard, and after a moment’s pause -she said earnestly: - -“I have been really anxious to know you, Count.” - -“I am flattered,” I answered. - -“No, not that,” she replied impulsively, with a slight shake of the -head. “I mean more than that. Michel has told me all that has passed -between you--especially this morning at your new house. Captain Zoiloff -is a man to trust implicitly, you know that?” - -“I formed that opinion strongly,” I said, beginning to wonder what she -was going to say. - -“Michel tells me you are half English. Is that a secret?” - -“No, certainly not. We English are not afraid to own our nationality, -as the actions of many of us show too prominently sometimes, I fear.” - -“But Englishmen of wealth do not commonly choose Bulgaria as a place -of residence--at least not without some strong motive.” And her eyes -searched my face for the truth. - -“Eccentricity has never yet been denied to us.” - -“Is it in your case eccentricity--only?” - -“I am also half a Roumanian,” I said, repeating the answer I had given -in the morning to Zoiloff. - -“And the Roumanians are all but Russians.” - -“Is not the Princess Christina a Roumanian?” I retorted. “And also of -the Russian Party here?” - -“Do you think that?” she asked quickly, turning the battery of her eyes -full on me again. - -“What time or means have I had to learn how to distinguish between -appearances and facts?” - -She laughed--a very silvery, sweet laugh. - -“You fence as cleverly with your tongue as with your sword, Count. What -do you want to know?” - -“Nothing that cannot be told me voluntarily, mademoiselle.” - -“Why do we all trust you instinctively?” she asked. A quiet feminine -thrust. - -“I am happy if you do,” I parried; and at the reply she shrugged her -shoulders, and a shadow of impatience crossed her expressive face. - -There was a pause, in which she looked down and played with her fan. - -“We wish to trust you entirely,” she said next, in a low, earnest -voice. “The Princess wishes it.” A swift glance shot up to notice the -effect of this. - -“I have no more earnest wish in life than to serve the Princess,” I -declared, the words coming from my heart. - -“To serve her is to serve the cause of freedom and the cause of -Bulgaria.” - -“Freedom as the Russians interpret it?” - -“Freedom as the English love it,” she answered, in a tone that vibrated -with enthusiasm, her eyes flashing and her cheeks colouring. “The -freedom that we true Bulgarians read and dream of, crave and would die -for,” she added, her voice deep and low with feeling. - -A long pause followed, in which my thoughts were busy. Had the Princess -Christina inspired this feeling, and was this strange girl an agent in -pressing me to join such a movement? My heart beat fast at the thought. - -“Is that a cause you would serve, Count?” she asked. - -“These are strange things to hear from those whom I find all gathered -under the wings of the Russian Eagle!” I said cautiously. - -“There may be stranger yet to hear,” she returned sharply. - -“The Prince who is on your throne is no friend of Russia.” - -“The Prince has never gained the confidence of true Bulgarians. The men -he keeps about him are patriots in nothing but name; and he has neither -the wit to winnow the false from the true, nor the courage to set the -false at defiance.” - -“You would play for a big stake?” - -“And make our lives the counters. Is not that enough?” The retort was -given with a show of bitterness. “You English are cold and calculating.” - -“We are cautious, certainly.” - -“Yet you should hate the Russians.” - -“No one has accused us of loving them.” - -She made another pause before replying: - -“Perhaps I have been too rash and have surprised you; but we thought -from what Michel told me of what passed this morning at your house, -that--well, that all was as we wished, and that you were already with -us.” - -“You thought this?” I asked, purposely putting an emphasis on the -pronoun. She understood me and smiled. - -“The Princess and I both thought it,” and I heard this with delight. - -“You did not hear more than the truth, mademoiselle.” - -“Then we are to be friends in it all?” she cried; and her face was -radiant with pleasure as she turned her eyes once more full upon me. - -“Show me how I can serve the Princess, and I will do it with my whole -heart, and if need be with my life.” - -“She will be here to-night, and you can tell her. The news will have -the pleasanter savour coming direct from you.” - -She knew how to fire me, and I would have given half my fortune to have -known what lay behind the meaning glance of her eyes, which started -thoughts I would not silence, and yet dared not indulge. - -As I sat there, half bewildered, I saw a tall, fair, truculent-looking -man forcing his way arrogantly among the people and coming in our -direction, while he looked about him on all sides in search of someone. - -“Who is that?” I asked. - -“A man to fear, Count--the worst enemy we have, Duke Sergius. A man -whose eyes we have always to blind.” - -At that moment he caught sight of my companion and he hurried his pace, -a heavy frown darkening his sensual, insolent features. - -“I have had much trouble in finding you, mademoiselle. I might almost -have thought you were trying to avoid me. The waltz we were to dance -together has commenced.” - -Mademoiselle Broumoff smiled ingenuously at him and said: - -“I scarcely thought you were in earnest when you put my name on your -programme. You do not generally honour me by remembering it.” - -“I have something particular to ask you,” he replied, with such -selfish insolence that I could have kicked him. He caught something -of this expression in my face as he looked casually at me, and his -glance deepened into a steady stare as he tried to frown me down. -But I returned his look with one in which I tried to convey some of -the dislike and contempt I felt at his attitude, and, perceiving -it, mademoiselle rose hastily, put herself between us, and drew his -attention by placing her hand on his arm and saying, as she bowed to me: - -“I am ready now.” - -As they moved off I heard him ask who I was, but could not catch the -reply. - -I hated the look of the man, and tried to persuade myself that the -feeling was not in any way prompted by what I knew about his design -upon the Princess Christina. If I had before needed any inducement to -drive me into opposition to him, my hasty prejudice would have supplied -it; and I sat now absorbed in thought, chewing the cud of all that had -passed between the Princess’s staunch little emissary and myself, and -wishing for the hour and the means to thwart him. They would come, I -felt, and I nursed my anger and fed my animosity as I sat there piecing -together the threads of the net that was closing round me, and drawing -me forward upon a path that would lead I could not say whither. - -Spernow’s voice roused me. - -“You are not dancing, Count. Won’t you let me find you some partners? -There are plenty here who wish to know you. Well, have you and Nathalie -had an interesting conversation?” he asked in a lower voice, dropping -into the seat at my side. “I know how anxious she was for it.” - -“I hope great things from it,” I answered. - -“Are you to be presented to the Princess?” - -I looked at him in surprise, not understanding the question. - -“Oh, the presentation was to hinge upon the result of your talk with -her.” - -“Then probably I shall be presented,” I returned, smiling. - -“Good, very good; nothing could be better, indeed. Come, then, and let -us go in search of partners. But don’t fill up your card, you may need -a gap or two in it presently.” I guessed his meaning, but said nothing -as I went with him back to the dancing hall, was introduced to several -people, and for an hour danced and chatted as though I had no other -object in life. - -I was not too much engrossed by my partners, however, to miss the -entrance of the Princess Christina, and more than once when I passed -close to her in the course of a dance I caught her gaze fixed upon me -with evident interest. Once especially was I certain of this, when she -and Mademoiselle Broumoff were in close and earnest conversation; and -it was with a thrill of pleasure that I felt that I was the subject of -their talk. - -Soon after this Spernow came to me and said that the Princess was -anxious that I should be presented to her; and with a fast-quickening -pulse I went with him to where she and her companion were sitting. - -Almost directly I had made my bow Mademoiselle Broumoff rose and said -to Spernow: - -“This is our dance, Michel,” and as the pair went away I took her place -by the side of the beautiful woman who exercised so overpowering a -fascination upon me. - -“A more conventional meeting than our first, Count,” she said. - -“A very brilliant scene,” I replied naïvely; for now that I was alone -with her I felt like a tongue-tied clown. My stupid answer surprised -her, as well it might, and I saw a look of perplexity cross her face. -After an awkward pause, I added: “Your coming then saved my life.” - -“Scarcely that; but I have since heard the particulars of that matter, -and I have been ashamed that you should have suffered such treatment in -my name. I am glad of an opportunity of assuring you of my regret.” - -“I would gladly suffer much worse on your behalf,” I blurted out -nervously, and the answer brought another pause, during which I -struggled hard to overcome my embarrassment and self-consciousness. -I desired above all things in the world to win the favour of my -companion, and yet I sat like a fool, at a loss for the mere -commonplaces of conversation. She would think me a dolt or an idiot. - -How long my stupid silence would have lasted I cannot tell; but the -Princess in a movement of her fan dropped her dance card, and, in -returning it to her I looked up, and caught her eyes upon me lighted -with a rare smile. - -“Do you return it to me without your name upon it?” she asked. - -“May I have the honour?” I murmured. - -“What is a ball for, but dancing?” she smiled. “But if you write your -name there it will be a sign and token.” - -“Of what?” I asked stupidly. - -“Of much that my dear little friend Mademoiselle Broumoff tells me she -has said to you to-night.” - -“What is a ball for, but dancing?” I repeated her words as I took the -card and wrote my initials against a waltz. “It will make the dance -memorable to me,” I added, under my breath. - -“I shall read it for one thing as a token that you have acquitted me of -all responsibility for the scene at General Kolfort’s house.” - -“There was no need for any token of that, Princess,” I replied, -beginning to shake off my paralysing nervousness. - -“And of the rest?” - -“That I desire nothing better than to be enrolled among your friends.” -I spoke from my heart then, and the words pleased her. - -“There may be many dangers, and more difficulties.” - -“I am prepared for both--if I can serve you.” I looked straight at her -for the first time, and her eyes fell. - -“I could have no more welcome friend,” she said softly. - -This time the pause that followed was due as much to her embarrassment -as to mine, and I noted this with a touch of delight. - -“You had a long conference with General Kolfort?” she asked, a minute -later. - -“Yes; he threatened me with all the power of his enmity if I did not -decide to ally myself on his side, and gave me a week in which to do so -or leave the country.” - -“And your decision?” she asked quickly. - -“Has been made to-night.” - -“To do what?” - -“To devote myself without reserve to your interests.” - -“I am glad--and proud.” - -No answer that she could have made could have filled me with more -supreme pleasure. - -“I had feared a quite different result from news which reached me -to-day. You know your affairs are pretty freely discussed just now.” - -“What news was that?” - -“I heard that you had received a captain’s commission in the Prince’s -own household regiment. Is that so?” - -“It was unsolicited by me; and I learnt it only to-day. I have not yet -accepted it. I am to see His Highness to-morrow.” - -“You will find him a good man, but sorely distracted by doubts and -fears. All willing to serve Bulgaria; but afraid of Russian influence, -and unable to choose good advisers here. His nerves have been shaken by -the plots against his life, and his judgment shattered till he cannot -appraise the men about him. Were matters different he would be an ideal -ruler for us.” - -“And what of the other influences round him?” I asked guardedly; but -she understood me and replied openly: - -“You mean the woman whose life you saved. I cannot understand her. Her -ruling passion seems to be her hate of me. And a woman with a passion, -be it jealousy, hate, or love, is no safe guide.” I detected a note of -sadness in her tone. “You ran a great risk that night, Count, a fearful -risk.” - -“There was little danger that I saw.” - -“I do not mean the seen danger; that may have been small for a man -whose bravery and skill with weapons are such as yours. But the unseen -dangers--the consequences that may always pursue and overtake you -when you least think of them. It is such terrible deeds as that which -fill me with dismay and dread of the future. How can a cause hope -to prosper, the foundations of which are secret murder, implacable -violence, and such desperate bloodshed? And these things are done in my -name, and apparently with my sanction. Did not General Kolfort threaten -you with the consequences of your act?” - -“Yes, but I do not take his threats too seriously. It is one thing to -assassinate a Bulgarian woman, another to murder a British subject.” - -“When you have been longer in this distracted country you will see the -distinction differently. But we must talk no longer in this strain -here. Too many eyes are upon us and too many ears open. Balls are for -dancing, Count,” she added in a light tone and with a smile. - -I understood that I was dismissed, and rose and walked away. I was in -no mood for dancing, and I went into one of the conservatories to think -over what had passed between us, and remained there until it was time -to claim her for the waltz she had promised me. - -We danced it almost in silence, save for a commonplace or two about -the ball and the people present; but at the close she said earnestly: - -“I am leaving almost directly. I shall be at home to-morrow afternoon, -and shall be interested to know your impressions of the Prince.” Then -in a lower voice: “You must be careful, Count. Accept the commission -in the regiment; but do not pledge yourself to His Highness’s service. -You will not find it necessary. Maintain as strict a neutrality as -possible; and then see General Kolfort and tell him what you are doing. -It might be well to see him before you go to the Palace. Emphasise the -fact of your British nationality. You have a difficult part to play; -how difficult you do not yet see, perhaps. But your success and your -safety will always be of the deepest concern to me. Remember that, -always.” - -She spoke earnestly, and in her eyes, as I glanced into them, I saw -again that look of solicitude which at our previous meeting had moved -me so strangely. - -And the sweetness of her voice, the touch of her hand, and the tender -softness of her glance, were haunting me all through the night, and -urging me to I know not what strenuous efforts in her behalf. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -AT THE PALACE - - -The next morning I was up early and went for a long ride. It was likely -to be a critical day for me, and I had to try and look well ahead to -see where I was being carried by the new set of the tide in my affairs. - -My conversation with the Princess Christina had had a great effect upon -me. For one thing it had made me more resolved than ever to devote -myself to her, whatever might be the consequences; but her words of -warning, her evident belief that there was danger for me, and above all -her pleasure at my declaration of loyalty to her, had roused all my -instincts of caution, while they had strengthened my feelings towards -her. - -She was shrewd, clear-cut in her views of men and things, devoted to -the cause of Bulgaria, and openly allied to the Russian party, whose -rough and violent methods she had nevertheless so indignantly decried. -What then was her object? Was she playing the doubly hazardous game of -attempting to use the Russian influence and power for an end opposed to -theirs? - -That was the only solution I could see. And it was one which I knew -must involve her in a course fraught with such peril, that only a woman -of iron nerve and implacable will could contemplate it without fear. -And yet she was brave enough to take such a course without, so far as -I knew, a single man trained in state-craft and intrigue to help her. -Could I take such a _rôle_? The mere thought of the possibility filled -me with enthusiasm not unmixed with much embarrassment. - -If my surmise was right, I felt that her scheme was just that which our -Foreign Office would do their utmost to assist; and, in helping her -to gain the throne on such terms, I should be fulfilling in the best -possible way the object of my presence in the country. But I knew, too, -that open help from the British Government was impossible. That had -been made unmistakably plain to me, and I must make it equally clear to -her. Her advice to make the most of my British nationality might have -been prompted by a belief that our Government would help her, and I -must show her the groundlessness of any such hope. - -At the same time, the course she had indicated agreed best with my own -views: to maintain an open neutrality between the contending sections -while devoting myself to her interests. Her whole object must be -put fully before me, however; and I resolved to speak very frankly -that afternoon. The prospect of the close association with her was -infinitely alluring, and it required more than a single effort to -drag my thoughts away from dwelling upon this to the more practical -consideration of other matters. To secure that friendship I would -willingly venture all that I had in the world; and I had but to think -of it for my heart to be thrilled and my senses dazzled. - -But what of the Duke Sergius and the story of the secret betrothal? -The man was a selfish, sensual brute, as I had seen for myself. Was it -possible that she would even go to the length of sacrificing herself -in a marriage with such a man to secure her end? Then I recalled a -sentence of Mademoiselle Broumoff’s: “A man whose eyes we have always -to blind;” and I repeated it over and over again, till at last I grew -to read it by the light of my own wild, vague thoughts and hopes--that -there was no betrothal, but that the pretended agreement to it was a -part of the subtler plot which my Princess was weaving. The thought of -such a betrothal was maddening to me, and I worked myself up until I -thought I would rather pick a quarrel with him and run him through the -heart than see her condemned to be the wife of such a brute. - -I was cooler, however, when I returned to my hotel, and my wits were -clear and wary enough as I set out for General Kolfort’s house. I was -well received, but he made haste to show me that he knew already of the -fact of my captain’s commission. - -“I am glad to see you, Count Benderoff--or shall I say Captain?” - -“Choose your own form of salutation, General. It was of that matter I -came to see you,” I returned. - -“Is that all?” - -“All?” I asked, as if in astonishment. - -“Do you accept the commission in the service of the Prince--or rather -of the lady who has offered it you--or in mine?” - -“In neither; but as an honour offered to a rich British subject who has -taken up permanent residence in Sofia.” His shrewd old eyes lighted at -this reply, which he had certainly not expected. - -“So that is your line, eh?” he said drily. “Considering that they know -nothing of the Hon. Mr. Winthrop’s existence, they have acted a little -by accident in honouring a British subject. Don’t you think so?” - -I smiled. “At any rate they have made me the offer, and I have -decided to accept it. But I preferred to come and tell you, after our -interesting little conversation of three days ago.” - -“That means, then, you will remain in Sofia?” - -“My house is nearly ready for my occupation, and I shall hope to be -honoured by your presence in it as my guest.” - -“Umph! You have not forgotten our conversation, I see.” - -“It was scarcely one to be forgotten.” - -“And I understand you claim the rights of a British subject.” - -“I am half a Roumanian, General, with considerable possessions there,” -I returned, equivocally. - -“You are a very ambitious, or a very reckless, or a very clever young -man, Count. You have thought over your course well?” - -“I am not given to act on impulse.” - -“Yet cleverer men than you have tried unsuccessfully the dangerous -policy of attempting to ride on two horses at once.” - -“I can but fail,” I answered, indifferently. - -“Then you decline to enrol yourself in my service?” - -“I neither decline nor accept, General.” The reply was unwelcome, and -he sat a moment with brows knitted. - -“You will fail, sir, as certainly as you make the attempt. But I must -know, in view of future possibilities, whether you claim the status of -a British subject or that of a Roumanian Count, or whether, again, I am -to regard you merely as a captain in a Bulgarian regiment.” - -“I shall be in the unique position of enjoying all three,” said I, and -noticed with some amusement the effect of this answer; and then added -with a laugh, and in a light tone: “I don’t expect you to take me too -seriously, General Kolfort.” - -“If you are a British subject, I can ask your Government to recall -you; if a Roumanian Count, I can use other influence to deal with you; -while, if you are merely a Bulgarian officer, you will be responsible -to me for the deed which you have already committed.” His tone was -tense, concentrated, and full of earnestness. “Understand me; I do not -alter. If you will not join me, you shall not stay in Bulgaria. I am -not to be trifled with.” - -“I can appreciate that, for you have already had my correspondence -tampered with, in order to prevent certain news reaching England. -I have committed no act for which I am not quite prepared to -answer--openly; and all I demand is that fair play which we English -claim as the right of all--whether English, Roumanian, or Bulgarian.” - -He listened to this with a grim smile on his hard face. - -“You mean that you are ready to risk breaking yourself on the wheel. -Very well; I confess I looked for a somewhat different decision, -judging by what has passed in the last two days--your conversations -with various people; but remember, and, indeed, you are not likely to -forget, what I have told you is my firm resolve. If you stay, you must -join us.” - -I left him then, feeling that I had created pretty much the impression -I desired--that, in dealing with me, he would have to regard me as a -British subject; and that, coupled with the fact of my increasingly -close relations with the Princess and those about her, would suffice to -secure my safety for a time. - -With the reigning Prince I was at a loss what line to take. It was -difficult to decide beforehand; but I was resolved to go to the length -of refusing the captaincy in the regiment if the conditions attached to -its acceptance were in any way embarrassing to my freedom. - -But my interview with him was a surprise to me. - -He received me alone, and spoke with a freedom I had not expected, -giving as the reason for his attitude my rescue of the Countess -Bokara; and when I told him as I did, for there was now no longer -any reason for concealing the fact, that I was an Englishman, his -frankness increased. He jumped to the conclusion that I had some sort -of credentials from the British Government, and it was only with -difficulty that I disabused him of the idea. - -He had the most engaging personality of any man I ever met. He was -strikingly handsome; every movement was marked by a courtly but -unstudied and natural grace; his voice was toned in perfect accord with -his courteous and kindly bearing; and his manner so sympathetically -receptive as to impress you with the conviction that all you said -had the utmost interest and importance for him. A courtier to the -finger-tips, and yet withal a prince, it was impossible not to be -charmed with him. I might have been his most intimate friend instead -of the merest stranger who had come to thank him for a favour just -bestowed. There was something lacking, however--strength; and therein, -without doubt, lay the secret of his failure. - -“What reason can a wealthy Englishman have for settling in a place -like this, unless he bears a commission of some kind?” he asked, while -indulging his hope that I was indeed charged with the duty of aiding -him. - -“Had I such a mission, your Highness, should I not have come straight -to you?” - -“I suppose so, but yet it seems strange. I suppose they know in England -how matters are with me, and what must eventually happen if nothing is -done.” - -“All Europe knows of the difficulties of your position,” I answered -diplomatically. - -“And all Europe does nothing but look on with folded hands, leaving me -helpless to kick against the pricks. Do they think I bear a charmed -life to withstand for ever the plots against my life that are being -daily formed, and that I can go on for ever avoiding the poison or the -dagger or the bullet that my enemies have ever in readiness for me? Do -they take me for a zealot so tired of living that I am willing to keep -my life always on offer to the first hand daring and shrewd enough to -take it? And all this for a freedom which they mouth about and will -not help, and for a people who have been corrupted to hate me, though -I have doubled their country, led them to victory, and saved them from -overwhelming disasters. By Heaven! the ingratitude of this people is as -colossal as their selfishness.” - -I said nothing, and in a moment his bitterness passed, and he smiled. - -“This is poor hearing for one who has come generously to offer me his -services, and who has already placed me under a load of obligation. But -at least I will be frank with you, Count Benderoff. I can give you this -commission, give it gladly, and welcome you for what I believe you to -be--an honourable man; but your services are of no use to me. They come -too late--too late.” - -“I do not understand your Highness.” - -“It shall not be for want of plain dealing with you, then. The dear -friend whose life you saved, and who has brought you to me, is -urging--the impossible. She does not know it, or cannot realise it, or -will not--what you will; but, mark me well, my days in this ungrateful -country are numbered. You will not use the information I give you--but -I have resolved to abdicate.” - -“To abdicate?” I cried, for this was news indeed. - -“Yes; to abdicate. That is my fixed and irrevocable resolve. Had you -brought me the promise of help from England, I would stay and fight -it out, and strive to realise those high hopes with which, under God, -I declare I accepted the throne. But what can I do alone, or almost -alone, against a people who plot and plan to depose or murder me, who -have tired already of the puppet ruler which other Powers imposed -upon them, and against the cursed canker of this Russian intrigue? -In all the land I cannot now tell who is friend and who foe. In my -very household the air reeks with conspiracy and intrigue. I know -not whether any man I meet by chance may not be sent to do murder. I -never lie down at night without wondering whether I shall see the next -morning’s sun. I never taste a meal without the thought of poison. I -never speak a word without the expectation that it will be carried to -the ears of my implacable and ruthless foes. And never a sun rises and -sets again without I know that the deadly work of corruption has been -carried a stage farther.” - -“Such thoughts as these, your Highness, grow by brooding.” - -“Good God, man, they are the natural germs with which this Eastern air -is crowded and polluted. No, no; these are no idle fears. Russia is -relentless, and I am powerless to resist her. I will not be her tool. -I could stay in safety and in what the world calls pomp and honour, a -great Prince, if I would but stoop to do her bidding. I will not; and -therefore my choice to abdicate or die. Would God it could have been -different!” - -I was silent in the rush of thoughts these utterances roused. - -“You will not tell the Countess Bokara this? It is my grief, the -bitterest irony of all my position, that I am driven thus to mislead -the one friend who has been staunch to me, the truest friend God ever -gave to a disappointed man, a foiled and thwarted Prince. I have told -you--it will, indeed, be public knowledge in a few weeks from now, and -Europe will reap the crop which her vacillation has sown--that you may -not be buoyed up with false hopes from this grant of the commission. It -would be a Greek gift, indeed, did I not tell you the truth--that you -have nothing to hope from it. I can guess, of course, what the result -will be. You will be drawn to the Russian net. That is a vortex which -sucks in everything.” - -“What is that?” - -I turned like a needle to the magnet as I heard the ringing tones of -the Countess Bokara, who had entered the room unknown to us. - -“Who will join the Russian party--you, Count Benderoff?” she cried -eagerly, almost fiercely, as she came quickly forward. “No. Prince, I -will answer for him. He dare not,” she added. - -“How much did you hear, Anna?” he asked rather uneasily. - -“Enough to rouse my indignation, that was all.” - -“I was telling the Count that there is no hope to be gained in my -service, and there is but one side here for a man of action.” - -“Prince, Prince, why will you always damp the enthusiasm of those -who would be your friends and adherents? Why this constant tone of -depression? These everlasting fears and forebodings? There is no -cause for them, Count. We are on the eve of a stroke that will change -everything--everything--and foil these coward traitors and restore in -all its former strength the Prince’s influence. There is no monopoly -of craft and guile in these Russians! A clear head, a strong hand, a -loyal heart, and a daring sword, can change all. We are not so hopeless -but that a clever _coup_ can save our cause and make us once again -all-powerful.” - -The Prince threw up his hands with a gesture of weakness. - -“It is too late,” he murmured, despondently. “Too late.” - -“It shall never be too late while I live,” she cried, desperately. “It -shall never be said that you were beaten by a woman. Force her from -the path, by fair means or foul--and forced she shall be--and all the -flimsy superstructure of this clumsy plot falls like a shattered dream. -Never shall Bulgaria be crushed beneath that woman’s heel while I have -strength in my right arm, or there remains a knife or a bullet in all -the land. I swear it.” - -She uttered the vengeful words with all the vehement force of her -violent temper, and as I looked at her I could see the thoughts of -murder lighting her strained, glowing features, and brightly gleaming -eyes. - -But while they stirred repugnance in me they seemed only to add to the -Prince’s despondency. - -“There has been too much blood shed already,” he said, in a tone of -rebuke. - -[Illustration: “THE COUNT HAS MY PERMISSION TO RETIRE.”--_Page 89._] - -“Too much; aye, so much that one woman’s life more will make no -difference. So they thought when they planned that mine should be the -life--and shall I be softer than they?” - -The Prince looked at me with an expression I was quick to read, and I -made a movement as if to leave. - -“I shall see you again shortly, Count, and you will take up your -military duties at your early convenience. Meanwhile, I depend upon -your discretion. All that you have heard here is for yourself alone.” - -“Absolutely. I understand,” I answered, and took my leave. - -“You cannot go like this,” broke in the Countess. “I have yet much to -say to you. I need your advice and help.” - -“Madame, I have urgent matters that call for attention immediately,” I -replied, and the Prince thanked me with a look. - -“And are not these matters urgent?” she cried, indignantly. - -“The Count has my permission to retire,” said the Prince, with sudden -dignity. - -“When do you return, sir?” asked the Countess. “I must see you at once. -I cannot brook delay. I am on fire when I think of all you must help me -to achieve.” - -“My duties will bring me here constantly;” and as I withdrew I could -not decide whether my admiration of her courage and staunchness to the -Prince or my loathing of the deadly methods by which she was prepared -to prove it were the greater. Admirable as a friend, she was hateful -as a woman; and as she watched me go she appeared like a beautiful -dangerous fiend, till her face turned to the Prince and her eyes glowed -with the intense love for him which was the inspiring passion of her -strange, reckless nature. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -“I HAVE UNBOUNDED FAITH IN YOU” - - -All my impressions of the interview with the Prince were quickly -overshadowed by the one overpowering fear that the Princess was in -imminent personal danger from the fury of the Countess Bokara. The -Princess was regarded by her as the central pivot on which the whole -Russian intrigue turned, and to take her life was the openly avowed -object of that dangerous woman’s passion. - -That any attempt would be subtly planned and fearlessly carried out -I knew well enough, and it was for the perfecting of such a scheme -that she sought my help. This was indeed the crowning irony of the -situation. I, who would give my life to save the Princess’s, was to -be this reckless fury’s accomplice in a plot to murder her, in order -to keep on the throne a Prince who had solemnly declared to me his -unalterable decision to resign it. - -Yet there was one ray of consolation. It was probable that I should -be able to hold her scheme in check long enough to secure the safety -of her intended victim, and I could at once urge upon the latter the -necessity for the greatest caution. It was with this thought in my mind -that I made my visit to the Princess in the afternoon. - -Her house was a large one standing by itself in the centre of the -town, and I scanned it curiously. I noticed with satisfaction that -great precautions had been taken. All the windows in the lower -part were barred heavily; and the defences might have been planned -with the express view of preventing just such an attempt as was in -contemplation. The Russians had obviously done the work, knowing the -need for guarding jealously the woman on whom so much depended. - -On that score I had no apprehensions, therefore, and I resolved to -question the Princess closely as to the state of affairs within, and -whether she was absolutely sure of those who formed her household. - -She received me very graciously. - -“Your interview with the Prince has made you thoughtful, Count,” she -said, after a few minutes. “Was my forecast right? and what have you -done?” - -“I have accepted the commission in his regiment, but I have not pledged -myself to support his cause--indeed, he said that I should probably -find myself bound in the end to commit myself to the Russian party.” - -“It is singular that a man who showed himself so brave, and at first so -capable, should be unable to read what is as plain as a book to other -people.” - -“His reading is that the one possible future for the country is for it -to pass into the power of Russia.” - -“I know that. It is his besetting weakness.” She said this very -thoughtfully, and then her face and eyes lighted as she added with -vehemence: “And it is wrong--utterly and wholly wrong. The merest -counsel of despair. By the help of Heaven we will live to prove it so; -and if I have not counted on you in vain, you shall help us in the -glorious work.” - -She turned her eyes upon me with a look that infected me with her -enthusiasm. “You will help us, will you not?” - -“With everything I possess, even to my life.” - -“I know it; I am sure of you. Would to heaven we had more men like -you with us! I am going to trust you--put perhaps our lives in your -keeping, for I know well enough the dangers of the work. But I trust -you--absolutely.” She held out her hand as she said this with an air -and tone of implicit confidence, and I carried her fingers to my lips. - -“Show me how to help,” I said, my voice unsteady with emotion. - -“Openly we are all allied to the Russians in a scheme which is to make -me the reigning Princess, independent of all Russian influence. This -is the veil which hides their real intentions. Secretly there is an -engagement that I shall become the wife of the Duke Sergius, admitting -him to a half share of the throne, and thus Russianising it completely. -To make sure of me, it is arranged that we be married secretly, the -union only to be announced after my accession. The object for this is -of course to bind me irrevocably to them beforehand; and it is expected -that while I am seemingly independent, all that is national and -patriotic in Bulgaria will be rallied to my support. We should thus get -a firm hold of the throne and of all classes of the people without the -suspicion of too great Russian predominance. Do you see that?” - -I did; and my looks showed that I did not relish it. - -“It is a shrewd scheme, no doubt,” I said. - -She gazed at me steadily, almost reproachfully, I thought. But I did -not like the scheme, and would not pretend that I did. - -“Is it a plan you will help?” she asked. I was silent and cast my eyes -on the ground. - -“Is it a plan you will help?” she repeated. - -“You place me in a position of great difficulty, Princess,” I replied, -slowly. - -“Will you help me in it?” she repeated. - -“With such powerful influence behind you, you will not need my help -that I can see,” I returned, ungraciously, for the scowling brutal face -of Duke Sergius was in my thoughts. - -Her eyes were still bent steadily upon me, and a side glance showed me -their expression had changed. - -“You are not frank with me, Count Benderoff,” she said, after a pause; -and at that I looked up and said bluntly: - -“If I offend you I am sorry; but I will not stir a finger to help the -man you mean--the Duke Sergius.” - -Her face was breaking into a smile, when she checked it, and I saw a -faint wave of colour rise to her cheek. - -“What do you know of Duke Sergius?” she asked. Again a pause. - -“Little or nothing, Madame; but I will not serve in any cause where his -interests are to be advanced.” - -“Why do you not like him? You knew I was betrothed to him?” - -She seemed suddenly bent on rousing my temper against the man. - -“I had heard of it.” - -“Yet, knowing it, you have not hitherto refused to help me!” Was she -playing on my passion, that she persisted in her questioning? “You must -have some reasons,” she continued, when I remained silent; “what are -they?” and to my astonishment the smile which she had before checked -now passed beyond control and lighted her face rarely. - -“You must not press me for my reasons,” I said quickly; and the light -in her eyes may have reflected the thought behind it, for again the -colour mantled her cheeks. - -“Then you will not help me?” she said in a low voice that witched me. - -“You? With my life!” - -The passion in my tone made her cast down her eyes, till, with a still -deeper colour on her face, she lifted them and said gently: - -“Forgive me; I was but testing you. And if you blame me, think what -store I may set upon an assurance of fidelity that is purely personal -to me. Call it caprice if you will, a mere woman’s caprice, that I -should thus seek to probe your real thoughts and resolves.” - -“There was no need to test me where you were concerned,” I replied; -and again the earnestness of my tone appeared to embarrass her. In the -short silence that followed I sat with but the loosest rein upon the -hopes and thoughts that were so much to me. - -“No; the Duke Sergius does not come into the scheme as we plan it,” she -said; “and I thought indeed that what Mademoiselle Broumoff told you -would have made you understand this. I would do much for this country; -and if it were necessary that I should marry him--which, thank God, it -is not--I might force myself to go even to that extreme. But in my life -there can be no thought of marriage. I should be baser than the base -if, having taken this charge upon me, I should ever turn from it by any -thought of myself.” - -She spoke in a tone of lofty exaltation, a strange contrast indeed to -what she had termed her “mere woman’s caprice;” and I held my peace. - -“Our plan is this,” she resumed: “to use the Russian ladder, and then -kick it over. To make them pledge themselves before Europe to support -me on the throne, and then to use the power of the throne for rallying -the Bulgarians to defend themselves and their country against their -real enemies.” - -“You have mapped out a dangerous counterplot, Princess; but I like it, -and if I can help, I will. How will you prevent the secret marriage?” - -“We shall have to leave that to be disposed of when the time comes. As -you were warned, he is a man whose eyes we have ever to blind.” - -“Are you sure of the people about you?” - -“Of some--indeed, of many; but it is in that you can be of such help to -us. I have heard of the suggestions you made so guardedly, that your -house shall be the rendezvous of the movement to which those shall be -brought who are known to be true to the country, and can be trusted. -Such a meeting-place will be invaluable, especially where, as in your -case, there is a plausible excuse for any such gatherings.” - -“You mean?” - -“We propose to form a kind of gymnasium club--at least, propose -that you should form it among the young men of the city whom we can -ascertain to be faithful. Of these men you will necessarily become the -leader; so you see you will have an important part to play, my friend.” - -“It is shrewd,” I said, perceiving at once its many possibilities, as -I recalled Zoiloff’s words. “But how far are your plans advanced? Time -presses.” - -“Much farther advanced than you think. We have been working all the -time this Russian scheme has been in progress, so that we should be -ready when that reaches its climax. But matters will move faster now, -and in a few weeks all should be prepared. It is a strong point that -the very craft of General Kolfort itself has helped us. We have, as -it were, a free hand for making our preparations. He is as anxious as -we are that those Bulgarians who are opposed to the Prince, and would -help me, but fear Russia, should be secured to us; and this has given -us just the cover for our work that we needed. We shall triumph, Count, -for the cause of truth is ours, and Bulgaria shall be free;” and her -voice rang with earnestness. - -I sat silent in thought for some moments. - -“You have thought of the dangers to yourself?” - -“I can but die, and where could one find a nobler end?” Her face shone -with the light of willing martyrdom. - -“You think the General has no suspicion?” - -“He cannot have as yet. There will come a moment when his eyes will -be opened, no doubt, and then the danger may be real enough. But I am -prepared to face anything for the cause.” - -I thought of that moment, and my heart feared for her; but I knew of -the other danger from that wild woman, the Countess Bokara; and I must -put her on her guard. - -“It is not of the dangers we must think, Count, but of the great end -to be achieved,” she added. “To dwell on nothing but risks may make -cowards of the bravest.” - -[Illustration: “SHE TURNED SWIFTLY AND LOOKED AT ME.”--_Page 97._] - -“True; but we must at all events give enough heed to the dangers to be -able to guard against them. Have you thought of the steps the Prince -and those about him might take against you?” - -“You may have influence with her,” she answered, understanding me -readily. “And I have had a half hope that you may be able to make her -understand how hopeless are her efforts. Can you do this?” - -“I am not hopeful. She is a woman of wild and vehement passions.” - -“She is mad; she hates me so violently that if she dared she would -herself plunge a knife into my heart. She clings to the shadow of power -which she wields through the Prince with all the tenacity of ambition -venomed by malice. I know it, but I do not fear her,” she said proudly. -“She is the greatest enemy this country has, even in this hour when -its enemies throng every street, and are found in every house. Daring, -unscrupulous, reckless, and saturated with the lust of power, she would -use the Prince for the pursuit of her own ends, and those only, however -cleverly masked by a boasted love of the country.” - -The Princess was a very woman after all, I saw, for it was easy to read -the personal dislike which breathed through her indignation. - -“She may be very dangerous, Princess,” I said warningly. - -She turned swiftly and looked at me, reading in my voice my genuine -alarm for her. After a moment, her face softened into a smile, and she -put her hand on my arm. - -“You are warning me, I see, against something you know but cannot tell -me. I will not ask you. I will do more, for your sake, and to relieve -your fears on my account. I will be very cautious. You have a most -difficult part to fulfil at present; I understand that. But I will -guard against any such risks as you appear to contemplate. Your ready -zeal for the cause is very welcome to me, Count--more welcome, perhaps, -than I have been able to show you. For the sake of what you say, I will -be very cautious.” - -Her eyes rested a moment on my face, holding me in a thraldom of silent -admiration. Then she added sweetly: “But you must not let your fears -for me print themselves so legibly on your face. We shall go forward -together in this matter to victory, my friend. That is the thought -to carry with you. Heaven will not suffer us to fail, let the risks -and difficulties be what they may. We are close comrades now; and I -feel that you have been sent just at the moment when such a man was -absolutely necessary. And when we have gained the victory, you will -play a large part in the far greater work that lies ahead. I have -unbounded faith in you.” - -“I do not need the spur of ambition to serve you, Princess; but, by the -help of heaven, your faith in me shall never prove unfounded.” I spoke -with intense earnestness, and then rose to leave. She rose, too, and -gave me her hand, which I again carried to my lips; and it pleased me -to think that her fingers trembled as my lips touched them. - -I had reached the door when she said suddenly: - -“Oh, there is one thing which I have not mentioned. We have a kind of -watchword which you should know. Our friends are banded together ‘In -the Name of a Woman,’ Count.” - -I started with a touch of alarm. - -“But General Kolfort knows of that. It was with that formula I was -accosted by the messenger who led me to his house.” - -“He chose it,” she answered, with a smile of reassurance. “It is -intended to mark off those who are for me as distinguished from those -solely devoted to Russia, the good men and true for whom he thinks I -can best act as his decoy.” I understood her. “You will not forget it -and all that it means, as I have explained to you to-day.” - -“I am not likely to forget all that it means to me,” I said, and a -quick glow on her face made me think she understood me, too, and was -not displeased. With a little flush of pleasure I turned again to -leave, when the door was opened, and a servant announced the Duke -Sergius. - -He came in hurriedly, with a look of vexation on his coarse, broad -face, which deepened instantly to anger as his eyes fell upon me. - -“They told me you were engaged, Princess, as I see,” he said, with a -sneer at me; “but I had a matter of urgency to discuss with you, so I -bade your servants announce me.” - -“Your urgency will cost my servants their places,” she answered, the -expression of her face hardening into cold austerity--so different from -anything I had seen during our interview. - -“I did not think it could be anything very important,” he answered, -paying no heed to her words. “Who is this gentleman?” and he turned and -glowered at me. - -Not only a bully, but a cad, was my thought, as I returned his look -with generous interest. - -The Princess murmured our names formally and coldly. - -“I have heard something of you, Count, from General Kolfort.” He spoke -as if it had been nothing to my good. “If I mistake not, I saw you at -the ball last night.” - -“I was there,” I answered curtly. - -“I want a word or two with you, sometime, and will wait upon you.” Had -I been a servant at whom he was flinging an order, he could not have -put more offensive patronage into his tone. - -“If you will write your business I will see if I have time to give -you an appointment,” I answered with intentional brusqueness. He was -not accustomed to be addressed in such a tone, and he started and -flushed with anger. I took no notice, but with a bow to the Princess -I murmured, “I have the honour to wish you good day, Madame,” and, -ignoring the Duke entirely, I went away, leaving him staring angrily -after me. - -“I hate the brute,” I said to myself as I went into the street; and in -truth I seemed to find a special cause of offence in the fact that I -had had to leave him alone with the Princess. “I wish to Heaven he’d -quarrel with me,” I muttered; and, indeed, the wish was to have a -fulfilment that at the moment I had no cause to anticipate or hope. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -“IN THE NAME OF A WOMAN” - - -The result of my interview with the Princess will be readily -understood. It made me more devoted to her than ever. The sweetness of -her manner, the charm of her rare beauty, the loftiness of her aims, -the faith and confidence she had shown in me, and the many signs of her -reliance upon me had enslaved me. In a word, I was in love with her. -She was far above me, and there was no hope that I could ever win her -for my wife. There were a thousand obstacles in the way. But there was -nothing to stop my loving her. - -So far I had never met one to touch my heart and kindle the myriad -flames of inspiring passion which throbbed and thrilled in me now with -such ecstasy at the mere thought of this rare and wonderful pearl among -women. - -I gave heed to no thought of consequences--never paused to think what -the end of such a passion might be, nor where it might lead me. She -had changed every habit of my mind. Usually cautious, calculating, and -self-reserved, I heeded nothing now but the delicious knowledge that I -loved her and could serve her, and help her to gain the high and noble -end she had in view. And serve her I vowed I would with every faculty I -possessed, and, if the need were, at the cost of every drop of blood in -my body. I flung every other consideration to the winds and dizzied my -brain with dreams of the delight it would yield me to feel that I could -be the means of helping her. - -That she depended upon me and trusted me was in itself a delirium -of pleasure, and, come what might, I would never fail nor falter in -her service. Others might have their aims and objects in this wild -business of the intrigue, I would serve Christina, and Christina only, -“In the Name of a Woman.” Whatever it should be to others, to me it -had a real and inspiring meaning, and for me it was destined to be no -mere watchword or formula, but the guiding principle of every act and -thought and the lode star to determine my life. - -But I would guard my secret jealously; it should be mine and mine only. -The fire must burn, but it should be down in the centre of my heart; -and on the surface no prying eyes should pierce the mask of reserve -with which I would conceal my passion. - -All this came to me clearly in the frank self-communing of the night, -and with it a full admission of the real cause for my hatred of the -Duke Sergius. It was not so much the man himself I detested--detestable -though I believed him--but the future husband of Christina, using and -defiling that fair shrine for the sordid purpose of his selfish policy. -He and those in league with him would use the rarest and fairest of -God’s women as a tool for their own base ends. The mere thought of it -was an abomination of desecration. - -But they would have to reckon with me, and in my new love-madness I -piled up oath upon oath that I would spoil their plans and thwart their -designs against her. - -“I have unbounded faith in you.” The words rang in my ears like the -strain from some angel’s song, and filled me with such enthusiasm that -I longed for the moment of action, and could scarce find patience to -wait through the lingering hours of darkness that I might begin my -work; and I lay, my brain simmering with plots and plans against the -two men, Sergius and Kolfort, who were thus leagued against Christina. - -By the morning, however, I was cooler, and in a fitter frame of mind to -face the thousand difficulties of the position. - -Spernow was with me early, and I had my first lesson in the necessity -of keeping my feelings out of sight. He had heard of my interview with -the Princess, and came eager to learn the result. I knew very well by -this time that that very shrewd little Mademoiselle Broumoff was at the -bottom of his eagerness, and I was on my guard. - -I told him that the Princess had convinced me of the soundness of her -policy, and that I should do all in my power to help her. - -“Is she not all I said of her?” he asked. - -“She is a woman with a mission,” I answered somewhat coldly. “But her -mission is a high and bright one in the interests of Bulgaria and -freedom, and, as those are interests in which I feel a deep concern, I -shall give her all the help in my power.” - -The studied deliberateness of my tone perplexed him, for he looked at -me in some surprise and disappointment. - -“Is that all you thought of her, my dear Count? You must have a cool -head--for you have filled her with enthusiasm.” - -This was sweet music to me indeed; but I replied indifferently: - -“I base my opinions on my judgment;” and I smiled as if in deprecation -of enthusiasm. “But now I have much to do to-day. I take possession -of my house, and I wish to have a consultation with you and Captain -Zoiloff as to certain plans. Will you bring him to me there at noon? We -have to discuss the future form of our new association.” - -As soon as he had left me I hurried to meet the officers of my -regiment, and my reception by them was exceedingly cordial and -friendly--partly due, as I afterwards learnt, to my duel with Ristich, -who had been a much hated man; and also because of my reputation as a -man of wealth. I gave one prompt proof of this by asking the whole of -my brother officers to dine with me at an early date. - -By noon I was back at my house to meet Zoiloff and Spernow, and after -we had had some practice with the foils and in pistol shooting we set -to work upon the serious business of the conference. - -We arranged that I should be the head of the organisation, with Zoiloff -next in charge under me; and he threw himself with keen ardour into the -work. - -“I cannot tell you how glad I am to have you with us in this, Count,” -he said, when we had debated and settled details. “Now that you have -come, you seem to be just the man we were waiting for; and this place -of yours will be a magnificent rendezvous.” - -“Shall we have many join us?” - -“We do not want too many, but all will be carefully picked, and every -man will be one wielding influence over others.” - -“How will General Kolfort view the scheme?” - -“All he will know will be that here is in training a band of young men -all working for the object which he desires, and all capable of giving -the greatest help to the movement. The real secret will be in as few -hands as possible. When he knows more it will be too late for him to -interfere,” he said with a smile. - -“That will be the hour of danger,” I returned. - -“Rather the hour of triumph. Think what it must mean in a country -like ours to have, say, five hundred young men in this city, each -influencing many more, drawn from all classes, high and low, all -joined by the strongest ties for one common object, and all looking -upon one man as their leader--‘In the Name of a Woman.’ You will wield -a tremendous power, Count. God grant you use it wisely,” he said, -earnestly. “But I have no doubt of that. I should not be here if I had.” - -“I shall wield it only for the one object.” - -“It will turn the scale in any crisis,” said Spernow. - -“It will free the country,” said Zoiloff. - -I said nothing, but was thinking of the help it would render to my -Princess. - -One thing troubled me. The General had declared that he would not -permit me to remain in the country unless I pledged myself to join -him; and give that pledge I would not. Neither would I leave the -country. And when my two companions had left, I sat pondering a way -out of the difficulty. There was but one way that I could see--to have -him satisfied by some indirect means that I had espoused the cause of -the Princess, and leave him to draw the inference for himself that in -serving her I intended to serve him and his party also. - -In this connection I thought of Spernow. He was the General’s agent -specially told off to sound me, and it would be quite possible for him -to give a report sufficiently plausible to effect what was wanted. But -who should coach Spernow? The answer came with the question. Without -doubt it must be Mademoiselle Broumoff, and it remained only for me to -get an interview with her and tell her what to do. - -Inwardly I tried to persuade myself that this might be a sufficient -reason for me to seek another interview with the Princess; but I put -the temptation away from me, strong as it was, reflecting that any too -great eagerness on my part to see her would only defeat the very end I -had in view--to be of real help. I must raise no suspicions anywhere by -seeking to see her too often. - -I was thinking this matter out when a servant brought me the card of -the Duke Sergius. I started as I saw it, and for a moment was inclined -to send an excuse. But reflecting that I must now take my share in -helping to blind his eyes, I went to him. - -“I have not adopted the somewhat roundabout way you suggested yesterday -for having an interview with you, Count Benderoff, but have come direct -to you. I am accustomed to go straight to a point.” - -“Yes?” My tone was curt. - -“You and I must understand one another a little better. I have heard -of you from General Kolfort, who seems inclined to take you rather -seriously; and I may say at once that since I saw you yesterday I have -changed my opinion about you. The Princess Christina spoke to me pretty -frankly concerning you.” - -“Yes?” I said again; I hated to hear him even speak her name so glibly. - -“I looked on you before as a sort of superior spy--sent here, probably -from England, to see what was going on. But I now understand that we -are to be friends to work together. I am glad to hear it.” He spoke -with a sort of blustering bluntness that he may have intended for an -engaging frankness. - -“I do not know that I am much concerned what opinion you take the -trouble to form about me,” I answered, coldly. - -“Hang it all, man, can’t you see I have come in a friendly spirit to -talk over together the things we have in common? Why do you receive me -like this?” He spoke sharply, and, I thought, angrily; and when I did -not answer immediately, he added with a laugh that had no mirth in it: -“You don’t suppose I am in the habit of hawking round my friendship?” - -“Have I suggested anything of the kind?” - -“You make it very difficult for me to enter into things with you.” - -“I have seen you twice, sir,” I answered deliberately. “The first time -at the ball the other evening, when you were good enough to scowl -at me, and yesterday at the Princess Christina’s house, when your -words were a kind of scowl expressed audibly. We Englishmen are not -accustomed to read such actions as the preliminaries of a friendship.” - -He started at the word Englishmen, and his eyes lighted with swift -anger. Obviously he hated everything English; nor did I wish him to -make an exception in my case. I think he read as much in my eyes. - -“You Englishmen take very queer views of many things,” he answered, -after a short pause. “But I thought you were more a Roumanian, and thus -a friend of my country?” - -“I have the honour to be a Roumanian Count,” I said, tersely. - -“Do you wish to quarrel with me, Count Benderoff?” But before I could -reply, he added: “But there, that must be ridiculous, for the Princess -tells me I may look upon you as a man devoted to her cause, and, -therefore, to mine. I shall not be unmindful of those who help us, I -would have you understand that--though I wish you did not make it so -difficult for me to tell it you.” - -“I am not working for any hope of material reward at your hands,” I -answered equivocally. His patronising tone galled me. - -“No matter. That will not prevent your accepting it when the time -comes. Few men do that, I find--even Englishmen. But now I wish us to -be friends and comrades, Count. Do you see any reason against it?” - -“We have not begun auspiciously,” said I drily. - -“Hang it!” he cried with an oath. “You are as diffident as a girl in -her teens. I don’t find men inclined to quarrel with my offers of -friendship, I can tell you. I am not without power and influence, I can -assure you;” and he smiled boastfully. - -I made no response to his offer. I could not. - -“You have made a good choice of a house, Count,” he said, after another -pause. “I congratulate you. And where is the room where you are going -to lure the coy pigeons to be trained in the service of the Princess -Christina?” Evidently she had told him of the project. - -“I will show it you, if you like,” I said, rising. - -“Nothing will please me better,” he said, following me from the room. -“Egad, a splendid hall!” he exclaimed in genuine admiration as we -entered it. “Men tell me, too, that you know how to use the sword well. -From all accounts you easily spitted that fool Ristich the first time -at old Kolfort’s, and did just what you liked with him when you met him -on the ground.” - -“He was wounded, and in my opinion unfit to fight. I protested against -his doing so, as you may have heard; but he insisted, and left me no -option.” - -He examined all the arrangements and gymnastic apparatus with obvious -interest, making many comments to show his appreciation of everything. - -“This is a novel thing for Sofia,” he said, after a while. “And a -devilish shrewd device to draw in the young bloods of the place. -They will make a hero of you, Count. A splendid thought, and one -that shows what an acquisition you will be to us. A pistol range, -too; magnificent! May I try a shot or two?” He spoke with assumed -indifference, but I caught a glance which told me he wished to surprise -me with a display of his skill in shooting. - -“By all means,” I answered readily, not at all unwilling to see what -he could do, and to show him also that I knew how to handle a pistol -pretty well. - -He was a good shot, and took a pride in his work, laughing boastfully -when he sent his bullet three times in succession into the bull’s-eye -of the small target. - -“I’m strange to the pistol, of course; but that’s not bad for a first -attempt, eh? I’m a bit out of practice, too, for I haven’t a place like -this to keep my hand in.” There was a sneer at me in this. - -“Come to the further mark,” I said, putting him half a dozen paces to -the rear. “You shoot well.” - -He tried from the further mark and hit the target each time, but only -once got on to the bull’s-eye. - -“It’s a long distance, and the light’s rather bad. Do you shoot much?” - -“Well, a little. I have only had two or three shots here;” and I picked -up a revolver carelessly. “I am sorry you found the light bad.” I -turned, then levelled the pistol and fired half-a-dozen shots in rapid -succession. - -“You have missed,” he cried, laughing gleefully. - -“I think not. You will find the six bullets in a ring round the -bull’s-eye. I never miss.” I spoke with intentionally boastful swagger. - -He went up to the target and examined it, and then turned to me: - -“By the Lord, you’re a wonderful shot. Where did you learn that trick?” - -The unfeigned surprise and admiration in his tone pleased me. He would -know now, at least, that I was not a man to be trifled with; from that -moment his manner towards me changed, and his bluster and swagger -decreased. - -“I am very fond of pistol practice,” I answered quietly. - -He went up to the target again and stood before it, scrutinising the -marks of the bullets as though I had performed a miracle. - -“I never saw anything like it. It’s wonderful,” I heard him mutter to -himself. Then in a louder tone to me: “I should like to come here for -practice, Count.” But I had no mind for that. - -“It would not do, I am afraid. If we are to make this business a -success, I must be as slightly associated with you as possible.” - -“Yes, that is true--and shrewd enough. You won’t want recruits if -you can teach them to do that,” pointing to the target. “And are you -equally clever with the foils?” I could have found it in me to laugh at -the change in his manner. He was like a man who had come to bully and -had unexpectedly been whipped. - -“No, a long way from it. Would you like to try?” But he declined on -the plea that he had no time. His refusal surprised me, for I had heard -that he was a splendid fencer, and was somewhat curious to see how -far he was my superior. I concluded that he was unwilling to show me -how really skilful he was, and had to content myself with the evident -impression my skill with the revolver had produced. - -He left me soon afterwards, expressing another hope that we should be -friends; but I was as guarded in my reply as I had been before, and -certainly no more cordial. - -I was glad of the visit, however. He had solved the difficulty which -had been perplexing me. It was evident that the Princess had said -enough to lead him to think that I was working on his side, and I -was convinced that he would say as much to General Kolfort, and thus -unwittingly render me a service. - -That our dislike was mutual I had no doubt. He had come resolved to -patronise and, perhaps, to ride rough shod over me in his swaggering, -overbearing way; and his performance with the pistol had been intended -to intimidate me, by proving that he was as dangerous to quarrel with -as he was powerful as an ally. But my display had changed all that; and -in a degree had humiliated him in my eyes at the very moment when he -was keen to appear most formidable. - -He was a man to take such a rebuff badly; and for the future I felt -he would be no friend of mine. Whether he would dare to be an enemy -depended upon his skill as a swordsman; and that he had carefully kept -hidden from me. - -Nevertheless, he had cleared one tangle from the skein of my -difficulties, and I was therefore glad of the visit. Whether he would -seek to show his enmity openly I did not trouble to ask myself. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -BETRAYED - - -The next few days were crowded ones for me. The organisation of our -conspirators went forward with astonishing success--the fruit, of -course, of the previous efforts of Zoiloff and those working with him; -and when we held our first big meeting to inaugurate our new “Club,” -we had nearly three hundred splendid young fellows zealous to pledge -themselves to the finger-tips in the cause of the Princess Christina. - -Each of them had been presented privately to me, and each promised -unreservedly to follow my leadership. All were animated by the most -patriotic enthusiasm, and many of them were in a position to influence -considerable numbers of their compatriots. - -The scheme of the Gymnasium Club evoked great praise, and I was -surprised by the ardour with which they threw themselves into the task -of athletic training. All the details of this were managed by Zoiloff -and a few carefully chosen men under him; and after the first meeting -these leaders supped with me, and many were the exuberant anticipations -of success that found expression. Zoiloff himself threw aside his -customary reserve, and led on the rest to praise me. - -“It is the finest movement ever started in Bulgaria, Count,” he said -to me when Spernow and he and I were alone. “And it will spread like -a heath on fire, from here to every town and centre in the country. -In a month we shall have such power and influence as never before was -wielded by anyone here;” and Spernow was equally enthusiastic. - -“I am astonished, I think, by what I have seen to-night,” I said. - -“Ah, you don’t know my countrymen,” exclaimed Zoiloff, whose eyes shone -and sparkled with the fire of feeling. “They have been crushed under -the curse of the Crescent; they have groaned under the oppression till -the fire of patriotism has flickered low indeed, for there seemed no -gleam of hope; they have suffered, God alone knows how bitterly and -drearily, till the iron was like to enter their souls and corrode every -generous instinct and fervour; but, thanks be to God, those instincts -are not dead, and we shall rouse them into an activity that will -startle Europe and save the Balkan States. We have done much in the -past few years, as you know; but that is nothing to what we shall yet -achieve. Were the Prince other than he is, the hand of Russia weighing -less heavily on him, and their dastardly work of suborning and sapping -the truth and honour of the prominent men of the country less deadly, -we should not now be cowering and cringing under the talons of the -Eagles. Think what it has been to work always under leaders whom we -doubted and distrusted for traitors. But that is changed at last. We -will have no more of the old leaders. It is the age of young men; and, -by the God that made us all, we’ll never stay nor falter now till the -glorious end is reached.” - -“Good!” said Spernow, in a rousing tone of concentrated earnestness. -“Good, and true, every word of it.” - -“No looking back, that is the spirit I honour!” I exclaimed, infected -by their enthusiasm, and thinking of the Princess. - -“A toast!” cried Zoiloff, jumping to his feet, his eyes flashing, and -his rough, rugged features aglow, as he raised his glass on high. “May -the hand that holds this glass blight and rot if it ever falters or -turns from the righteous cause--In the Name of a Woman.” - -“Amen to that,” said I earnestly, as Spernow and I repeated his words, -and finished solemnly together--“In the Name of a Woman.” - -“I have never dared before to be enthusiastic, but you have inspired -me, Count. We have a leader in you who will carry us far, and whom all -will come to trust as I do;” and Zoiloff gave me his hand, holding mine -in a grip that trembled under his excitement. - -There was, however, a source of danger that these two knew nothing of, -and I could not tell them--the fear of the Countess Bokara’s violence. - -For the few days I had succeeded in evading her I calculated that she -would attempt nothing by herself, but would endeavour first to use me -for the work. She had said as much when I had seen her in the presence -of the Prince; and it was, of course, obvious that if she could secure -my aid her task would be vastly easier. I had the _entrée_ to the -Princess Christina’s house, as she knew, and could thus, were I so -minded, render her just the kind of assistance she needed. But I knew -she would act soon. - -My anxiety on the score of General Kolfort’s intention to get me out -of his way had been removed as the result of the visit of Duke Sergius -coupled with what the General had heard from Spernow, and probably from -the Princess herself. He did not send for me and I did not seek him, -but on the morning following the meeting at my house he put himself in -my way as I was returning from my military duties. - -We were both on horseback, and I was passing him with a salute, when he -reined up his horse and stopped me. - -“You have not come to me, Count,” he said curtly. - -“And do not propose to come, General,” I answered in a similar tone. - -“I was not wrong in my estimate of you, I find.” - -“I do not recall it for the moment,” said I indifferently. - -He looked at me and smiled grimly. - -“Good. A little open antagonism to me is your shrewdest course. I -understand you. You are what I thought--a very clever young man. And -you can assure everyone that you are not pledged to me--openly. I -understand you, I say.” - -“As a well-known judge of men your opinion is flattering, General,” I -answered ambiguously. - -His smile broadened. - -“Very non-committal, as usual. And yet----” And here his smile -vanished, and his eyes took an expression of deep penetration. “Be -careful that your cleverness and ambition don’t carry you too far. If -that time should come and I have to act, remember that I warned you. -I know what you are doing, and am watching you carefully.” Then in a -lighter tone he added: “I am glad to hear such good accounts of your -military work, and glad, too, that I have not to compel you to leave a -country that has such sore need of the valuable services which a man -like you can render it.” - -And with a salute he passed on, leaving me to digest the irony and -hidden meaning of his last words. I rode on thoughtfully to my house. -The impression he left on my mind was perhaps just such as he had -designed--that the attempt to trick him was indeed like playing with -fire on the top of a powder magazine. And I was profoundly uneasy as I -thought of what that might mean to the woman whose safety and success -were now infinitely more to me than my own. - -At my house a surprise was in store for me. A carriage was at the door, -and the servants told me that a lady was awaiting me. - -I went to the room at once and found the Countess Bokara. She rose with -a smile as she held out her hand. - -“You look magnificent in your regimentals, Count. And I suppose you -have been too busy with your new duties and new friends to think it -worth while to see me. And you don’t seem over-pleased that I am here -now,” she added, for my face clouded at the sight of her. She was a -bird of ill-omen, as I knew. - -“What is your object in honouring me with this informal visit?” - -“Informal! Where is the need of formality between you and me?” she -asked quickly. - -“In Sofia the tongues of gossip run glibly.” - -“You have soon developed into an authority on the manners of the people -here. Spare me your cant, I beg of you. What do you suppose I should -care if all the old gossips in the city talked me over till their -tongues ached? You ask why I am here. I wish to see you, that is all.” - -“I am at your service,” I answered, with a bow. - -“Are you? That’s just what I wish to know,” she replied, putting a -significant meaning to my conventional phrase. “You have not given much -evidence of it as yet. I should rather think you have even forgotten -your promise to serve me.” - -“I am, at any rate, ready to listen to you.” - -She looked at me piercingly during a rather long pause. - -“If I thought----” she began, but checked herself abruptly. - -“Your thoughts are always shrewd,” I returned. - -At the reply she looked up and laughed, with such an expression of -malignity that it made her face hateful, for all the beauty of her eyes. - -“You little know how shrewd this time, Count Benderoff, or you would -drop that insipid conventionality, I promise you.” - -“You are pleased to speak in riddles.” - -“Yes, because you act them,” she retorted, almost fiercely. “But I -promise to be plain enough before I leave you. I will drop the one if -you will drop the other--but, there, you’ll have to, as you’ll soon -see.” - -“I do not pretend to understand you,” said I. - -“Well, then, I’ll try to make you. You are not generally dull. Tell me -plainly, if you can, on what side are you in all these matters? The -question is merely to give you a chance of being frank with me, for I -know much.” - -“I seek the same object as yourself--the freedom of Bulgaria.” - -“Aye. In the Name of a Woman, you mean? You think I do not know your -canting phrase.” - -I was on my guard now, and did not let her see my surprise at her words. - -“I have the honour to bear a commission in the Prince’s own regiment, -as you know,” I answered evasively. - -“The commission I got for you. Of course I know. But what do you mean -by that empty answer? Are you for or against me? For Heaven’s sake try -to speak frankly! Nothing else will serve either you or me in this.” -And she stamped her foot with a gesture of impatience. - -“So far as our aims are in common, I am with you.” - -“Do you think an answer like that will satisfy me? I am beginning to -understand you; and if my reading is right, you and those with you may -well take heed for yourselves.” - -“If you have come to threaten me----” I began, when she broke in: - -“I have not come to threaten. I have come to have a clear -understanding; that is all. And I will have it,” she said, impetuously. -“I will give you another chance. What did the Prince say to you when -you were with him?” - -“I do not know there was anything----” - -“For the love of Heaven, man, drop this conventional cant and speak as -plainly as you can if you wish. What did he say to you about this mad -intention of his to abdicate?” - -“Intention to abdicate?” I echoed, as if taken by surprise. - -“Which means that he did tell you, and you would now pretend that he -did not.” And, yielding to a sudden storm of passion, she broke out -into a torrent of indignant reproaches of what she termed my breach of -trust in not telling her. - -I did not interrupt her, and gathered that she had only just heard from -the Prince what he had said to me. I understood now the cause of her -visit and the reason of her passion. - -“As his Highness told me in confidence, I could not betray it,” I said -as soon as I could get a word in. “He no doubt told you that he laid a -charge of secrecy upon me.” - -“And you did nothing to dissuade him, nothing to stop him from a madly -suicidal step. You, who pretend to pose as a disinterested friend of -Bulgaria devoted to him and to me! And do you think, knowing me as you -do, for all your flippant lip-service to the jargon of conventionality, -that I will let this thing be? Do you think that I am so powerless a -fool that I cannot stop it? Oh, I am a mad woman when I think of it!” -she cried desperately. “It can be stopped and must be--do you hear? -must; and you must help me.” - -“I cannot see how I can help you.” - -She had risen from her chair and was pacing the room in her anger -and now came close to me, and in a tone of concentrated energy and -fierceness said: - -“The death of that woman Christina will stop it; and in that you can -help, aye, and you shall help me.” Her face was ablaze with rage and -hate as she uttered the Princess’s name. - -“The Prince himself is opposed to any more bloodshed,” I said bluntly. -“The sentiment does him infinite honour, and I share it.” - -“You dare to say that to me? To set me at defiance? To go back upon the -pledge you gave? Are you a coward, Count Benderoff?” - -“I will be no party to the assassination of the Princess,” I answered -sternly. - -“You defy me?” And, laying her hand on my arm, she stared into my eyes -for some moments in silence, and then, her lips curling and her face so -hard and set that the nostrils dilated with the vehemence of her anger, -she added: “I could kill you.” - -Clearly it was to be open war between us, and I prepared for it. I -drew my arm away and answered coldly: - -“I think, Madam, this interview has lasted long enough.” - -She started as if I had insulted her, and I looked for another -passionate outbreak. But it did not come. Instead of that her -expression underwent a complete change and she laughed. - -“Poor fool!” she cried in a bantering tone. “Do you know where I shall -go straight from here if you turn me away? Wait a moment and I will -tell you.” She paused, paying no heed to my gesture of anger. “In the -Name of a Woman, eh? This excellent house, this sumptuous display of -wealth, this clever, shrewd Englishman, with his hatred of plots, this -attractive idea of a gymnasium club--what does it all mean?” And she -leered at me with a look infinitely cunning. - -I kept my face quite impassive as I met her eyes. - -“Would you like to tell me the inner secret, or shall I tell you? I -know--I know everything.” She paused again, but I gave no sign; and -then the rage began to return to her face, and her tone grew vehement -again. “It is a lie--and a lie against the man whose eyes I can open -with a word. You are working and plotting for the Princess, In the Name -of a Woman, are you not? And these Russian fools and dolts think you -are working for them at the same time. But I know your real intent. To -fool them up to the moment when you can throw off the disguise--to put -this precious Princess on the throne, and then to snap your fingers in -the face of the old dotard, Kolfort, and obey only the Princess. This -marriage, on which he counts so much, is never to take place; but when -you have rallied and organised these members of your club, as you call -it, you reckon you will be strong enough to throw over the Russians -and declare for what you call Bulgarian independence. Independence, -forsooth, with such a woman as Christina on the throne.” - -I knew now the extent of the sudden peril, but I thrust the fear that -filled my soul for Christina’s sake out of sight and laughed. - -“You have a lively imagination, Madam!” - -“Yes; turn it aside with a scoff or a sneer if you think you can. But -do you believe General Kolfort will think it nothing more than the -subject of a sneer when he learns it?” She was disappointed that I -showed no sign of fear. - -“You can take your own course, and if you think to help yourself or the -Prince by filling the air with your fables, do so.” - -“You are a coward, Count Benderoff,” she cried hotly, “to play thus -on my helplessness. I know that I cannot help my Prince or strengthen -his position by telling what I know, and what you dare not deny, to be -true. But if I cannot help my cause, I can at least revenge myself, and -I will. A word from me and where will be all your plots and plotters? -Your club will exercise then in the yards of the gaols and behind the -walls of Tirnova fortress. I tell you, you dare not play me false.” - -I knew the grip she had on me now could tighten in a moment into -strangulation, with the ruin of every man and woman among us; but I -maintained my impassive, stern expression. - -“If you choose to spread these tales, I cannot stay you,” I answered. - -“Will you help me to my revenge upon the woman Christina?” - -“What do you mean by revenge?” - -“Death,” she cried fiercely. - -“I would slay you with my own hand first,” I answered, the passion in -me rushing to utterance. - -She laughed again vindictively and hatefully. - -“So it is true, then, she has bewitched you. I might have known it. I -told you and warned you that she was a vampire using up men’s lives -with the unpitying remorselessness of a wild beast. And you are her -latest lover, I suppose!” - -The slander suggested by her words maddened me. - -“I can hear no more, Madam,” I said sternly. - -She threw up her head with a gesture of pride. - -“Do you order me to leave your house--knowing the consequences?” - -I was in sore perplexity. She was a devil and she looked it as she -stared at me, her lovely eyes glowing with rage and hate and menace. - -“If you have more to say it must be at another time, when you are in a -different mood,” I returned. - -She seemed about to burst forth again in her wild, vehement way, but as -suddenly changed her mood and said: - -“I understand. You wish to find a bridge over as dangerous a chasm as a -man ever yet had to cross. I will see you again; but next time it will -be to hear from you that you accept my terms. You are not a man to walk -open-eyed to sheer ruin. I will go.” - -And as she left me, sweeping out of the room, with a challenging, -defiant, triumphant smile, I could almost have found it in me to kill -her. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE SPY - - -As soon as the door closed behind the Countess Bokara, I threw myself -into a chair in a condition of unspeakable dismay, rage, and chagrin at -this most unexpected turn. - -It spelt ruin to everything and everybody concerned in our scheme. I -had seen and heard quite enough of General Kolfort to know full well -that the merest hint of such a plot as ours would drive him instantly -to desperate extremes. He would put in force every engine of the -powerful machinery at his instant disposal to crush and punish us. And -that he could crush us as easily as he would pinch a fly between his -fingers there was not a doubt. His power was practically absolute, and -he would use it mercilessly, like the man of iron that he was. - -Nor was that the worst. There was a traitor somewhere in our midst; -a recreant who had carried the secret in hot haste to this vengeful -woman. I could not hazard even a guess as to whose was the treachery, -but that it threatened the future of the scheme, should even she -herself be silenced, was as patent as the fingers on one’s hand. - -Yet what to do I could not see, plague and rack my wits as I would, as -I sat alternating between moods of consternation, rage, and searching -reflection. - -In the afternoon I had a horse saddled and rode out of the town for a -gallop in the country, in the hope that some solution of the problem -would suggest itself; and the ride cooled and sobered me. - -Two things were imperative. We must find the leakage and blind the -traitor as to our real intentions. Our future safety rested on that -being done without delay; and for this purpose I must see Zoiloff and -consult with him. As soon as we discovered the Judas among us we could -take measures to deal with him. If possible, that should be done by -cunning; but, failing that, averse as I was to bloodshed and violence, -force must be used. But an idea occurred to me by which he could be -effectively hoodwinked, and I stored it by for use should the occasion -come. - -As to the Countess Bokara, there were two courses. One was for me to -appear to play into her hands and so gain time for our own plans to -ripen--a line of action vastly repulsive to me, with all its necessary -paraphernalia of deceit and lies; the other, to kidnap her and put her -into safe keeping until the crisis should be passed. I knew that I -could lure her to my house, and that then the necessary measures could -be taken; but the cowardice of the plan made me entertain it only with -disgust. - -In the case of a man I would not have hesitated for a moment; indeed I -would never have let him leave the house that day. But with a woman I -could scarcely bear the thought of it, although this woman was vastly -more dangerous than many men. - -I sought keenly for some other scheme, and for a moment entertained -the idea of going to the Prince himself, telling him all frankly, and -begging his aid to deal with her. But I abandoned it. I remembered -he had said he would stand by the throne if he could make sure of -efficient help, and I calculated that his vacillation would cause him -to turn now and claim the help of our party in his defence. A worse -than useless effort, as I knew, owing to the impossibility of rallying -to his cause the men who had been turned from him by his weakness. -Not only could we do no good for him, but we should imperil the great -patriotic rising for no purpose. - -I was therefore driven back upon the distasteful course of duping the -woman who had thus threatened us. - -“Would to heaven she were a man!” And each time the thought broke from -me in involuntary utterance, I pictured how easy it would then be to -act. - -As I was riding back, moody and thoughtful, I met the carriage of the -Princess. She caught sight of me when I was still at a distance, and -her lovely face was wreathed with a radiant smile as she checked her -horses and greeted me. Mademoiselle Broumoff was by her side, and her -keen, sharp eyes were quick to read trouble in my face. - -“You look very thoughtful, Count,” said the Princess, “as if heavy -military affairs were weighing upon you.” - -“I have been thinking out the answer to a very ingenious problem set me -this morning,” I said, trying to speak lightly. - -“It has been a trying problem for your horse, I should think,” she -said, glancing at his flanks, which were covered with foam, for I had -ridden hard. - -“Not more so than for his rider, I assure you.” - -“I hope it has not distressed you as much.” - -“The Count carries the sign of that in his face,” said the little -Broumoff, earnestly. “I hope it is no more than a military problem.” - -“All problems in Bulgaria have their military side,” I answered gravely. - -The Princess’s eyes showed concern. She understood. - -“We must not let your horse stand while he is so heated with his -problem, Count. If you would like to see me, I shall be at home in an -hour from now.” - -“With your permission, I will call,” I said, and saluted her as she -drove on. “I will have the searchlight of her woman’s wit on the -matter,” was my thought as I rode home; and, despite the grave and -critical reason for the interview, I was yet half disposed to be glad -of it, so much store did I set on the opportunity of being in her -presence. I could scarcely wait with patience for the minutes to run -out until I could start for her house. - -Mademoiselle Broumoff was still with her when I arrived. - -“You have news of some kind for me, Count?” said the Princess. - -“Unfortunately, I bring you bad news, Madame.” - -“It could not come by a more unwilling messenger, I am sure.” - -“On my honour, that is true,” I said earnestly, touched by her gentle -thought. - -“And half its sting will be blunted since I hear it from you. What is -it? Tell me frankly.” - -“Its sting cannot but be sharp enough to wound. I fear we have a -traitor somewhere high up in our ranks;” and with that I told her what -had passed in my interview with the Countess Bokara. - -“It is ugly news indeed,” she said at the close, profoundly moved. “And -as dangerous as it is ugly. What think you of it, Nathalie?” - -Mademoiselle Broumoff had turned pale with sudden consternation. - -“I cannot think. It is too dreadful. What does the Count propose?” - -The Princess turned eagerly to me for my counsel. - -“We must either blind the Countess Bokara or get her away to a place -of safety until we have had some time to act. But the leakage must be -traced.” - -“Who can it be, Nathalie?” cried the Princess, in a tone of dismay. -“Have you tried to cure this mad woman of her prejudice against me, -Count?” - -“I have had as yet no opportunity. Since my first meeting with her, I -have seen her only once for a few minutes in the presence of the Prince -until this morning, when she came to confound me with this news, and to -urge me to join her in assassinating you.” - -“She chose her companion curiously,” said the Princess, with a smile of -confidence that went straight to my heart. “I hope my safety may never -be in less trusty hands than yours.” - -I did not trust myself to answer with more than a look, and as I turned -my eyes away I caught the little Broumoff eying us keenly. Then the -Princess startled us both. - -“I have made up my mind; I will see her,” she said. - -“Christina, it is impossible!” cried Mademoiselle Broumoff quickly. -“She would murder you with her own hand.” - -“The Count will guard against that at least, and he will arrange the -interview. Will you not?” - -“I would do much to serve you, but this would be a hazardous step, and -one that can scarcely lead to any good. You can have but the faintest -idea of her hatred of you.” - -“Then I can learn it for myself. I will see her;” and her tone was -decision itself. I continued my attempt to dissuade, but without -success, and she would not rest until I had agreed to arrange a meeting -at my house. One stipulation I insisted upon--that I should be present. - -“I should wish that,” she assented. “I do not mean to run any risks, -and I should feel safe only if you were there, Count.” The words were -sweet enough to my ears, but they did not allay my alarm on the score -of the interview. I yielded all against my judgment, and arranged to -try to get the Countess Bokara to my house on the following afternoon. - -When that was settled I lingered on, inventing pretext upon pretext -for my stay that I might steep my senses in the charm of her presence, -the light of her eyes, and the music of her voice. Nor did she seem -unwilling for me to stay, as I noticed with rare delight. - -But under all the pleasure of this fascinating dalliance a current -of earnest thought was running in my head, and when I left her I -had already formed a plan, for which I proceeded at once to make -preparations. - -I had no hope that the Princess would reap any benefit from the coming -interview, for I could not see a possibility of any good resulting. But -I resolved that if she failed I would have my own plan in readiness. -If the Countess Bokara came to the house, she should not leave it -again except to pass into some place of security until our plans were -complete. - -I sent at once in quest of Zoiloff, therefore, and, having explained -everything that had happened, outlined my scheme. - -“You are sure that she really knew, and was not merely making a shrewd -guess?” he asked. “I cannot think of any man among us who would turn -blabber. But if I find him----” He left the sentence unfinished, but -the threat was the more expressive. - -“Yes, yes, there are twenty ways of dealing with a man,” said I; “but a -woman is different.” - -“A traitor is a traitor, never mind the sex; and I see no cause for -mercy for one more than another,” he growled into his beard, his look -very set and stern. “But what is your plan?” - -“That we prepare a couple of rooms here in my house, and keep her until -we can find some other place equally safe and secret.” - -“Is this secret? Are you sure of your servants? May we not look for the -leakage among them?” - -“Spernow found them for me,” was my answer. - -“Would you change them?” - -“Every man and woman to-morrow, if you can fill their places.” - -“I can do that,” he assented quickly. “Wait--better--can you let me see -them all? I may spot the traitor, or at all events separate the sheep -from the goats.” - -I rang the bell and sent for my steward. When he came I told him to get -the servants all together, and send them in to me one at a time, as I -wished to question them separately about a certain paper which I said -had been mislaid. - -They came in one by one, and we so arranged the position that each -stood in a strong light for Zoiloff to be able to watch them as I put -a short string of questions. He put a black mark against three whom he -regarded as suspicious. The rest, he declared, were above question. - -“My opinion is that one of those three men is false and a spy, -presumably in the service of this woman. I expect they have been -eavesdropping when you and I and Spernow have been together, and -perhaps have caught some unguarded words. The thing is very ugly. What -shall we do?” - -“Fool them with their own tactics,” said I readily, thinking of my -original idea. “Let us have a hurried meeting of men whom we can trust, -have it to-night, explain the position hurriedly, and pretend that we -are disclosing to them the real object of the plot--to work nominally -for the Princess, but really for the Russian party--and have these -suspects so placed that they can hear what is going on. Then catch them -in the very act; and send them packing with this new version of the -thing in their minds, after a pretty good fright, and under oath not to -reveal the story.” - -“Yes, it will serve; but it will want adroit management,” said Zoiloff. - -“You say my steward is a man to be trusted?” - -“Absolutely. I know him well.” - -“Good. Then leave that part to me, while you hurry off and bring in -about a dozen of our men. Let their arrival be a little dramatic, to -give colour to the drama, so that the spies may think the meeting too -important to be missed; and I will answer for the rest.” - -As soon as he had gone I called my steward and told him plainly that -there was a spy in the house, and that we suspected one of the three -men I named. Then I outlined the arrangements he was to make--to get -as many of the other servants out of the house as he could without -creating suspicion, and to give those who remained work to do in other -parts of the house, so that the three should be free to spy upon us; -that then he should set them separately some light kind of work close -to the room in which I directed the meeting was to be held, of which he -was to drop a hint. He was a shrewd fellow, and entered readily into -the matter. - -“One of them is no traitor, sir,” he said, naming him. “I can answer -for him with my life. I have known him for many years, and I am sure of -him. The others I do not know and do not like.” - -“Never mind, test all three; and as the clock strikes eleven be at hand -to watch them and await my orders.” - -He went at once to do as I ordered; and that he did the work shrewdly -the sequel showed. - -Zoiloff returned very soon with Spernow and another man, and I received -them in the room which had been prepared as the stage for our little -drama. When the others came, I noticed with a smile that each was -cloaked; and in all we made a party of fourteen. We smoked and had -wine until I calculated that the spies would be at their posts; and -then, speaking in a tone lowered but sufficiently distinct to reach -any eaves-dropper, I told them that the hour had come when we thought -it necessary to make a most important disclosure of our plans. While -working apparently for the Princess, we were, in fact, Russian agents -pledged to the Czar, and bent upon putting the Princess upon the throne -solely in his Majesty’s interests; and I went on to declare that the -hour had come to strike the blow, and so on. - -A discussion followed, in which objections were raised and answered, -while I kept my eye upon the clock until the hand was approaching the -hour of eleven, when I rose and declared that this was the moment when -each man must declare himself. - -My rising was, in fact, an agreed signal, and Zoiloff, Spernow, and -another man stole noiselessly to the spots where I knew any listeners -would be sure to post themselves. - -As the clock was on the point of striking, the two doors and a window -opening to a conservatory beyond were flung open, and one of the spies -was caught in the very act of eavesdropping. - -“We are betrayed, Count,” cried Zoiloff in a voice of thunder, dragging -in the man, who, shivering and white with fear, wriggled and struggled -to free himself from his stern-faced captor. - -A solemn hush fell on the room, while the trembling, panic-stricken -wretch was placed in the midst of the men who closed round him. The -silence was grim enough to have tried stronger nerves than his. - -“What is the meaning of this?” I asked sternly, breaking the silence. - -“I was not listening, my lord; indeed----” - -“Don’t lie to me. What did you hear? Quick, speak the truth, for your -life hangs on it.” - -“I heard nothing, I swear I did not. I was only----” - -“Silence!” I thundered, “if you have nothing but lies to tell.” He -threw himself at my feet and begged for mercy. - -“Speak the truth, then,” I said. - -He glanced all round the ring of stern, hard-set faces and threw up his -hands, and then clasped them before his face in despair. - -“Gentlemen, you have seen for yourselves; what say you?” I asked. - -“There is but one punishment for such an act--death!” cried Zoiloff, in -such a ringing, merciless tone that the rascal’s heart may well have -sunk within him. “Death, if he will not speak.” - -“Death, if he will not speak,” echoed the rest. - -At this Zoiloff drew his sword, and at the clash of the steel in the -dead silence the wretch moaned. - -“Will you speak, or die?” I said, after a moment. - -“I heard only a little,” said the man after a struggle, his lips so dry -and parched that he could only speak with an effort. - -“Tell it!” I thundered again; and word by word he told us that he heard -me declare that we were Russian agents, and all that followed. - -His fear of the death that he believed imminent was sickening to -behold, and made me anxious to close the scene. - -“You have heard this wretch’s confession, gentlemen; what say you?” - -“He must die!” cried Zoiloff. “In the name of the Czar I claim his -life. Every Russian interest in the country is in peril while he lives.” - -“You will vote, if you please,” I said. And we went through a form of -writing each man’s decision on paper. - -“The verdict is unanimous,” I said, glancing at the paper. “You must -die. I would have spared your life, but I am powerless against all -present.” - -At that he clung to me, clutching at my hands and at my coat, praying, -beseeching, imploring, and vowing that he would never say a word of -what he had overheard. - -“Whose spy are you?” I asked. - -“I am in the service of the Countess Bokara.” - -“Wait;” and I left the room, wishing to confer with my steward as to -the other two suspects. The steward assured me that he had found them -just where they had been directed to remain. I went back to the room, -and the wretch broke out again with cries and wailings and prayers. - -I could bear no more of it, and put an end to the scene at once. - -“Gentlemen, I have heard some strange reports with regard to this -man. We will, with your leave, postpone his punishment, and I will be -answerable for his safe custody.” - -“Deal with him as you will, Count,” said Zoiloff. Calling in the -steward, I gave the man into his keeping, and they left the room -together. - -The meeting broke up soon after; and Zoiloff remained only a minute to -exchange congratulations upon the success of the ruse. - -“We have the spy, and to-morrow we will deal with his employer;” and -his look was as black as a thunder-cloud as he spoke. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -FACE TO FACE - - -Soon after Zoiloff had left me I sent for the spy. It was part of -the scheme that he should be liberated at once, in order that, if he -pleased, he should carry the news that he had heard to his employer. - -The interview was short. I told him I had determined to spare his life -and set him free if he would take a solemn vow never to reveal what he -had heard, and to leave the country at once. There was no mistaking the -genuineness of his terror, and he was eager to take any oath I wished -to impose. As I dismissed him I said, with all the sternness I could -concentrate into my voice and looks: - -“Remember that from this hour you are a marked man. Every Russian agent -in this country will know you; your every action will be watched, and -every word you speak will be noted. One breath of treachery, one single -suggestion of further deceit, and you are a dead man. Your life hangs -on the thinnest of threads. And if ever you feel tempted to break your -oath, recall this night and the stern faces of the ring of men who -voted that you should die. Go!” - -He staggered out of the room, reeling like a broken-witted drunkard. - -After my regimental work on the following day Zoiloff came to me, -looking worn and wearied. - -“I have been at work all night,” he said; “but I have done good. I have -found a place where this woman, Bokara, can be held in absolute safety -for ten years if necessary, if once we can get her there.” - -And he told me that one of our party, named Kroubi, had a large house -in the middle of his estate, in a tower of which just such a prison as -we sought could be found. - -“You are sure of the man?” - -“As of myself. And he himself will be her keeper.” - -“She is a woman of rare fascination.” - -“Would she fascinate me, think you?” he asked, a smile on his rugged -face. - -“There are not many men like you, Zoiloff,” said I, warmly, for during -our intercourse he had won upon me strangely. He was such a staunch, -genuine, thorough fellow. - -“That is pleasant hearing from you,” he answered. “But you need have no -fear on Kroubi’s account. Every impulse of his strong character which -is not devoted to our cause is absorbed by his hatred of women.” - -“We will trust him, then,” I agreed. “And now let us consider how to -get her to his place.” And when we had threshed this out and made our -plans the time for the Countess Bokara’s visit was close. - -I felt both anxious and excited. The whole future of our plans hung, as -I knew, in the balance, while the risks of the interview between her -and the Princess seemed to grow as the time approached. - -The Princess arrived first, and I went to her immediately. - -“Has she come?” was her first question, eagerly asked. - -“It is not yet time; but I think she will come. Do you know what -happened here last night?” - -“I have heard something, but would rather hear it all from you. It was -good news, I believe--but it was sure to be, you are so zealous in my -cause,” she said. “Tell me everything.” - -I told her and she listened, deeply interested, her eyes watching my -face as I spoke. At the close she smiled and said: - -“One would think from your telling, Count, that you had been merely a -bystander instead of the prime mover in it all.” - -“Captain Zoiloff did more than I, for it was he who detected the -miscreant. The rest was simple enough.” - -“Then should I keep my feelings and words of thanks for him, and think -of you as one who serves me, as it were, by routine.” - -“We are all devoted to your service, Princess,” I said. - -“No one more faithful than the others?” - -“None less faithful than myself, I hope.” - -“I like that standard. Pray Heaven that you are right, for then I am a -lucky woman indeed;” and her eyes shone with a light that was like to -dazzle me. - -“You will be on your guard this afternoon with the Countess Bokara,” -said I, after a pause I found embarrassing. - -“I am always on my guard--except, I think, with you,” she added, -musingly. - -“I mean, you will not let her approach too close to you. I know her to -be a dangerous woman, capable of any madness.” - -“You will be there,” she said, with an accent of trust in me which I -read with delight. - -“But still she must not come too near you. Infinite mischief might be -wrought in a single unguarded moment.” - -“You think she may even try to murder me in your presence?” - -“I believe her capable of any desperate deed; that is why I urge you,” -I cried, very earnestly. - -She smiled, let her eyes rest on mine with a look that seemed as tender -and warm as a ray of summer morning sunshine, while a faint blush -tinged her cheeks. - -“I will not cause you a moment’s needless anxiety; you have had too -many on my account already,” she said gently; and in the pause that -followed a servant entered to say that the Countess Bokara was waiting -to see me. - -We had arranged that I should see her first alone, and I found her in a -mood of jubilant and boastful confidence. - -“I knew you would come round to my views, Count, though I confess I did -not think the effect of what I said yesterday would be felt quite so -quickly. I was disposed to give you at least three or four days, but I -like you better for your promptness.” She spoke exultingly. - -“I am not so confident as yourself that our interview will end to your -liking,” I answered. - -“I am confident, and have even more reason for it than you at present -dream. You may prepare yourself for great news.” - -“I am not good at riddles. What news do you mean?” - -“That I do not consider your help so necessary as I once thought.” - -That there was some new danger beneath her words I was certain, but -what it was I could not guess. - -“I do not understand you,” I said shortly. - -“A child could see that. I like the look of perplexity and fear on -your face;” and she laughed in a hard, sneering tone. “You have been -very useful to me, after all, though you do not know it. What you -showed me yesterday gave me the clue; and I have been merciful--in a -way, very merciful. Death is ever sweetest to a woman when it comes, or -seems to, from the hand of one she loves.” - -“You have a pleasant wit, and your laugh fits it well,” I said drily. - -“A jibe moves you more quickly than a threat, my friend. And this is -a jibe in which you have had unwittingly a big share;” and her bitter -tone was in full harmony with the hard, confident glance which she -levelled at me. “Did you think I could be merciful even to those I -hate?” - -“Have you come to do no more than discuss your own qualities?” - -“I have not come to be your dupe,” she retorted fiercely. “You have -discovered my spy, I find, and I congratulate you on the clever stroke -with which you have blinded his eyes. But it is too late, Count.” - -“The man was caught last night in the very act of spying, and narrowly -escaped with his life. He confessed you had employed him.” - -She waved her hand, as though the matter were nothing. - -“He had served his turn, let him go. I have no longer need of him; and, -of course, you would have killed him had your last night’s meeting -been anything but a clever ruse. But you scared his poor wits out of -him--not a very brilliant or difficult achievement perhaps--and by now -he is off to the frontier as fast as his shaky legs will carry him. But -that is nothing. Tell me, Count, what would you do if within an hour -you were to hear that your Princess had fallen dead?” - -“Probably I should seek out her murderess, and kill her,” I replied -hotly. - -“Good; then I was right. You do love her, eh? Then listen. She trusts -you, of course, trusts you blindly and implicitly; and if you sent her -a little pretty gift, a little gentle act of courtesy from so gallant -and faithful a servant, would she prize it, think you?” - -“I don’t wish to discuss such matters with you,” I answered; but in my -heart felt glad indeed that the Princess was safe in my house at that -very moment. - -“You don’t wear your heart on your sleeve, you mean. Men of your sort -always think they do not. And yet the knowledge of the love of such a -man would be precious to many women. That is how you have been useful -to me. Now can you read the riddle?” - -I thought I could, but made no reply. - -“Yesterday, when I was here, you showed me what you could not hide -from my eyes, that this woman had drawn you to her, as she has drawn -hundreds of others. But this time she has dared to draw you from -allegiance to me;” this with a touch of sudden passion, which passed -instantly as she continued in a tone of exquisitely modulated softness, -suggestive of the purr of a tigress. - -“When I left you I saw how I could use the secret I had surprised. By -now I have done my work, so I may speak frankly. I shall not want your -aid now. Thinking that the Princess might be pleased with a little -token from her latest lover--you need not wince, it does not matter now -who knows your secret--I sent her in your name a little emblem of your -devotion. And what more fitting emblem could there be than a rare and -beautiful rose?” - -“It was an unwarrantable liberty, Madam,” I cried, with a flush of -anger. She laughed at my indignation. - -“But it was more than an emblem of devotion, for it carried in its -soft, sweet petals the essence--of instant death. You know these things -are common in this East of ours. One scent of that rose, enjoyed, -no doubt, with a murmur of your name, and a thought of your welcome -little courtesy--and I and my Prince were rid of her forever.” A light -of malignant triumph flashed out of her large dangerous eyes as she -finished: “I shall not need your dagger now, nor the other weapons of -your trade.” - -“You mean that the Princess is dead?” I asked quietly. - -“The news will soon be spread abroad noisily enough; and you may find -it sufficiently embarrassing to explain your share in it.” - -“You have the malice of a devil.” - -“It was a sweet death for her. Was I not right when I said I was -merciful?” she cried, with another hateful laugh. “And now I have come -to warn you, that you may fly if you wish while there is yet time.” -She gloated in triumph over my silence, which she read as that of -consternation. - -“You are a brave woman,” I said at length. “If what you said were true -you might have guessed that you would not leave this house alive.” - -“It is true,” she cried daringly. - -“Yes, as to intent, perhaps. But the Princess herself is safe, and here -in this house waiting to see you.” - -“It is false,” she said fiercely. “I don’t believe you;” and she stared -at me, the veritable type of disconcerted fury. - -“It is true,” I replied shortly; adding sternly: “And true, too, that -though you failed in the act, you shall answer for the intent.” - -She was magnificent in her rage, as she stood at bay, staring open-eyed -at me; and for many moments not a word was spoken by either of us. - -“Let me see her!” she exclaimed at length. - -“Not alone,” said I significantly. I rang the bell. - -“Tell the Princess Christina we will wait upon her,” I said to the -servant, and a minute later the two were face to face, while I looked -on, all anxiety and apprehension as to the result. - -They stood for a moment looking at one another; the Princess calm and -dignified, in an attitude of queenly grace, her speaking, lustrous eyes -alight with the hope with which she had sought the interview. But the -hope was quickly clouded with a dash of anticipative disappointment, -caused by the Countess Bokara’s vehement passion and hate which -envenomed her fiery glances, and spoke in every straining movement of -her lithe sinuous body. - -“Your Highness surely does me great honour in this reception,” said the -Countess scornfully, breaking the short silence. - -“I am sorry we have not met before,” was the mild, temporising reply. -“I would have gladly seen you to remove your too evident prejudice -against me.” - -“I have heard that you are accustomed to rely much upon the attractions -of your beauty. But I am not a man.” - -“I am desirous only of disarming by mutual understanding so powerful -and, as I have too much reason to know, so bitter an enemy. Tell me, -Countess, why are you so bitter against me?” The tone was very gentle, -almost solicitous, but I could see that the other’s sneer had gone -home. - -“Why should I tell you what you must know full well?” - -“If people speak truly of you we have assuredly the same end in -view--the welfare of Bulgaria.” - -“I am not half a Russian, and the tool of tyrants.” - -“Am I?” and the Princess’s eyes flashed. “Your agent has discovered our -real designs and carried them to your ears. You know now our cause is -the cause of freedom, and that we are no more the tools of Russia than -you can be. Why, then, say this? And why my enemy?” - -I was astonished and not a little dismayed by her frankness. - -“Your conversion has been rapid. It is but a few nights since your -friends, impelled by zeal for you and for your cause, tried to murder -me.” - -“That was not done with my knowledge. God knows I would not spill a -drop of blood. What would your death profit me or the end I have in -view? Do you think I am so mad as to wish the country to believe I -desire to rule by terror, the sword, and the secret dagger?” - -“They do believe it!” cried the Countess in a tone of hate; “and they -do not wish you to rule at all. Who has called you to take the place of -the Prince, to plot against him, and to drive him from the throne? What -are you doing but nurturing and fostering the villainous ingratitude -of the people, that by this act of double treachery you may mount the -throne?” - -“You forget, the Prince is himself resolved to abdicate,” I interposed. - -“And why?” she asked hotly, turning upon me. “Why, but that the plots -which the Princess here and those in league with her have organised -against his life are driving him away?” - -“This is no work of mine, Countess. Before my name was ever mentioned, -before the thought of my ever taking the throne was ever suggested, the -Prince’s position had become untenable.” - -“Because your allies, these hateful Russians, had made it so in -preparation for your coming, or the coming of some other tool.” - -“But now that you know I am acting not for, but against, them, the -cause of your enmity, if this be the cause, is removed.” - -“Do you wish me to join you, then, to swell the train of your slaves?” - -“I wish to disarm your hostility.” - -“To suborn me from my allegiance to my Prince, you mean?” Her answers -were growing in bitterness and vehemence each time she spoke. “Your -Highness mistakes me. I am no traitor to my sovereign.” - -“But the Prince is bent on abdicating.” - -“Because you and others are driving him to it. You ask why am I your -enemy. This is the reason, or one that will serve.” - -“You have others.” - -[Illustration: “MY INTERPOSITION WAS ILL-TIMED AND UNFORTUNATE.”--_Page -145._] - -“Yes, I hate you. Is that what you wish me to say? I hate you. Is it as -musical for you to hear it as for me to speak it? I hope it is. I hate -you, and thank my God that I have a chance of telling you the truth -to your face.” Her passion, only lightly held in restraint, broke its -bounds now, and her eyes flamed, and her lips quivered with the rush -of it. “What have you ever done in regard to me that has not earned -that hate? Where are the men, good and true to the Prince and myself, -that you have lured away from me? What are your actions, one and all, -but those of deadly antagonism to me? Am I a craven sheep that I shall -see my friends alienated, my Prince threatened, my cause destroyed, -and my very life attempted, and only bleat a few baa-words of thanks -to you for your gracious thoughts of me? God has not inspired my heart -with that meekness, and while I have breath to breathe, a voice to -speak, and hands to do, I will be your enemy. Is that enough, your -Highness?” She spoke with such furious vehemence that at the close she -was breathless; and she clenched her hands, and glared with hate at the -Princess. - -“I have not done the things you say. I could not do them,” said the -Princess, in a tone whose calmness did not hide from me the ache of -disappointment in her heart. - -“It is easy to deny. It costs but a breath,” was the sneering answer. -“But you ask me will I cease to be your enemy?” she added, her eyes -flashing dangerously. “I will--on one condition.” - -“What is that?” - -“One that will at least test your sincerity. Give up this enterprise -of yours; cease to persecute my Prince, and I will cease to be your -enemy.” She put the conditions with a leer of malice, and stood waiting -for the answer with a curling lip and insolent mien. - -“I am not persecuting the Prince, and from my heart I declare that if -Bulgaria could be freed by him I would serve him only too gladly.” - -“I think no good can come of prolonging this interview,” I said, for -I could not bear to hear the ring of insult in every word which the -Countess uttered. But my interposition was ill-timed and unfortunate. -Turning partly toward me the Countess said, in a tone of simulated -submission, the irony of which was maddening: - -“Your Highness’s newest and most faithful adviser would spare your ears -the blunt utterances of truth from my rough lips. A renegade is always -solicitous to temper the wind for his latest mistress.” - -I drew a deep breath of rage at the insult and the foul slander -insinuated with such devilish adroitness. - -“The Count is right, Madam, I must admit my defeat,” said the Princess -haughtily. - -“I must ask you to withdraw, Countess,” said I sternly. - -She laughed with wanton insolence. - -“I am no servant of yours to be bade to do this or ordered to do that. -I came to this interview to please you, I shall leave it to please -myself;” and she drew herself up to her full height in defiance. Then -she laughed again a loud, ringing laugh, forced, of course, but a -clever parody of spontaneous merriment. “Upon my word, this is a pretty -scene, and I have vastly enjoyed it. I have, alas! no weapon with me -save my tongue, or there should have been a different ending, I do -assure you. But that I can use. You have shrunk from the truth to-day, -as the Count here shrank yesterday, when I discovered the secret of his -warm allegiance to you.” - -“Silence, Madam!” I cried hastily, fearing what her rash tongue would -say. - -“Is he not earnest, your Highness? Is he not a man to be proud of? To -warm a woman’s heart? I told you just now of men you had won away from -my Prince and me--here stands the latest of those renegades, a man who -loves you.” She uttered the words with an accent of assumed sincerity. -“I congratulate you, Princess, upon your conquest. I cannot hope to -regain for my Prince a man who is aflame with a newborn passion for -you.” - -“This is monstrous,” I cried, my face flushed with anger and concern. -“If you do not leave the room, I shall summon my servants that they -may remove you.” - -She faced me unflinchingly. - -“You dare not,” she said. - -“Then be silent, and end these ill-timed jibes, and leave the room.” - -“Jibes? Is that a jibe?” And she raised her arm and waved it to where -the Princess Christina stood, her face covered with deep ruby blushes. -“An unconventional love avowal, at any rate. You are a brave man, Count -Benderoff, and I do believe that much rarer thing, a modest one; but at -least you should not quarrel with me because I tell the Princess that -you love her, and let you see by the surest token that a woman can give -that she loves you in return.” - -At this the Princess sank upon a chair and concealed her face in her -hands, between the white fingers of which the deep red glow was showing. - -I turned away and would not let her think I had seen it. - -“Your cowardice and insolence have drained my patience,” I said -fiercely to the Countess. “Come,” and I went to the door. - -She stood a few seconds, as if hesitating whether to defy me longer, -and glanced in infinite triumph at the troubled figure of the Princess. - -“If the interview has not accomplished your object,” she cried, “at -least it has not been without interest;” and with a last insolent, -exultant laugh, she swept out of the room, followed closely by me, more -resolved than ever to cage this angry, dangerous tigress. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE COUNTESS’S RUSE - - -As we crossed the hall she turned to leave the house by the front door, -where Zoiloff was standing. - -“I have something still to say to you,” I said shortly, as I opened the -door of the room where I had seen her before this futile interview. - -“You wish to thank me, I suppose, for having been the means of -revealing to each of you the other’s love,” she answered, with another -of her flaunting laughs; though she changed quickly and said: “You may -spare your thanks. I had a purpose--and you will soon learn the reason. -I am a dangerous woman, for all your contempt of me.” - -“Too dangerous to be at liberty, Countess,” I answered curtly. “It is -to tell you that I have brought you here.” - -“What do you mean? That you will dare----” The words died away as she -read my purpose in my eyes, and the first symptom of fear I had ever -seen in her showed itself, only however to be at once crushed out of -sight. One of her bitter sneers followed. “So I have put my foot in -a trap, you think, and your lovely Princess is but a paltry decoy. A -truly royal part for the august ruler that is to be!” - -“Your railing falls on unheeding ears, Countess. I have made my -decision.” - -“You are an ingrate, my lord the Count; and in your haste to strike at -me you are forgetting the wound you do to your Princess.” - -“Your insulting references will not turn me from my course,” I said -shortly, my anger against her burning like a fever. - -“Then shall I say you honour yourself and the woman you love by -imprisoning me for discovering and revealing your love secret; and that -you give proof of your courage by keeping me here that you may stay and -gloat over your victim?” I saw her start as some fresh thought struck -her, and she looked sharply at me and appeared to search her memory -rapidly. Then she smiled the same exultant smile that I had noticed -before, while a dangerous light came back to her eyes. - -“I will not attempt to escape.” - -“It will be useless--the house is sufficiently guarded, and we have -prepared for your reception.” - -“I am content if you but give me your company, for you are a man on -whose feelings it is a delight to play, and should make a pleasant -gaoler.” - -“I shall not be your gaoler, but you will be in safe hands. I have only -to warn you that any effort to escape my custody will be useless. You -probably know me well enough by this time to be sure of that.” - -“I am sure of one thing--you will not keep me here. Let me give you my -reasons.” There was again a sudden but complete change in her manner, -as she spoke in a calm, collected tone. I distrusted her every mood, -this calmness as much as any. - -“I can’t stay to listen. I wish you merely to understand that it will -avail you nothing to beat against the bars of your cage.” As I spoke I -turned to leave, and with a quick rush, while my eyes were off her, -she was at the door as soon as I. I put my hand to it to prevent her -opening it, and to my chagrin she locked the door herself and put the -key in her pocket. - -“I have that to say to you which cannot wait even to suit the woman you -love. If I must stay here, so shall you;” and she walked to the other -side of the room and threw herself into a low chair, from which she -looked at me defiantly. - -This manœuvre perplexed me vastly. I was all unwilling to remain, and -yet I could not leave now without either a struggle to get possession -of the key or by summoning assistance to have the door broken in. I -cursed myself for my folly in having allowed the key to remain on the -inside, although I could not have foreseen this dilemma. - -What was her object? Had she any beyond the desire to keep me in the -room while she loaded me with her invective and reproaches? What had -been the thought which had struck her, and which had seemed to lead to -her sudden assumption of calmness? - -“Do you think it strange that I should wish for your company, Count?” -she asked in a voice soft and gentle enough to have been the medium of -a love message. “For all your ungentle treatment of me and for what -I deem your faithlessness, I can find it in me to admire you. I have -said some bitter things to you, I know. Forget them. Take them for -the ravings only of a violent woman--or better, the revilings of a -disappointed one. It is no light disappointment to lose such a man as -you.” Her tone was one of subtle witchery, tinctured with a sadness -that might have sprung from a genuine regret. But I knew her; and all -the time she was speaking with this cat-like softness I was racking my -brains for the reason of her action. - -“If you don’t give me that key, I shall summon help and have the door -beaten in,” I answered. “I am in no mood for any theatrical display.” - -“I will make a bargain with you. To summon your servants and have to -admit to them that you have been locked in by your own prisoner will -make you very ridiculous. The strong, clever leader of this great -movement caged by a woman! But I will not banter you, and will not make -you even ridiculous. Listen to my reasons and you shall have the key. -Refuse to listen, and do what you please. You shall not have it from me -if I die in defending it. It will be quicker to listen.” - -“State them quickly. I will give you three minutes,” I said, reflecting -that what she said was true, and as blind as a fool of a bat to her -real intent. - -“I will put them very shortly,” she answered, speaking in a slow, -deliberate tone, altogether foreign to her usual habit. “You love -the Princess and she loves you. You are angry with me because I have -discovered your secret; but do you suppose that the Princess could -endure that Bulgaria should think she decoyed me here that she might -imprison me? That is what they would think first. But when the truth is -known, as it must be some day, will her woman’s heart bear the reproach -that she imprisoned me because I surprised her and your secret and -told you of it? Is your love so guilty a thing that the bare mention -of it is a reason for consigning me to a prison unheard and untried? -Is that how a pure Princess can start her reign? Is the avowal of such -a love so base an act that anyone a witness of it must be hurried to -a gaol to silence her? Think you these are means by which she will -conciliate her new people? Or, taking another reading, can you believe -that the Bulgarian people will love a ruler whose ruthless instincts -of tyranny are manifested even before she touches the steps of the -throne, by dragging away a rival for a man’s love and thrusting her -into an impromptu gaol because the regular prisons of the country are -not available? No, I tell you; you dare not do this thing, and your -Princess dare not lend herself to it.” - -I listened coldly, but not without concern, for I saw the strain of -probability that underlay her malicious ingenuity. - -“You are not imprisoned for any such act as you pretend, but because -you would betray the facts your spies have discovered; and, if you want -an additional reason, because you have dared to attempt----” - -I stopped, and dashed my hand to my head in horror. In a moment I saw -her cursed intention. - -I had said no word to the Princess about the deadly rose which this -woman had sent to her in my name; and this fiend, guessing by her -woman’s instinct that the Princess would hurry away after what had been -said about our love, had imprisoned me here to delay me, so that even -now at the last moment the devilish scheme might succeed. And I, like -the fool I was, had been duped by her infernal cunning. - -I felt like a madman. She saw by my agitation that I had guessed her -scheme, and before I could move she sprang from her chair, and rushed -to the door to put her back to it, facing me like a wild beast at bay, -to fight for the last few moments that might be so vital to the success -of her plot. - -“You look agitated, Count. You are not going to leave me?” - -“Stand aside, you fiend, or I won’t answer for myself. I know your -object now. Stand aside; do you hear?” I cried. - -“I will not. Touch me if you dare.” But the life of the Princess was at -stake, and I thought of nothing else. - -“Zoiloff! Zoiloff!” I shouted at the top of my voice, and, seizing the -Countess by the arm, I strove with all my force to drag her from the -door. She fought and struggled like a wild cat, and her strength was -so great that for a while she resisted all my efforts, clinging with -desperate tenacity to the handle of the door, the lever of which gave -her a secure hold. - -“Did you call, Count?” came Zoiloff’s answer in muffled tones through -the heavy door. - -“Is the Princess Christina gone?” - -“Yes, some minutes since;” and at the words a light of Satanic triumph -shone in my companion’s eyes, and seemed to give her fresh strength for -the struggle. Every moment was precious. - -“Get help and burst this door in,” I shouted; but even as I shouted the -words the thought of the minutes that would be thus wasted maddened me, -and I resolved to take the key from the Countess’s pocket. - -“You force me to this,” I said between my teeth, and, seizing her -round the waist with one arm, I held her in a grip of iron while I -plunged my hand into her pocket. To use up the last possible moment she -struggled with frantic energy, writhing and twisting and hindering me -till I vow I could have killed her. My blood was up, and the thought -of Christina’s danger urged me to spare no violence, and half a minute -later I had secured the key, and hurled the woman away from me. - -As I opened the door, Zoiloff and a couple of men with axes had come up. - -“Good God! what has happened?” cried Zoiloff, falling back before my -looks. - -“Keep that hell-cat safe till I return,” I shouted, and, hatless and -dishevelled as I was after the tussle for the key, I dashed out of the -house, and ran at my top speed through the street. - -By good fortune I met one of my grooms exercising a horse close by -the house; and before the man could recover from his surprise I had -half pulled him from the saddle, clambered up in his place, and was -clattering at full gallop towards the Princess’s house, heedless of all -or any that came in my path. - -The moment I reached it I jumped off, sprang up the steps, pealed the -great bell and thundered at the heavy knocker, never ceasing till the -porter opened the door with a half-scared face. - -“The Princess! Quick, man, quick, for your life!” I cried like a -madman. “Where is she?” - -“In her boudoir,” answered the fellow, staring at me as if I had been a -wild man, as indeed I almost was. I ran by him and mounted the stairs -with leaps and bounds. On the landing above stood a footman, peering -down curiously at the disturbance. - -“The Princess’s room! Show me instantly!” and my mien and voice were -so threatening that he fell back pale and frightened, and pointed to a -door. - -I knocked, but did not wait for an answer. - -“Are you there, Christina?” I cried, excitedly, not heeding that I used -her Christian name only. “Christina!” I cried again, when I did not see -her. - -And then, to my inexpressible relief, she came out from an inner room. -She was holding a small package, from which the outer wrapper had -already been removed. I rushed forward and tore it from her hand, -saying not a word, and heeding nothing of the look of surprise and -alarm which my wild presence and strange act had called to her face. - -Then with a fervent “Thank God,” as I held the accursed thing safe in -my grip, crushing the fragile box in my straining fingers, I fell upon -a chair, and, clasping one hand to my eyes, tried to fight my way back -to calmness. - -The rush of relief was an intoxicating delight, and in my rapture -at her safety I could have shed tears. For the moment I was utterly -unmanned. The agony of suspense during the minutes since I had learnt -of her danger had well-nigh bereft me of my senses; and the relaxation -of the strain, with the knowledge of her bare escape from death, made -me as weak as a child. - -“You are ill, my friend. What has happened?” she asked in her sweet, -sympathetic voice, laying a hand on my shoulder. - -The touch was like the balm of Gilead to my ruffled senses, and then a -sudden shame fell on me, and in a moment I realised how strange my wild -conduct must have appeared in her eyes. I remembered, too, that in my -delirium I had called to her by her Christian name. And at the thought -my confused and dizzied wits were more jumbled than before, and, strive -as I would, I could force no words from my tongue. - -My silence alarmed her. - -“I will summon help,” she said; but I stayed her with a protesting -hand, and thus we waited while I struggled for some measure of -composure. - -Many moments passed in this strained, embarrassing silence, till I was -sufficiently master of myself to make an effort to speak to her. I -rose, still holding the crushed little package as fiercely as though it -were a thing of life. She looked at me with a smile, intending it to -veil her alarm and anxiety. - -“Princess, I crave your pardon. I--this package--I----” I stopped, -stuttering at a sheer loss for words. A tinge of colour mounted to -her face as she said in a tone much less warm than before, and, as I -thought, not without a note of rising indignation. - -“It is the package you sent me, Count Benderoff.” - -“No, no, it was sent to you in my name--to poison you.” She started -back and stared at me. “I will try to explain. I have acted like a -madman; I have been almost one, I think. This thing”--holding it up -still gripped fiercely--“was sent you to-day by that woman. By the -mercy of heaven it arrived while you were absent, and your visit to my -house saved you----” And in a shambling, jumbled, half-incoherent way I -told her what had occurred. - -The colour in her cheeks flowed and ebbed as I spoke, and I saw an -ever-varying light in her eyes as they were bent upon me, now in -indignation, again in horror, and yet again in gratitude mingled with -feelings which now I almost dared to read as my heart dictated. - -When I finished my disjointed narrative, she thanked me very simply, -though her agitation, heightened colour, and tender glances told me how -deeply she was moved. Leaving me for a moment, she returned with the -wrapper of the package and a card of mine, on which were scribbled my -initials in a handwriting much like my own. - -“This was with the packet,” she said, giving me the card. “But I have -never seen your handwriting.” I saw in a moment that the spy in my -house could easily have stolen the card for the Countess Bokara. - -“Could your servant identify the messenger who brought it?” - -“For what purpose, when we know who sent it?” - -“It is a case with which the courts could deal.” - -“No, no, no,” she cried hastily, shaking her head. “I could not do -that.” - -“Well, it does not matter. She is in safe keeping, and I can mete out -the punishment myself. I will keep this evidence for future use;” and -crushing packet and card and wrapper together, I pushed them into my -pocket. - -“What do you propose to do, then?” asked the Princess. - -“She cannot be left at liberty with our secret in her possession.” -Till I had uttered the words I did not see their double meaning. But -the Princess did instantly, mistaking me indeed, and her face grew -so crimson that she turned away to hide her confusion. “I mean the -knowledge of our plot,” I made haste to add, awkwardly, the explanation -serving only to accentuate my clumsy blunder, and add to our mutual -embarrassment in the pause that followed. - -I was mad with myself for the slip, and yet delighted at what it helped -to reveal to me. With an effort I shook myself together, and said in a -tone almost cold and formal: - -“The sure and certain use she would make of her freedom would be to -tell General Kolfort that we are duping him.” - -“That is a risk we must run,” she replied, her voice low and trembling. - -“It is one we dare not run. It would be worse than madness,” I -protested hastily. The thing was impossible, unless we meant to ruin -everything. - -“It would have to be done in my name. And that cannot be. You must see -this.” The agitation in her voice was evident, and she kept her face -averted from me. - -“Your Highness cannot mean this.” The earnestness of my tone moved her, -and she cast at me a quick glance of appeal. - -“Cannot you see that it is impossible?” But I felt I must be deaf to -any appeal. - -“You have trusted me so completely that I should be untrue to you -and to all concerned in this matter, Princess, if I listened to you. -Believe me, it must not be. Her captivity is our only road to safety. -We have dealt with this spy of hers, and she herself told me that he -was flying the country in a panic. She alone holds this terrible--this -knowledge of our plans, and if she remains at large, nothing can save -our scheme from shipwreck. You know, even better than I, what effect -a word breathed in the General’s ear would have. Believe me, I dare -not let her free. No harm shall come to her. Not a hair of her head -shall be injured; but in our charge she is and must remain. There is no -possible alternative.” - -She locked her fingers tightly in the stress of her perplexity, and a -strained, drawn expression showed on her face. - -“No, no; it is impossible, impossible,” she cried, in a tone of -distress. “I see the dangers, but this I--I cannot and will not do.” - -The mocking words which the Countess had spoken when I was locked in -the room with her gave me the clue to the struggle in the Princess’s -mind, and I dared not ask her to tell me her reasons, that I might -combat them. But with me they had no weight. - -“This is no matter, Princess,” I ventured to say, “in which any -considerations but the most impersonal reasons of policy can be allowed -to prevail. I beg you earnestly to pause before taking a step that on -my soul I know must be fatal to everything.” The words brought a look -of flashing reproach. - -“You tell me this. Can’t you see what would be said of me if I -sanctioned such a thing? No, no, no; I cannot, I cannot, I will not,” -she cried impetuously. - -My eyes fell before hers, but yield I would not. - -“Will you permit me to withdraw now, and we can speak of this matter -another time? Meanwhile----” - -“Meanwhile you will do that which will compromise me in the eyes of all -Bulgaria,” she cried vehemently. - -“I shall do no more than your safety and that of all others concerned -with us in this matter demands,” I answered stubbornly. “We have no -other object but your safety and success.” - -“Do you think I will set my liberty on such an issue--that I will -consent to be held up to the whole country, ay, to all Europe, as----” -She stopped, and a vivid blush spread over her face, but, drawing -herself up with head erect, she added with a truly royal air: “Count -Benderoff, as the Princess Christina and your future Queen, I lay my -commands upon you to set the Countess Bokara at liberty without delay.” - -“Your Highness has no truer follower than I, and my future Queen will -have no more loyal and faithful subject, but this command I cannot and -will not obey.” - -I bowed low, and, raising my head, met her look with one as firm and -resolute as her own. - -We stood thus for perhaps half a minute, and then a striking change -came over her face. Her eyes fell, and I thought I had won. But it was -no more than a change of weapons on her part. - -She came close to me and took my hand in both hers, and looked then -into my eyes with a soft light that only love could kindle. - -“What you refuse as a command, grant me as a favour. I plead to you as -a woman to do what I ask. I pray you by whatever regard you may have -for me. Must I plead in vain?” Her hands were trembling in mine and -her voice quivering as she sought my eyes and held them with a look of -yearning love that left me no room for any thought but how to please -her. - -What could I do, loving her as I did with all my heart, but yield? - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -A HOPELESS OUTLOOK - - -Even while I was on my way from the Princess Christina’s house I began -to realise the consequences of the mistake we were making. I had been -miserably weak to give way, and, although my head was half giddy with -the rapturous remembrance of her words and glances, and dazed with the -thought that she had appealed to my love, I was angry with myself for -having yielded. - -I half dreaded to meet Zoiloff. I knew what that sturdy fellow would -say, and was inclined to fear lest he should make a shrewd guess at the -reasons which had influenced me. One thing was certain, he must not be -present when I saw the Countess; for I knew that she would blurt out -the truth in her sneering, vindictive tone. - -She would publish it, too, far and wide, and in a few days all Sofia -would ring with the secret of my love for Christina and of hers for me. -That alone was enough to ruin the cause, since it must inevitably rouse -old Kolfort’s suspicions. - -When I reached the house I was told that Zoiloff was with the Countess -Bokara, and I sent for him. I said in as few words as possible that it -had been decided to let the woman go free, and I gave some more or less -fictitious reasons of policy for it. But they did not impose on him for -an instant. - -“It is wrong, Count, absolutely wrong, and you should never have -consented. She will ruin everything. I propose that we just ignore the -Princess’s wish and keep that fiend close all the same.” - -“I have passed my word, Zoiloff.” - -“I am very sorry to hear it, but I haven’t; and there’s nothing to -prevent your setting her free and my taking her again. Everything is -ready, as you know, and the thing would be easy enough.” - -“No, I can be no party to it,” I answered firmly, although the notion -pleased and tempted me. - -“Then you may as well throw up the sponge.” He spoke angrily. - -“It may still be possible to blind the General’s eyes.” - -“You are more sanguine than you look or your tone implies if you think -so. I don’t believe it for a moment. There’s always something goes -wrong where a woman is concerned.” - -“I will send this one packing, and then we can consult.” - -“There’s not much left worth consulting about,” he answered as I left -him. - -The Countess greeted me with a sharp, shrewd look, and then her face -showed a keen disappointment. - -“I have failed, I see. You needn’t tell me,” she said. - -“You are not yet a murderess--at least of the Princess,” I returned, -harshly, for I hated the woman. - -“You have taken a long time over your rescue and love business; but I -suppose you had much to talk about. It’s the way of lovers!” she cried -with a laugh. “Besides you had to settle what to do with inconvenient -me. I am afraid I am very much in your way, Count--quite as much -trouble to you as if you had remained faithful to me.” - -“If I had my way you would not give me much more trouble.” - -“Ah, then I was right. I knew that she would never dare to try and keep -me a prisoner. Will you see that a carriage is ready for me?” She spoke -in a tone of indifference. - -“If you have any gratitude in your nature you will remember that it is -to the Princess that you owe your liberty--to the woman whose life you -have just failed to take.” - -“And am bitterly regretting my failure. That is my gratitude. But why -cant to me of gratitude. Do you suppose she has done this for my sake? -Nonsense; I told you her reasons before you went to her. Am I a fool, -that you prate to me in this childish strain? I tell you I am an enemy, -and a woman to be feared. She is a fool to let me go, and I know it as -well as you. Were the positions reversed--but there, she has given you -a heavy task, Count, heavy enough to tax even your cleverness; and you -can lay your plans on this one solid and sure foundation--that I will -do my worst against you and her.” - -I made no answer, and, ringing a bell, ordered a carriage to be brought -round at once. - -“You look very solemn, Count,” she said, when the servant had left -the room and I was going. “And you have plenty of reason. But I’ll do -you one favour, and tell you that I have already begun my work, and -have told that ill-bred soldier who was here and seems to be in your -confidence the whole story of your love for the fair Christina; and -it had a very pretty effect upon him. But it prepared him, no doubt, -for this step,” and she laughed insolently. “At any rate you can be -frank with him without that shamefacedness with which one man speaks -to another of his love. What he is thinking about it to-day--and I was -careful to sow the seeds of fruitful contemplation in his mind--all -Sofia will be openly talking to-morrow, including your new Russian -friends. It was injudicious of you, wasn’t it, to leave me such a -companion?” - -I could endure no more of her taunts, and went out of the room, closing -the door quickly to shut out the sound of her mocking laughter. When -the carriage was announced I went back to fetch her, and, as if -her malicious instinct could always hit upon the mood most exactly -calculated to jar upon my nerves, she was now disposed to play the high -society dame, and, with all the airs and graces of a capricious beauty, -was for delaying me to chatter idle nothings, in a tone of empty -frivol, about the weather, the recent ball, and my health, until I cut -her short by saying sternly: - -“The carriage is waiting for you, Countess, and I have no time for this -wearying badinage.” - -“I thought you might wish your servants to think this was merely a call -of ceremony;” and, as if to irritate me with these little peltings of -frivolity, she continued to chatter in the same tone until she had -taken her seat in the carriage. Then, with a quick change of manner, -and a malignant glance at me, she said: - -“When we meet again you may find the positions reversed, Count, for I -warn you to look to yourself.” - -I gave no sign of even having heard her, and watched in silence as the -carriage drove off. - -“There goes our last hope,” said Zoiloff, looking moodily after the -carriage, as though he would have given all he was worth to have -dashed after it, and have torn the Countess out of it back to captivity. - -“Now let us consider what to do next,” I replied. - -“There is nothing to do next, or after,” he said, in the same moody -tone. “When such a woman holds the future of our scheme in her hands -we can do nothing but prepare for the worst, and look out for the best -means of escape. It will soon be a case of _sauve qui peut_.” - -“I shall fight on till it comes, then, and so will you, my friend, when -this mood has passed.” I took him into my private room and, putting -wine and cigars before him, set to work to try and shape a course to -suit the altered aspect of affairs. - -My own opinion was not much brighter than his; but I sought to persuade -him, and myself too, that matters might yet be mended. There was one -possible door of hope. The Countess meant to have her revenge, and, -as she had frankly said, we must base all our plans on her implacable -enmity. But she had other ends than those of mere personal vengeance. -She hated Christina bitterly, but she loved the Russians no better. -Her aim was to keep her Prince on the throne, and to betray us at -once would certainly injure him by forcing General Kolfort to act -immediately, not only against us, but against the Prince. The latter -would be frightened and jockeyed out of the throne, to make room, not -for Christina, but for some more pliable tool; and the Countess was -quite shrewd enough to foresee that. - -“I am inclined to believe,” I said, after we had discussed the position -at great length, “that she will seek her ends first by other means -than by betraying us to Kolfort--some scheme or other against the -Princess or myself personally, perhaps; but something which may take -time to work out. She will cling to the hope of retaining the Prince -on the throne to the last possible moment; and she may reckon, as she -has done hitherto, that by removing the Princess the Russian scheme -will be so maimed that the Prince may be able to retrieve and retain -his position--at all events for a time. She may now include me in some -such plan of assassination. The question for us to consider is, then, -how soon we can complete our arrangements, by hurrying them forward at -fever heat, so as to make us indifferent to what Kolfort can do.” - -I continued to urge this from every standpoint, until I saw with -great satisfaction that Zoiloff’s enthusiasm began to heat again. But -suddenly his face clouded, and he said: - -“Are you forgetting the strange story she is going to tell about -yourself and the Princess? I know nothing of it, of course,” he added, -as though in assurance of his faith in me. “But if such a tale should -reach old Kolfort--and she seemed mad enough to scream it from the -housetops--you can judge what he may think.” - -“There is a ready answer to it,” I returned, gloomy now in my turn at -the thought behind my words. - -“You mean denial. I don’t like to speak of this, Count.” - -“I do not mean denial only in words. They count for little enough in a -time like this,” I replied bitterly. - -“What then?” - -“The Princess’s only answer will be the hurrying forward of her -marriage with the Duke Sergius. It is the inevitable corollary of her -decision to-day.” - -“By God, but you are a man, Count!” cried Zoiloff, with a look of -genuine sympathy, as if he felt instinctively what such words must cost -me. “From this hour I will never again question a single order you give -or decision you take.” He held out his hand, and grasped mine in a warm -pledge of earnest friendship. “We will go on, as you say, and frustrate -this she-devil yet--or fall in the effort.” - -A long silence followed, in which we were both busy with our own -thoughts; and when the silence was broken we went on with a long, -detailed discussion of the means to be adopted to quicken our -preparations and expedite the arrangements that should make us -indifferent to any action by General Kolfort. - -The work interested us both absorbingly, and while Zoiloff remained -with me, and my thoughts were occupied in planning the work to be done, -I was even inclined to accept my own arguments that all was not yet -lost. - -But when he had left me a relapse came, and I seemed to be overwhelmed -with a sense of the weariness and futility of it all. I had nothing -now to gain. A few hours had changed everything for me, and all my -enthusiasm had evaporated, like the sparkle from flat wine. - -Bulgaria might profit, but what was Bulgaria to me? I had not been -fighting for Bulgaria, but for Christina; and what prospect was there -now for her but the gloomiest? I had gained the priceless treasure of -her love; but with the very ecstasy of the knowledge had come the bane -that I could never even win happiness for her. - -I laid bare my heart to myself in this bitter self-communing. I had -tried to persuade myself before that mine was that rare thing--the -rarest on earth, indeed--selfless love; but I knew now that that had -been the flimsiest gauze of self-deceit veiling the secret hopes and -desires that had urged me forward. Out of the inmost thoughts came -up now the skeletons of my lost desires, gibbering and mouthing and -mocking me with the hopelessness of my love. - -If I could have made her happy, have helped her to realise the dream -of her life as the Virgin Queen pouring on this distracted people -the infinite blessings of freedom and happiness, herself a bright, -conspicuous example of innocence and purity to all the world, I might -have been content to worship even while I served her. But to think -of her as the wife of the sensual brute I detested, forced to submit -to his loathsome endearments, and to smile and frown upon him in his -humours, was like a very torment of hell to me. And for her it must -be ten thousand times worse. Her life, mated with a man she abhorred, -would be one long, living lie, the canker of which must blight her -every purpose, and destroy every hope in her heart. - -And yet I, loving her and beloved by her, was to help her to this life -of fair-seeming misery and honoured dishonour. I could not and would -not, I cried in my heart--and yet I knew I must. There was no escape -now from it. As I had told Zoiloff in my despair, the hastening of the -marriage was the one possible means of averting that instant ruin in -which the power of the at present all-powerful Russian agents could -involve us all. - -Harder than all else to bear, however, was the thought that I myself -must pass that inexorable sentence upon her. She had made it essential -by her shrinking woman’s fear of how her act would be read in the eyes -of Europe; but it was left for me to show her the full consequences of -what she had done. - -In my frenzy I was tempted to regret that I had saved her from the -infinitely more merciful fate of death. Deeply as I loved her, I would -vastly rather see her dead than the wife of the man whose wife she was -now inevitably bound to be. - -For a moment a wild thought rushed through my mind--that I should -induce her to fly the country with me. But the thought was as great a -treachery to her as the act would be treacherous to those whose cause -she championed with such pure-souled enthusiasm. I recalled with the -iciness of a lover’s despair her declaration that she would even become -the wife of this man, if no other path were open, rather than abandon -the cause she had espoused. - -There was no escape; and when at length I threw myself on my bed, -brain-wearied with the long wild fighting against the inevitable, it -was only that the torture of my waking thoughts should be reproduced -with all the grotesque horrors of oppressive, sickening dreams. - -I awoke with the dawn, dreading the coming of the hour that would bring -with it the ordeal of the interview. - -For myself my course was soon decided. I would keep my word, and go -through with the task of leading the movement to such a successful -issue as we could yet snatch from the dangers surrounding and -threatening it. But the hour that saw her safely seated on the throne -should be my last in the country. - -I was revolving these gloomy thoughts over an untasted breakfast when -Spernow came. - -“You look ill, Count;” for the struggle had written its effects in my -face, “Yesterday’s doings have upset you.” - -“It is nothing worse than a headache,” I answered carelessly. - -“I hope your nerves are not unstrung. You will need a clear head to-day -unless I have read things wrongly.” - -“What next?” I felt that nothing which could happen now would either -interest or trouble me. I had lost the one thing which I desired, and -life itself might go for aught I cared. - -“I was at a house last night and heard something which you must know at -once. It concerns you closely, and spells danger.” - -“What was it?” Feel interested I could not, feign it I would not. - -“The Duke Sergius has resolved to force a quarrel upon you. He has some -deadly grievance. I heard it incidentally, but---- Why, Count, what is -the matter?” - -He might well be astonished. The news was the one thing on earth that -could have changed me, the one thing that might yet change everything. -In an instant my lassitude and despair fell away like a cloak. My -blood warmed, my heart beat fast, my cheeks glowed again, and life was -worth living and risking. Even if I were destined to go straight to -my death at the hands of the rival I hated, I should have a moment of -real enjoyable life, while, if my hand were true and my skill what I -believed it and I killed him---- I could not stay to think, but in my -eager hope that the news might be true I plied Spernow with question -after question, testing his story, till he might well have deemed me -insane. - -“Of all the gifts and riches of the earth that you could bring me, -Spernow,” I cried in my vehemence, “there is none I would have in -preference to this news. By Heaven, man, but you have made me live -again!” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -“IF I WERE A WOMAN” - - -We had been together about half an hour, discussing eagerly the news -which Spernow had brought, when Zoiloff arrived. His face showed that -he too had passed anxious hours since we parted. I received him with a -laugh and rallied him upon his looks, and then told him the news. - -He had not the same intense personal interest in it that I had, and he -received it very differently; though his friendship made him understand -my feelings. - -“It is her first step,” he said, gravely. “We must act warily.” - -“A necessity for others besides ourselves,” I retorted. - -“It is not certain what form his hostility will take. He may not care -to quarrel openly with you, Count; although, if he does, you know he is -not a swordsman to be taken lightly.” - -“He would serve me no ill turn were he to send his sword through my -heart,” I answered, and meant every word I said. - -“That would be an ill enough turn for us, though.” - -“Let us go to the gallery and see. I have scarcely closed my eyes all -night, and when Spernow came he found me hipped and down. It will be a -good test for my nerves. If I can hold my own against you under such -conditions, we need not be doubtful about this other affair.” - -In a few minutes we were busy with the foils, and I told Zoiloff to -try with all the skill at his command to beat me. For myself, I tried -to make myself believe for the moment that he was the man whom I -might have to meet, and I put forth every effort. I never fenced more -skilfully or with more spirit, now limiting myself only to defensive -measures and now forcing the attack with vehement and even fiery -impetuosity. - -“I cannot hold you, Count,” said Zoiloff, at length; “I have not -touched you once, except that graze on the leg, and you have had me -three times badly. If this were in earnest I should be a dead man. But, -remember, you know my work now, and that I am not the Duke’s equal with -the sword.” - -“I must take that risk, and shall not take it without pleasure, I -assure you.” - -“But that’s not the only risk to be taken.” - -“You are in a despondent mood, my friend,” I said, for I knew he -referred to what General Kolfort might do afterwards. “Let’s meet them -one at a time. This one faced and overcome may mean much to us; and, at -any rate, will put us in good heart for what may follow.” My spirits -were now as high as previously they had been depressed, and once again -I was full of fight. - -Zoiloff told me what he had already done to expedite our plans, and -when I went to do my regimental work even the knowledge of what I had -to tell Christina she must be prepared to do had become less oppressive -and disheartening. - -On my return home, however, I found a note from Mademoiselle Broumoff, -asking me to see Christina at once. “General Kolfort has been with -her this morning, and something passed which has upset the Princess -extremely. Although she has not told me that she wishes to see you, I -am sure of it. Don’t mention this letter.” - -This alarmed me, and early in the afternoon I was at her house. I found -her looking troubled and agitated, and so pale that I was filled with -concern. She received me as graciously as usual, but I could detect a -touch of shrinking reserve. - -“I hope you have no ill news; we cannot, of course, expect a big scheme -like ours to go forward without an occasional check,” I said. - -“There must be no check--none if I can prevent it, that is.” She spoke -very sadly, and then forced a smile to her face. - -“You have had some news, I see,” I said after a pause. - -“Yes, I have bad news; I have had General Kolfort here.” - -“His visit was probably the outcome of yesterday’s event.” - -“Have you come to upbraid me with what you think my weakness?” she -cried quickly, with a swift glance of reproach. - -“No, indeed not. But when the Countess Bokara left me she declared with -all the malice in her that she would do her utmost to ruin us all. I -judge that she has commenced--that is all.” - -“She cannot ruin us. Let her do her worst.” It was easy to see, -however, that the first blow had been a telling one. Then a thought -struck me. - -“I think I can tell you the purport of General Kolfort’s message,” I -said quietly. “He is anxious to push forward a certain step in his -plans to bind you to him. I mean, of course, your marriage.” - -Her face grew scarlet, and I guessed it was at the remembrance of the -bluntness with which the General would have told her what he had heard -about us. I could judge well enough the way he would speak. - -“Have you seen him?” she asked after a pause. - -“No; but I foresaw what must happen,” I answered gently. “It was -inevitable. The only practical proof you could give him of the -falseness of the rumour that that woman has set abroad.” - -She locked her fingers tightly together, and her face was drawn and -troubled. My heart ached for her. Remembering my own sorrow, I could -gauge the bitterness of hers. Presently, in a low tone of despair, she -said: - -“The marriage is to take place in three days;” and, hiding her face -then in her hands, she abandoned herself to emotions which she could no -longer control. I turned to the window and looked out, that she might -have time to regain some measure of calmness. - -Presently I heard the rustle of her dress, and I turned round and went -back to her. - -“You have caught me in a moment of weakness, Count,” she said, smiling -through the cloud on her brow and in her eyes. “I think you had better -leave me.” - -“I came prepared for the news. Indeed, I came to tell you myself that -you must be ready to hear it.” - -“I would rather have heard it from you;” and she smiled wearily. Then, -laying her hands impulsively in mine, she said sweetly but mournfully: -“It is hard to inflict sorrow like this, and I do not hide from myself, -dear friend, that this must give you pain. Believe me, that thought is -not my least grief in this. If I were only a woman,” she cried, with a -deep sigh. - -Her words and tenderness almost unmanned me. I had no words to reply, -but stood still, holding her hands in mine and meeting her gaze with -glances that spoke the love I felt. - -“I have no thought but for your happiness,” I murmured at length. - -“Happiness?” she whispered; and her eyes closed an instant as she drew -a deep breath as of unbearable pain. Then she mastered her emotion. -“I must never see you alone again, Count. I ought not to have seen -you now, but--I am a woman. I felt I must thank you once alone, and -tell you how it wounds me to wound you thus. Others may think of me as -ambitious, cold, unwomanly, selling myself for a throne, a heartless -creature without the attributes and qualities of my sex. But you will -know the truth. You must know it, even if I bare my inmost heart in -telling you. You will not think ill of me, though I have made you so -poor a requital for all that you have done and would do for me. Do you -think I am seeking my happiness in this?” - -“Forgive me that word. If I know what you are suffering in this it is -because my own heart tells me; and I dare not utter all that it tells -me.” - -“You are a strong man and will fight it down.” - -“I shall never forget,” I cried earnestly, my voice hoarse with -passion. “And never again so long as my heart beats will it hold a -feeling such as that which fills it now.” - -This pleased her, and she smiled sweetly and tenderly, while the clasp -of her fingers tightened on mine. - -“Would God it could have gone otherwise for us,” she breathed, her -eyes lingering lovingly on my face, with infinite sadness and yearning. - -I carried her fingers to my hot lips and kissed them fervently. - -“Go, go,” she cried passionately at the touch of my lips. “Go, or I -shall bid you stay, let the consequences be what they will.” - -I looked up into her radiant face, now fired with her passion. - -“One touch of your lips, if only to ease my suffering.” - -The ruby colour flowed rich and deep over her face, and, bending -forward, she kissed me on the forehead. - -“Go, in pity for me, go,” she cried, excitedly. - -One moment longer I stood, gazing at her with my soul in my eyes, -feasting my senses on the signs of her love, and then I tore myself -away. A last glance as I left the room showed me that she had thrown -herself back in her chair with her hands clasped in front of her face. - -I rushed back to my house, my head bewildered and dizzied with the -sweet delirium of her avowed love, and I sat like a crazy loon for -hours, running over and over again in thought all the incidents of the -scene. - -She loved me. Nothing could rob me of the sweetness of that knowledge. -All else that could happen was as nothing compared to that. The -plot might succeed or fall; she loved me. Bulgaria might be free or -enslaved; she loved me. The Russians might triumph or fail; she loved -me. It was the one balm for every sorrow, one true note of joy in every -trial: she loved me; and I was mad with the delight of it all. - -In the early evening Spernow came to me; and then I remembered with -an effort--for all memory was swallowed up in the one delicious -remembrance of her love avowal--that I had promised to go out with him. -I did not care whether I went or stayed; what I said or did, all was -alike indifferent to me; but when he urged me, I dressed and went with -him. As we drove along he said something, however, which brought my -intoxicated wits together. - -“Duke Sergius will be here to-night, Count. We shall see what he means -to do.” I laughed so loudly that he looked at me in surprise. What -cared I for the Duke Sergius? I carried a charmed life, for Christina -loved me. He might marry her: but it was I had her heart. If he killed -me, he could not alter that. And whether I lived or died mattered -nothing now. I hoped he would quarrel with me. “To be married in three -days.” Marriages are not made with the dead, my lord Duke, I thought, -and laughed again. - -“If he wants to quarrel he will find me ready enough,” I said, -boastfully and noisily; but before I entered the house I had put a -restraint upon myself and wore my usual reserve, covering up that mad, -wild, whirling passion that was heating every vein in my body. I soon -saw, too, there was a cause to be wary. - -“His friends are in strong force here,” muttered Spernow, as together -we entered the room and were greeted by our host, a man named Metzler, -who led us forward chatting pleasantly about nothing. - -There were about a dozen of us in all in the room, and the first glance -showed me that it was intended to be a wet, wild night. Three or four -of the men I knew to be dare-devil scapegraces, hard drinkers and -harder players even for that city of hard drinking and high gambling, -and it was easy to see by their faces that some of them had made haste -to begin, for they were already flushed and excited. It was the kind of -party where an empty glass was considered a sign of discourtesy to the -host. - -The Duke was gambling, but saw me enter, and when I approached him gave -me no more than a surly nod in place of his customary rather effusive -greeting. I augured well from this, but was careful to be particularly -courteous. - -In a few minutes Spernow and I were seated at a table playing some -silly card game or other for fairly high stakes. I felt no interest in -it, and cared not one jot whether I won or lost. I staked moderately -and drank very sparingly, finding my amusement in watching the flushed -eagerness of the men about me; the noisy laughter when they won, and -the muttered oaths when fortune went against them. - -I glanced now and again at the other tables, and I noticed that the -Duke was in much the same mood as myself, and twice caught him scowling -angrily and darkly at me. Each time I laughed in my heart and smiled -pleasantly with my lips. - -“Fortune with you, Duke?” I cried the second time. - -“My turn is coming,” he answered, with an expression that in a dog or a -wolf you would call a snarl. - -“Well, don’t be afraid to back it when it does come. I’m winning,” I -said with another smile, as though cards were the one absorbing thought -in my head just then. But he seemed to put his own interpretation on my -words, for he answered in a surly tone: - -“Ah! your luck may change;” and he turned to his game again. - -After an hour or two a halt was called for supper, and I observed that -the Duke scrupulously avoided me. I noticed, too, that he had begun to -drink much more freely, and while I chatted with the men about me I -kept a close watch upon all that he did. - -As soon as supper was finished the glasses were refilled and the -gambling began again. - -“Thank Heaven that’s over; now we can settle down to business,” said -one of the men near me, who had been a high player and a heavy loser; -and that voiced the thoughts of most men in the room. - -An hour later I noticed that Spernow was infected with the mania for -high play. He was staking large amounts, which I knew he could not -afford to lose, and he was losing them. I gave him a warning look or -two, but he would pay no heed; and to create a diversion I declared -that I had played enough. It was all to no purpose, however. It did not -check him, and it irritated the men about us. - -For that I cared nothing, but it brought the crisis for which I -had been waiting. The men were urging me to continue, and I was -refusing, when I heard the Duke say to a man at his table, in a voice -intentionally loud enough to be heard by all: - -“Nothing like cards to test a man’s pluck;” and he accompanied the -words with a sneer and a shrug of the shoulders. - -I would not take the words to myself, though I knew, as did the rest, -that they were flung at me. - -“I would rather not play again,” I said to those about me. - -“I don’t suppose we are to stop, gentlemen, to please one man’s -caprice--or cowardice, or whatever you call it,” said the Duke -insolently. - -“You will not mind if we resume, Count?” said our host, nervously, -trying to fill the awkward pause that followed the words. - -“Not in the least,” I answered, pleasantly, for all the anger that -began to stir in me. “I will look on.” - -“No, no, Metzler,” cried the Duke noisily. “I object to that. -Lookers-on can see too much and can make use of their knowledge. If -Count Benderoff is too careful of his money to play, you should ask him -to retire.” - -“That is the third unpleasant thing you have said about me in as many -minutes,” I said, turning pointedly to him, but speaking coolly. - -“Is it?” and he laughed insolently. “Well, you’re doing a deuced -unpleasant thing, and I suppose I may express my opinion.” This time -two of the other men sniggered. - -“I have merely expressed a wish to play no more.” - -“And you do it with an air of a highly virtuous priest with a mission -to teach us how to behave ourselves. We don’t want you Englishmen or -Roumanians, or whatever you please to call yourself, coming here to set -up any canting standard of morals. We can look after ourselves,” he -sneered, his face flushed and his eyes glittering angrily. - -The situation was fast growing serious, and every man stopped to watch -us two. - -“I have done nothing of the kind, as you and these gentlemen know quite -well. It seems that you wish to insult me wantonly.” - -“Do you mean to say that I don’t speak the truth, Count Benderoff?” he -cried, rising and coming towards me. - -[Illustration: “I STRUCK HIM A VIOLENT BLOW AND KNOCKED HIM -DOWN.”--_Page 181._] - -“Gentlemen, this has surely gone far enough,” said Metzler, his face -pale, as he put himself between us hurriedly. “The Count has only -expressed a desire not to play any longer, and, of course, in my house -I should not think of urging him;” and he glanced at the rest, as if -asking them to interfere. - -“Our host’s views are my answer to you,” I said. - -But the Duke was bent on the quarrel. - -“A very discreet shield,” he sneered, and then his passion broke out. -“What I said I maintain,” he continued furiously. “You have tried -deliberately to break up the party with your infernally domineering -interference. I have had far too much of your interference, not only -here but elsewhere. I’ll have no more of it. Who are you, to come -thrusting yourself into concerns that are nothing to you? If you don’t -like our company, leave it; and if you don’t like the country, leave -that too. And the sooner the better. This is no garbage-heap for either -renegade Roumanians or cowardly English to be carted here;” and he -laughed in my face. - -My blood boiled at his words, but I meant the quarrel to go even -farther yet, and after a pause of dead silence I answered, clipping my -words short: - -“Rather a hunting-ground where a fortune may be picked up by any -drunken, bankrupt Russian duke, infamous enough to stoop to any -cowardly baseness.” - -He could scarce restrain himself to hear me out before he flung himself -at me in wild, desperate rage. - -I caught his arm in my left hand as it was raised, and flinging out my -right with all my strength I struck him a violent blow on the mouth and -knocked him down. - -In another moment the men had thrown themselves between us, holding him -as he struggled to his feet and drew his sword, striving to get at me -and cursing wildly. - -I was as cool now outwardly as if nothing had happened, and in my heart -a feeling of almost wild exultation throbbed and rushed. - -“You are all witnesses, gentlemen,” I said to the men near me, “that -from the first this quarrel has been forced upon me. Lieutenant -Spernow, for the present you will act for me.” - -“I will have your life for this!” cried the Duke, mad with rage. - -I made no reply. There was nothing more to be gained by any further -taunts. - -“I am sorry this has happened here and to-night,” I said to my host. -“But you must have seen it was none of my seeking. You will excuse me -if I go.” - -I left, and walked home with a feeling of rare pleasure at the thought -of the coming fight. If I did not punish him for his foul insult, then -surely was I what he had said--a coward. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A DASTARDLY SCHEME - - -As soon as I reached home I despatched a servant in hot haste for -Zoiloff, and when he arrived I told him what had happened. - -“He forced the quarrel on you?” he asked. - -“Certainly. I was willing enough, Heaven knows; but there was not a man -in the room who would not have to say that I bore his insults till I -must have seemed all but a coward. But I wanted to make this thing a -life and death affair. And it is that.” - -“You will kill him?” he asked, his dark eyes glowing. - -“If I can,” I replied, shortly and sternly. - -“Good. But Heaven knows what will happen afterwards. Though if the -thing gets wind your meeting may be prevented. Old Kolfort will be mad; -and if he had a tool there, as is most probable, you may be arrested -before morning.” - -“I never thought of that, or I would have finished the thing on the -spot.” - -“And gained the reputation of having killed a man in his cups. Thank -Heaven you didn’t think of it. I suppose the man means to fight, but, -like his master, Kolfort, he’s such a snake you never know what he does -mean till he has done it.” - -“No man who spoke as he did could hope to escape a fight,” I replied, -growing uneasy at his words. “What do you suspect? After a blow, too, -he must fight.” - -“He’s the sort of man who’d be capable of anything. He might insult you -openly like that, send the challenge, and then have you seized secretly -and shut up, and when you didn’t appear on the ground in the morning, -post you for a coward. I know him.” - -“It would be an infernal move!” I cried hotly. - -“It would be reckoned a smart Russian trick,” said Zoiloff drily. - -“Then, we’ll checkmate it. We’ll have enough men here to make my arrest -impossible; or, better still, perhaps I’ll pass the night somewhere -else. You and Spernow can arrange all the preliminaries of the meeting, -and appoint a meeting somewhere to-morrow morning, but not fix the -actual ground until that appointment is kept by him and his seconds -only. I will be where you can readily fetch me.” - -“Good! Yes, we’ll do that. You’ll have choice of weapons. What shall -they be? I should choose pistols. You’re sure to kill him.” - -“He shall have a chance to save his life. We’ll have swords. But, mind, -the fight is to be to the death. No stopping for a trickle of blood!” - -“That’s the spirit I like,” cried Zoiloff bluntly; and then we -discussed the plan I had suggested. He told me where I could sleep and -he and Spernow could find me in the morning. - -“I should be off at once if I were you--and, mind, get a night’s rest. -You’ll need all your skill, even if we succeed in bringing him up to -the scratch.” - -“I’ll go the moment Spernow arrives.” - -“Then take my advice. Let your people have a horse saddled at once -and kept in readiness close to some back way out. I know these Russian -dodges.” - -I adopted the suggestion at once, and, sending for my head groom, -Markov, told him to saddle my horse and his, where to station himself, -and to be prepared to be away with me for the night; and, lastly, -to hold his tongue. After that I changed hurriedly into an undress -uniform, got together the one or two things I should need, and joined -Zoiloff. - -“I don’t like this long wait,” he said impatiently. “I seem to smell -something wrong. Why do they keep Spernow like this? I should go, -Count, if I were you.” - -“I can’t go till I know the man’s making a show of fighting, at any -rate.” - -“Picket one or two of our fellows, then, to give us warning. The house -may be surrounded before we know anything has happened.” - -“It isn’t necessary. The place is like a rabbit-warren; there’s an -underground passage that lets out a hundred yards away, and it’s there -I’ve told the man to have the horses. Half a regiment couldn’t keep me -in if I wanted to get out.” - -“Some infernal spy or other may have found that out;” and then, to -satisfy him, I sent out half a dozen men to keep watch. - -A quarter of an hour later Spernow arrived, but not before Zoiloff’s -patience had long given out. Spernow explained that the delay had been -caused at the other house, and not by any fault of his own. - -“Did anyone leave before you?” - -“Oh, yes; the meeting broke up soon after the Count left.” - -“Good-night, Count,” cried Zoiloff instantly. “Don’t lose another -moment.” - -“The fight is to come off?” I asked eagerly. - -“Of course,” said Spernow, in surprise, not guessing our suspicions. - -“Then good-night. Zoiloff will explain everything;” and as I turned -to leave a servant came hurrying in, pale and excited, to say that a -number of men, some in uniform, were approaching the house, and had -tried to detain him. The next moment a furious summons at the front -door told us they had arrived. - -Before the noise had ceased to reverberate through the house, I was -in the underground passage, hurrying at full speed to the place where -the horses were awaiting me. Zoiloff’s suggestion that General Kolfort -might know of the secret passage gave me a twinge of uneasiness, and -as I paused to open the little door of outlet my fears were more than -verified, for I heard the cries of men as they entered the passage from -the house end. I held a revolver ready as I slipped out into the night, -and at a little distance to the left I caught sight of a couple of men, -just perceptible as shadows in the gloom. - -Guessing that they were after me, and had not known quite where to lie -in wait, I ran swiftly in the opposite direction, fortunately to the -spot where I should find my horse. Once in the saddle, I did not fear -pursuit. They saw me, despite all my precaution, and raised a shout, -while one of them fired a pistol, presumably as a signal, and then I -heard them come clattering after me. - -The shot was answered by others, and the place seemed alive with men. -But I was near to the horses now, and could see them in the little -clump of trees where I had told Markov to wait. - -“Have you seen any horsemen about?” I asked, as I sprang into the -saddle. - -“No, sir,” replied the groom, but at that moment the sound of galloping -came from both directions. - -There was going to be a tussle after all, it seemed. - -“You have your pistols. If anyone tries to stop us, you have my orders -to fire--but only at the horses, mind. Follow me close.” - -We were on a small heath, and I pricked my horse into an easy canter in -the direction I had to take to get to the place of which Zoiloff had -told me. - -“Halt! Who goes there?” and the horseman checked his steed with a -rattle of steel that told me he was a cavalryman. - -“A friend,” said I, but not drawing rein. - -“Halt!” came the cry again. The horseman behind was now coming up fast, -and I could hear the sounds of the others scurrying after us on foot. - -“I’m in a hurry, and can’t wait,” I said. - -“Halt, or I shall fire,” and I heard him get his carbine; but I was not -going to be trapped by a single cavalryman, and before he had an idea -of my intention I had carried it into execution. - -We were nearly abreast of him, cantering easily, when I wheeled my -horse around, dug the spurs into his sides, dashed right against the -man who had challenged me, dragged his weapon from his hands, and flung -it on the ground. - -“Now,” I called to the groom, “as fast as the wind, and bend low;” -and together we rattled over the heath at a pace that made pursuit -hopeless, even had the two men behind been inclined for a chase. But -they were not. A couple of shots were fired after us, but as the -darkness hid our forms, and the grass deadened our horses’ footfalls, -they were but random shots, not destined to find their billets in our -bodies. - -After a sharp burst for some ten minutes, I drew rein and listened. Not -a sound. I had shaken off the pursuit. At the same time I deemed it -advisable to take a roundabout route to our destination, and in this -Markov, who knew every square inch of the country, was able to guide me. - -We reached the place without further mishap; and Zoiloff’s name acted -like a magic pass-word to secure the accommodation we needed. Thus -my Russian friends had not even the satisfaction of robbing me of my -night’s rest. - -I woke in the morning, all anxiety to know how Zoiloff and Spernow had -fared, what arrangements had been made, and whether, after all, we -should succeed in bringing off the fight without interruption. - -I could also take a clearer view of the seriousness of the attempt -made to capture me on the previous night. The more I considered it -the less I liked it, for I read in it a determination on the part of -General Kolfort to remove me from his path, at all events, until after -the marriage of the Princess. He had viewed the fact of our love as a -possible stumbling-block in the path of his policy, and was resolved to -deal with it in his usual drastic way; and it was easy enough to see -that even after the duel he would continue to pursue me. - -Zoiloff arrived while I was in this rather gloomy, meditative mood. - -“I have been speculating all the night whether I should find you here, -Count, for I could not learn from the men who came to your house -whether they had caught you or not. They were wild at not finding you -there, and ransacked the place from cellar to roof; and almost the -first place they searched was that underground passage. I concluded, of -course, that they would have men posted at the other end, and feared -therefore that they had got you in a trap. How did you escape?” - -I told him briefly what had happened, and that only his forethought had -saved me. - -“And what of the duel?” I concluded eagerly. - -“All is right, so far, I’m glad to say. Of course, the Duke couldn’t -appear to back out in the least; and his men represented him as full -of fight. We had a bit of a tussle over the conditions, but I wouldn’t -give way. They wanted me to fix the time and place at once; but I told -them pretty plainly that to do that might be doing no more than giving -an excellent appointment for making the arrest that had just failed, -and, in short, that it was impossible. In the end they had no option -but to agree, and we are to meet at a little village about five miles -north of here at nine o’clock, and then settle the ground. What I -propose is that you should ride on about a couple of miles further--I -know a splendid place for a meeting there; your man will probably know -the ground; and if I find no treachery in the wind I’ll bring them on. -If there is anything wrong, I’ll fix another spot, and let you know -somehow. But I think it’ll be all right. The men acting for him are -perfectly straight.” - -“Yes,” I assented readily. “It’s an excellent plan.” - -“But what about afterwards? If you kill him, there will be the deuce to -pay; and I should think you will have to fly the country for a while at -least.” - -“No, I shall go back to Sofia and face it out. Men have been killed in -duels before. The fight was forced upon me, and everything’s in perfect -order. Why should I run away?” - -“Russian dukes are not often killed in duels, especially when so -essential to Russian schemes,” he answered drily. - -“I shall take my chance of the consequences. We’re not so feeble that -they can do what they like to me. I shall face it out.” - -“How would it be to stop short of killing him?” - -“My dear Zoiloff, if you had had said to you what was said to me, you -would view the thing as I do,” I said sternly, and he made no reply. - -I called in my man then, and Zoiloff gave him precise instructions -which way we were to ride, and where to wait; and soon afterwards -he started to meet the duke and his seconds. I mounted within a few -minutes of his departure, and as I rode at an easy pace I was very -thoughtful, though exultant at the prospect of the encounter. - -It was a glorious morning. The sun was hot and bright, but a fresh, -invigorating breeze was blowing, and the country looked beautiful. The -hardy, stalwart peasantry, men and women alike, were at work everywhere -in the fields, toiling with that industry for which they are famed in -all the East; and, save that here and there were to be seen the ruined -homesteads which told their grim story of the fearful struggle of a few -years previously, the landscape seemed redolent of the new blessing of -content which the better rule of the Prince had brought in its train, -and full of the promise of prosperity, if only the ban of political -intrigue could be removed--certainly a land of promise with a great -future under a ruler with such high ideals and motives as Christina. - -As I thought of it, she seemed farther removed from me than ever. She -loved me, and the knowledge was ineffably sweet; but it was a love that -could have no fruition; and my face darkened as I thought of the man -who was to come between us--not only to thwart our love, but also to -stand between her and the realisation of the dream and hopes of her -life for these people. My heart was as iron towards him; and the bare -thought of his foul treachery in this dastardly attempt to have me -branded as a coward--for I did not hesitate to accept that theory of -his act--filled me with an irresistible impulse to take his life. I -recalled his burning words of insult and contumely, and dwelt upon them -till they stabbed and pricked and stung me to a madness of passion and -loathing. - -We reached the little village in good time, and halted at the trysting -spot to wait for news from Zoiloff. This was so long in coming that my -patience was ebbing fast, until I saw Spernow approaching at a hand -gallop. - -“All is arranged, Count,” he said, after I had greeted him. “You are -to ride back about half a mile along the road I have come. There is -no sign of any interference. But I have something for you.” He drew -a small note from his pocket and handed it to me, and turned away to -speak to my servant. - -I opened it quickly, little guessing the contents: - - “I have heard the terrible news of your quarrel with the Duke - Sergius, and that you are to meet to-morrow. God preserve you from - danger. I am going to ask you the hardest favour that could be put in - words. I know of your skill, and of the terrible provocation you have - received, but I beg you not to have his death on your soul. Think of - what it must mean to us all--to me. For _him_ to be killed by _you_. - I pray you, for my sake.--CHRISTINA.” - -I stared at the lines in a fever of distraction. At the very moment -when the cup was at my lips, it was to be dashed away. Just when I had -fed my passion, and had been goaded by the remembrance of the man’s -foul acts and insults to a vow of implacable vengeance, I was to do -nothing. - -I could not grant the wish. The man deserved to die, and die he should -if my arm were strong enough. I could not, I would not, let him escape -me. He had forced the quarrel, and it must go through. It was a just -cause, and I was in the right throughout; and I crushed the paper in my -clenched hand and vowed the request was impossible. - -Yet how could I face her afterwards and say, “I had your plea and would -not hearken to it!” Was ever man more plagued? I paced up and down the -turf fighting the fight between my thirst for vengeance and my love for -Christina with its desire to grant her wish; and never had I fought a -harder battle. - -My love won, of course. I had no motives in life but those which were -inspired by my love for her; and the thought of myself, appearing -red-handed before her, and of her turning from me in abhorrence, or -gazing at me with eyes of reproach to bid me never see her again since -I cared so little as not to grant her wishes, was unbearable. But it -was hard, cruelly hard; and I could have ground my teeth in the stress -of my keen disappointment. - -I questioned Spernow as we rode together, and he told me that -Mademoiselle Broumoff had given him the letter, and that it was to be -destroyed as soon as read. - -I tore it to shreds and scattered them on the passing wind, with a -smile half bitterness, half love; though I would fain have kept the -letter near my heart. Then I fell moody and silent. There was more in -the request than Christina had foreseen. It was not unlikely to prove -my death warrant. To go into a fight with so expert a swordsman as -Duke Sergius was dangerous enough under any circumstances and at any -time. But to fight him while bound to act only on the defensive, and to -refrain, too, from taking advantage of such openings as he might give, -magnified the danger many times, and must make the issue less than -doubtful for me. The fight was to be to the death, or till one of us -was so wounded as to be unable to continue it, and it was clear that, -if I was not to attempt to wound him, it was I who must be struck down. - -It was certain, too, that so expert a fencer as he would soon perceive -that I was not going to press him, and thus he could fight at his ease -and wait to pick out the moment when he could most easily plunge his -sword into my heart. - -If I escaped with my life, too, I had to suffer the humiliation of -defeat at his hands; and I groaned in spirit at the bondage which my -love imposed. - -And yet I blessed the gentleness, little regardful of me though it was, -that had inspired the plea. - -When we came in sight of the others, who were already waiting for us, -my mind was made up and my decision taken. The Duke should live, even -if it cost me my life. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE FIGHT - - -As I dismounted I saluted the others and glanced sharply at the Duke, -who feigned not to notice my salute, and looked away without returning -it. I hoped I could detect an expression of genuine anxiety on his -face, as if he did not at all relish the turn things had taken; and -purposely I assumed as dark and stern an expression as I could force -into my face. Though I was debarred from killing him, I would at least -act as if I meant to. - -It did not take much time to select the place and complete the -necessary preliminaries, and while I was making ready I drew Zoiloff -aside. - -“I must have a last word with you, my friend,” I said earnestly. -“Matters have taken a strange turn since I saw you; I have had an -urgent request from the Princess not to kill the Duke, and I don’t -hide from myself that I am now going probably to my death. If I am to -act only on the defensive, I can’t carry on the fight indefinitely, of -course; and, if I fall, I charge you on your honour to let the Princess -know that my last thoughts were of her.” - -He saw instantly how grave the prospect was, and was more moved than I -could have believed. - -“We have arranged that it shall be to the death, Count. She had no -right to make such a request. Not knowing the conditions, such a -request cannot, and must not, be listened to. She cannot wish your -death rather than his. Women don’t understand these things. You must -not be bound.” - -“I have reasoned it out in my own way,” I answered with a smile, “and I -shall observe the condition.” - -“By Heaven, I would have had no hand in it at all had I foreseen this. -But I suppose she does not wish you to be killed like a sheep, without -an effort,” he cried excitedly. “You can wound him, at any rate. But -die you must not. We cannot spare you, Count; she cannot, she does not, -know what she asks.” - -“When you think it over calmly you will see she is right. He must not -die by my hand, things being as they are.” He knew what I meant, and -had no answer to it. He wrung my hand, much affected; and, after a -moment, growled into his moustache: - -“Hang the women; they spoil everything.” - -“Remember,” I said, warningly, “if things go badly with me, give my -message--but no reproaches. She must know nothing except that I was -beaten by the Duke’s superior skill. On your honour, Zoiloff?” - -“On my honour,” he answered; and, as I was ready, we went forward -together. - -The Duke eyed me with a look of hate, and it was easy to see he meant -to do his worst. As our swords crossed, and we engaged, I seemed to -feel the thrill of his passion, as if it were an electric current -passing through the steel. - -He fought well and cleverly, but he was not my match. I had been -trained in a better school, and held him at bay without much -difficulty. I was much cooler, too, than he; and his fiery temper made -him too eager to press the fight. - -He made no attempt to wound me slightly, but sought with the -vindictiveness of passion to get through my guard and thrust his blade -into my heart. My fighting was all defensive; and after a short time -my tactics evidently puzzled him. He thought my object was to wear -him down. This cooled him, and he began to fight much more warily and -cautiously, and with far less waste of energy and strength. - -The first point fell to me, partly by accident. Making an over-zealous -thrust at my body, which I parried with some difficulty, he came upon -my sword point, which just touched his body and drew blood. The seconds -interfered; his wound was examined and found to be slight, and we were -ordered to re-engage. - -In the second bout he changed his tactics, and again attacked me with -great impetuosity. The result was what might have been expected. He -gave me more than one chance which I could have taken with deadly -effect; and when he saw that I did not--for he fenced well enough to -understand this--I saw him smile sardonically. He might well wonder why -I should wish to spare him. But each time Christina’s words were before -my eyes and ringing in my ears, and, bitterly though I hated him, I -dared not, and would not, kill him. Then he wounded me. He thought he -had found the opportunity he sought, and his eyes gleamed viciously -as he lunged desperately at my heart. I parried the stroke, but not -sufficiently, for I felt his sword enter my side, and for a moment I -thought all was over. - -But when the fight was stopped for the second time it was found that -the blow had gone home too high, and had pierced the flesh above the -heart, and close under the shoulder. The blood made a brave show, but -there was no danger--nothing to prevent my fighting on; and again we -had to engage. - -It was now with the greatest difficulty that I could restrain myself to -act only on the defensive. The triumphant gleam in his eyes when his -sword found its way into my body had sent my temper up many degrees. A -man of honour, having such skill of fence as he possessed, and seeing -that I was making no effort to attack him, and was, indeed, actually -letting pass the openings he gave, would have refused to continue a -fight on such unequal terms. But he grew more murderous the longer we -fought, and more than once made a deliberate use of my reluctance to -wound him by exposing himself recklessly in order to try and kill me. -He did it deftly and skilfully, with great caution, step by step, as if -to assure himself of the fact before he relied and risked too much upon -it; but, having satisfied himself, he grew bolder every minute. - -It was no better than murder; and, strive as I would, remembering -Christina’s words and seeking to be loyal to her, I could not stop my -rising temper nor check the rapidly growing desire to punish him for -his abominable and cowardly tactics. As the intention hardened in my -mind, so my fighting changed. My touch grew firmer, more aggressive; -I began to press him in my turn, and to show him the dangers that he -ran. He read the thought by that subtle instinct which all swordsmen -know, and, as my face grew harder and my eyes shone with a more deadly -light, I saw him wince, and noted the shadow of fear come creeping over -his face and into his eyes. He began to fight without confidence and -nervously, dropping the attack and standing like a man at bay. - -I pressed him harder and harder, my blood growing ever more and -more heated with the excitement of the fight; Christina’s words were -forgotten; and springing up again in my breast came that deadly resolve -of the previous night to kill him. He read it in my face instantly, and -it drove him to make one or two desperate and spasmodic attempts to get -at me; though I noticed with a grim smile that now he was cautious not -to expose himself as before. - -I defeated his attempts without difficulty, and was even in the act -of looking out for an opening to strike, when the remembrance of my -pledge, and of what my love would say to me if I killed him, shot back -into my mind, and at a stroke killed all the desire to kill. The change -of mood must in some way have affected my fighting, as we know it will, -for I left myself badly guarded, and like a dart of lightning his blade -came flashing at me. - -I was wounded again; but, fortunately, malice, or fear, or too great -glee, made him over-confident, so that his aim was awry, and, instead -of piercing my heart, his sword glanced off my ribs, inflicting another -flesh wound, but barely more than skin deep. - -[Illustration: “I RAN MY SWORD THROUGH HIS NECK.”--_Page 199._] - -“This can’t go on,” growled Zoiloff in my ear, during the pause. -“You could have killed him half a dozen times. We shall be here all -day.” The absurd bathos of the speech made me smile, despite the grim -situation, and the smile was still lurking on my face when we crossed -swords for the fourth time. A glance at my opponent’s face was enough -to kill any smile, however; and almost as soon as our blades touched -he commenced again to force the fight as though he meant to finish it -off quickly. So vehement was his attack, that for a while I needed -all my nerve and skill to defend myself; but I contented myself with -defensive tactics--for the interval had cooled my temper--until, by -a little dastardly, unswordsmanlike trick, he tried to catch me at a -disadvantage. In an instant my passion flamed up beyond restraint, and -before there was time for me to regain control of my temper, an opening -came in his guard, and, unable to stay the fighting instinct to take -advantage of it, I ran my sword through his neck. - -The blood came gushing out in a full crimson stream from the wound and -through his parted lips, dyeing his shirt front; he staggered back, his -sword dropped from his nerveless grasp, and he fell to the ground with -a groan. - -I looked on more than a little aghast at my work. If he should die! And -at the thought the picture of Christina’s face as she would meet me -flashed before my eyes, and for the moment I would have given all I was -worth to have called back that laggard thrust. - -Zoiloff and Spernow came and stood by me, as I waited, sword in hand, -to know if the fierce combat was to go on still further. Then his chief -second crossed to us, and in a formal tone said: - -“My principal can fight no longer.” - -“Is the hurt dangerous? Will he die?” I asked, and the man glanced at -me in evident surprise at the concern in my tone. - -“Not necessarily. The wound is severe, but the doctor says the -artery has not been touched.” Then after a pause he added, as if in -involuntary compliment to the skill I had shown: “It is surprising that -the fight lasted so long, Count Benderoff. I can bear witness that he -owes his life to your forbearance.” And with a bow as formal as his -tone he went back to the others. - -“We may go,” said Zoiloff; and I handed him my sword and then dressed. - -“I am glad you wounded him. I feared you were going to let him kill -you. He tried his utmost, and you had one very narrow escape,” said -Zoiloff. “But now, where are we to go?” - -“I should like first to make quite certain about the nature of his -wound. Will you question the surgeon yourself? Spernow and I will wait -by the horses.” - -“What of your own wounds? Won’t you have them dressed? Better run no -risks.” - -I had almost forgotten them in my excitement, but I agreed; and as soon -as the surgeon could be spared from his attendance on the Duke he came -and dressed them rapidly. The one was a mere scratch, and the other not -by any means serious. I had been lucky indeed to escape so lightly. “A -couple of days’ rest for the arm would be enough,” declared the doctor, -who was inclined to be garrulous about the affair until he found that I -made no response. - -When he had finished with me, however, I questioned him as to my -opponent’s condition. He gave me a learned and technical description of -the exact character of the injury, and then in simple and intelligent -language told me that in all probability, if the wound healed as it -should, the Duke would be a prisoner to his room for two or three -weeks; if it healed badly, it might be as many months. But he put his -estimate at not more than a month. - -“There is no danger of his death?” I asked. - -“Not the least, unless he is imprudent. In a month’s time he should be -quite able to fight another duel should he feel so disposed.” - -I saw no wit in so grim a pleasantry, for he intended it as such, and -turned away with a hasty word of thanks for his attention. - -“Where to?” asked Zoiloff when we were mounted. - -“Back to Sofia,” I answered promptly. “I am going straight to General -Kolfort to ascertain the meaning of last night’s attempt on me;” and I -clapped my heels into my horse’s flanks and started at a sharp pace for -the city. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -MY ARREST - - -I had not ridden more than a couple of miles towards the city when a -thought occurred to me and caused me to draw rein suddenly and call to -my companions to halt. - -“Anything wrong?” asked Zoiloff, looking about him anxiously. - -“It has just occurred to me that, as I’m going to put my head in -the lion’s mouth by going to General Kolfort, I had better not go -unprepared, and I have just thought of a precaution I can take.” - -“What is it?” - -“I can’t at present explain to you fully, but you or Spernow can help -me. I must find some place before I enter Sofia where I can write for -an hour or two. Where can I go?” - -He thought a moment, and said: - -“The safest place would be back to where you passed the night. I am -sure of those people, and they know how to hold their tongues;” and, -changing our direction, we set off for the house at a brisk trot. - -My intention was to write out a full report now for the British Foreign -Office, giving a detailed account of the position of matters in regard -to the Russian scheme, of the part I had played in it, and of what I -believed to be the Russian designs against me. I did not forget the -condition that if I failed the Foreign Office were to be at liberty -to disown me, and that the whole and sole responsibility of my present -action lay with me, let the consequences be what they might. But I -calculated that so far I had kept aloof from committing the Government -in any way, and could thus claim the protection of the Foreign Office -should any personal violence be contemplated by old Kolfort. - -I thought out carefully what I had to say, and when we arrived at -the house set to work with a will. I gave a clear description of the -Princess’s counterplot, and then added my reason for believing that, -although it was likely to fail now, it could yet be used for the -advantage of Bulgaria and the Balkan States generally. The Prince had -decided to abdicate, and if measures could be taken from Downing Street -to have a successor to him ready, whether that successor should be -Princess Christina or another, and the abdication so timed as to fit -in with such a plan, it would be perfectly feasible to checkmate the -Russian move. My own opinion, I declared, was in favour of putting the -Princess on the throne, thus apparently acting in co-operation and -concert with Russia, while at the same time taking secret measures to -prevent any marriage on her part with a Russian ally. - -For myself, I asked merely that, in the event of my being imprisoned -by General Kolfort, the British representative in Bulgaria might be -instructed by telegraph to press either for my being liberated or -brought to trial. No more to be done than would be done in the case of -an ordinary British subject. - -When I had completed the despatch, I drafted a telegram announcing -that it was on its way, and I instructed my companions how they were -to act. Spernow was to take the work in hand, and to push on now for -the Servian frontier, and take the train there for Nish, where I knew -there was a particularly energetic British Consul. If no communication -reached Spernow from me within twenty-four hours of his arrival at -Nish he was to send off the despatch by the quickest available means, -and twenty-four hours later--so as to allow enough time to elapse to -prevent the letter being intercepted--the telegram was to follow. Then -Spernow was to return in hot haste to Sofia to report to Zoiloff. He -undertook the commission very readily, asking only that Mademoiselle -Broumoff should be told of the reason for his absence, and that Zoiloff -should arrange the difficulties of getting him leave of absence from -his regiment. - -Zoiloff and I then resumed our ride to Sofia, discussing very earnestly -the new development of our affairs and the possibilities which lay -ahead of my interview with the General. - -I scarcely thought he would venture to imprison me, resolute and -ruthless as he was in pressing his policy; and I said as much to -Zoiloff, who was, however, more doubtful. - -“In any case it must make no difference to our scheme,” I said. “You -must push on without me, and hurry forward all the preparations with -the utmost despatch. I should like you to see the Princess and explain -to her precisely what has happened this morning, although you need know -nothing of her message to me.” - -“I understand,” he said drily; “but I should like to warn her against -imperilling a valuable life when she doesn’t know the facts. It may be -my turn next--who knows?” - -“You would act as I did, my friend,” I replied, smiling; “I know you.” - -“Well, the conditions would never be the same,” he said bluntly; and I -did not pursue the point any further. - -When we reached Sofia we parted. - -“How shall I know what happens at the General’s?” he asked. - -“If you do not hear from me, you may draw your own conclusion that I -am on my way to Tirnova. If we are not to meet again--good-bye;” and I -held out my hand. - -He grasped it warmly, and with a ring of true stalwart friendship he -said: “If they shut you up it’ll go hard with me if I don’t find you. -And if they kill you you have my oath on it you sha’n’t go unavenged, -if I have to shoot that infernal old ruffian with my own hand. It shall -be life for life.” And without another word, as though he did not wish -me to see how much he was moved, he clapped his heels into his horse’s -flanks and cantered off. - -I avoided my own house purposely, lest some of the General’s agents -should be waiting there for me, for I wished it to be unmistakably -clear that my interview with the General was by my own choice; and I -did not draw rein till I had reached the courtyard of his house. Then, -telling Markov to wait for me with the horses in the street, I entered -the house and asked for General Kolfort. - -I could see that my visit caused surprise, and observed that one or -two of the soldiers present made haste to post themselves so that my -retreat would be impossible. I was shown upstairs into the room where -I had first seen the General, and where, as usual, one or two officers -were lounging. I was kept there about half an hour--quite long enough -to irritate me--and then a messenger ushered me into the General’s -room. - -He looked even harder and grimmer and sterner than ever as he glanced -up from his desk and fixed his eyes on me. - -“What is your business with me?” he asked curtly. - -“That is the question I have come to put to you,” I retorted, quite as -shortly. - -“Why to me?” - -“Because I have heard, not quite incidentally, that you have been -sending to my house to inquire for me.” - -“You appear to have been called away suddenly.” - -“Driven away, I should say rather,” I retorted. “May I ask why you have -dared to make such an attempt?” - -“Dared?” he returned, with a flash of his eyes at the word. - -“Dared,” I repeated. - -“I am not answerable to you for the steps taken in the exigencies of -State.” - -“Exigencies of State you term it. A singular name to describe an act -which in plain terms means that when one of your chief men has forced -a quarrel on me and challenged me, you would shut me up to prevent -our meeting, so that he might have an opportunity of branding me as a -coward.” - -“I do not think you a coward,” he answered slowly. - -“Nor does your Duke Sergius now,” said I. - -This touched him, for he asked with evident interest: “What has -happened this morning? A good deal may turn on your answer.” - -“He is not dead, if that’s what you mean--only badly wounded;” and I -gave him a brief description of the fight. He listened closely, but -without a sign of his feelings on his face. - -“You seem to suggest that you could have killed him,” he said with half -a sneer. - -“His own second said as much to me, and offered to bear witness to the -fact that he owed his life to my forbearance.” - -“A very tactful forbearance. And why did you spare him? From what I -hear, there is little love lost between you--at least, in the common -sense of the term,” he added drily. - -“I had my reasons, and they are my own, if you please. But now will you -tell me the reason for your conduct?” - -“I do not consider it safe for you to be any longer at large.” - -The answer was given deliberately, and after a pause. It showed that -his intention was to imprison me; but I would not let him see the -unpleasant effect of the decision. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. - -“And your reasons?” I asked. - -“I am not accustomed to discuss reasons with prisoners.” - -“Yet you will have to state them in my case. Englishmen can’t be packed -away like herrings in a barrel to suit even your convenience.” - -“You are no Englishman, Count Benderoff.” - -“On the contrary, I am a British subject, General Kolfort, and am -resolved to claim my rights as one.” - -He waved the words aside as though they were of no account. - -“I warned you when you first came here----” - -“When you lured me here, you mean,” I corrected. - -“That you would have to choose in which character I was to deal with -you. Had you chosen then to stand on your British nationality--which, -by the way, I question entirely--I should have known how to deal -with you. Instead of dealing frankly with me, you chose to remain in -Sofia, mixing yourself up with intrigues against me, and doing other -ridiculous things, until I repeat I cannot any longer allow you to -remain at large. I shall send you to Tirnova, that you may have time to -cool your inconvenient passions and clear your head.” - -“Very well, I am content to go. It will be an excellent illustration -for the guidance of Europe as to Russian policy in the Balkans.” - -“When Europe hears of it,” he returned significantly. - -I blessed my prudence as I thought of the despatch I had sent by -Spernow, and at the thought a smile flitted across my face. He stared -at me in some doubt, not understanding my confidence. - -“I am afraid you think I am only a short-sighted fool, after all, -General.” - -“I have not formed a very high opinion of your foresight. I know -you to be brave and hold you to be clever in your way; but a little -longer foresight would have shown you that such an ending as this was -inevitable when you decided to meddle with politics here and to act as -my secret opponent.” - -I began to wonder how much he knew of our plans. - -“I did not so lack foresight as to come to this meeting unprepared, -at any rate,” said I, significantly. “And if you throw me into one -of your confounded prisons, the news will soon be buzzing in every -Foreign Office in Europe that Englishmen must be deprived of their -liberty in order to prove Russia’s devotion to the cause of freedom -in the Balkans.” I threw the words at him recklessly, and all his -self-restraint could not help his showing that the blow went home. He -had not expected this. - -“I don’t believe you,” he said bluntly. - -“So much the worse for you; but if you were a younger man, General -Kolfort, you would not dare to say that to my face,” I added, sternly. - -“You will find it no easy task to get your news out of Bulgaria.” - -“If I had not known it was already safe across the frontier, do you -think I should have been fool enough to come here;” and I laughed and -shrugged my shoulders, enjoying his embarrassment. Then I pushed my -advantage. “But now, I am ready for your men. Where are you sending me? -Tirnova?” And I got up as though the prison were immaterial to me. - -He didn’t relish the piece of bluff, and sat silent and uneasy. - -“You can sit down again,” he said after a pause. - -I threw myself carelessly into my chair again, crossed my legs, glanced -at my watch and said, lightly: - -“Tirnova’s over a hundred and twenty miles as the crow flies, and -if you have any regard for my health--which, by the way, may be an -important matter to you by and by--we’d better make a start. I’m -wounded, and a long journey might have a very bad effect upon me.” - -He threw me a glance of baffled rage; I saw his lips move, and -guessed that a pretty little oath had slipped out into his moustache -unchristened. - -“If you mean to brave me out, your journey may be a much farther and -a much quicker one,” he said after a pause. “Mistakes have been made -before now, and explained afterwards.” - -“Mistake and murder are both spelt with an M,” I said recklessly. “But -a murdered Englishman is not by any means easy to explain away.” - -A long tense silence followed. He broke it by asking abruptly, seeking -to catch me unawares: - -“What’s this I hear about your love for the Princess Christina?” - -“How on earth can I know what your spies or my enemies tell you?” I -replied, not for a moment off my guard. - -“Do you dream of making her your wife?” - -“Hasn’t she promised to marry the Duke Sergius?” - -“Is it true that you love her?” - -“If it were you are scarcely the man to whom I should bring such a -confidence.” - -“What’s your object here in Sofia?” - -“To be allowed to mind my own business.” - -“What is that business, as you call it?” - -“My own concern,” I retorted as sharply as I could rap out the words. -It was as clear as daylight that I had touched him with my threat, or -he would never continue to question me. I was winning. - -“What does your Government want?” he asked, after a pause to recover -from his chagrin at my former replies. - -“How should I know--except to have their subjects left unmolested?” I -was determined to rub this in, and I could see he relished this last -rub no better than the first. - -“If you refuse to answer my questions you leave me but one -alternative,” he threatened. - -“Take it,” I answered lightly. “You take it, of course, with your eyes -open.” - -“You have been engaged in a conspiracy against the Russian influence?” - -“I have been engaged in that conspiracy carried on In the Name of a -Woman, if that’s what you mean. And, as you are perfectly aware, with -not only your consent, but approval and encouragement.” - -“You have been working secretly for another object,” he cried angrily. - -“Are you accusing the Princess Christina of treachery?” - -“Your tongue is as skilful in fence as your sword,” he said, smiling -grimly. “But you know my meaning perfectly.” - -“Then pack me off to Tirnova--if you think you have proof to prove the -unprovable; and at the same time show your hand to the rest of Europe. -No, no, General Kolfort,” I said, smiling and shaking my head, as -though the thing were no more than a jest, “that cock won’t fight, and -you know it.” - -“I regard you and could deal with you as a renegade Bulgarian officer -conspiring against your Prince; a crime that merits imprisonment.” - -“Very good and plausible, no doubt--were it not for the precaution that -I have taken to let people in London know differently. But if that’s to -be your line, we shall have the gaols pretty full here, and you and I, -General, will be able to resume our interesting conferences, hobnobbing -in one of them on more equal terms than here;” and I wagged my head at -him again. - -The taunt enraged him. His eyes flashed fire, and a flush of wrath -tinged his dried, wrinkled, parchment cheeks. He sprang to his feet and -sounded the bell on his table furiously. - -“I will put your devil-may-care humour to the test. You shall go to -Tirnova.” - -“As you please,” I answered, surprised now in my turn, for I had not -thought he would dare to push matters to extremes. “I will tell you one -thing. My arrest will be the signal for that despatch to be forwarded. -If I do not go to Tirnova, that will not go to London.” - -“I care nothing for your Government,” he exclaimed, all self-control -gone in his anger. “They dare do nothing, even if they would.” - -At that moment an officer entered in response to the bell. - -“Arrest the Count Benderoff,” cried the General, pointing at me a -finger that trembled with rage. “Give up your sword, sir. You are a -traitor, unworthy to bear it.” - -“I shall do nothing of the kind,” I said desperately. “The man who lays -a hand on me may look to himself.” - -“Call in your men, Captain. If he resists, shoot him,” said the stern -old man grimly, and in the moments of waiting we looked at each other -in silent defiance. Then came the tramp of men and the clash of arms in -the room without, and a file of soldiers marched in. - -“I must ask you for your sword, Count Benderoff,” said the officer, -quietly and courteously. “You will see resistance is useless.” - -For a moment I still resisted and refused. - -“I beg you to save trouble,” he said again. - -“I will not,” I cried furiously. “If I am to be murdered, it shall be -done here, in the presence of my murderer;” and I set my back to the -wall and whipped out my sword. - -“Shoot him down!” shouted the infuriated old man to the soldiers, who -levelled their guns dead at me. “Now, will you give up your sword?” - -“No, I’ll die first, you butcher!” I exclaimed, setting my teeth. - -“Do your duty, Captain,” said the inflexible old martinet. - -“Count Benderoff, let me make another request,” he said, daring even -the General’s displeasure in his reluctance to give the command. - -“No; you shall butcher me here.” - -A moment of terrible strain followed, and then in the room without the -sounds of some confusion were heard, and an exclamation of surprise -from one or two of the men there. Quick, light steps fled across to the -room where we stood. - -“Shut that door,” cried the General. - -But the order was too late, and the Princess Christina came rushing -in, her face deathly white with alarm at what she saw, while with the -quickness of thought she placed herself between me and the soldiers who -covered me with their muskets. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -A WARNING - - -The Princess looked magnificent in the fire of anger which succeeded -her alarm, as she turned to the old Kolfort for an explanation. - -“I presume you will scarcely order your soldiers to shoot me,” she -said, facing him grandly, her eyes flashing. - -I slipped my sword back into its scabbard, and the General made a -peremptory sign to the Captain to withdraw his men. - -We waited in silence while the order was given, and the men filed out, -followed by the Captain. - -“Remain in the ante-room,” said the General. - -“You mistake me greatly, General Kolfort, if you think your soldiers -will be needed for work like this,” cried the Princess. “Pray what is -the explanation of what I saw when I arrived?” - -I thought I could best give that, and said: - -“General Kolfort had arrested me, and when I refused to give up my -sword had ordered these men of his to shoot me.” - -“Is this possible?” she cried, her indignation flaming in her face. -“And yet of course it is. I have heard within the last few minutes of -what was done last night and of this visit of yours, Count Benderoff, -and I hurried here, fearing mischief. Thank Heaven, I arrived in time; -but I did not dream such an infamous act would ever be attempted.” - -“Infamous is a strong word, Princess,” said Kolfort sternly. - -“I use it because I can find no stronger,” was the quick, spirited -retort. “By what right, and in whose name, do you contemplate such an -outrage?” - -“The General declared that I was a renegade officer plotting against -the reigning Prince, and that I therefore deserved imprisonment in the -fortress of Tirnova. The General himself being, of course, so zealous -a loyalist, the thought that anyone should so conspire was naturally -repugnant to him.” - -I threw as much irony into my tone as I could, and ended with an -intentionally aggravating and somewhat insolent sneer. I wished to put -as ugly a complexion as possible on his conduct. - -“The matter is one which you and I had better discuss in private, -Princess,” said the old man, who was now fast recovering his habitual -self-restraint. - -“Why in private?” - -“Because I prefer it, Princess.” - -“I see no reason. The Count is fully aware of all our matters, is one -of my most trusted advisers and friends, and his welfare and safety -touch me very closely. The matter can be settled here and now.” - -“You are presuming much----” - -“I do not understand the word presumption in such a case, and from you, -General Kolfort,” cried Christina, proudly, “and I will not hear it.” - -“If your Highness has no further need of my services, nor of the -influence of my Government in your affairs, you have but to say so,” -he said in a tone of calculated menace. But he didn’t frighten my -brave and staunch Princess, and she answered him in a tone of queenly -dignity. - -“If your services can go no higher than the cold-blooded murder of my -friends and adherents, I shall be glad for your Government to release -you from a position that you fill in a manner so unworthy of Russia and -so bitterly hateful to myself.” - -He had drawn a blank in the attempt to intimidate her, and was quick to -see and wily enough to abandon it. - -“Yet I have not been unmindful hitherto of your interests,” he answered. - -“Hitherto they do not appear to have clashed with your own plans and -private animosities,” she flashed, with a sting that festered at once. - -“This is rather a matter of your private feelings than mine,” he said, -with a significant glance in my direction. - -“I will not affect to misunderstand you,” she answered readily, with -mounting colour. “Our interview yesterday makes that unnecessary. -That, as I read it, is the real reason at the bottom of this last act -of yours. I gave my word then to marry the Duke Sergius, and I would -have kept it at all hazards. But I did not mean, and will not suffer, -that my marriage with the Duke should be the death-sentence upon Count -Benderoff.” - -“You ‘would have kept’ your word. Do you mean----?” He paused; and how -I hung upon her reply may be imagined. - -“I mean that, as the Duke has involved himself in a quarrel, and been -seriously wounded for his pains, I cannot well become his wife the day -after to-morrow.” - -“There must be no delay,” he retorted quickly. - -“Delay!” she cried, her eyes flashing again brilliantly. “Do you think -if you had murdered my friend here, or if you dared to thrust him into -a prison, that I would ever make a marriage that at the best must be -hateful to me?” - -“This friendship of yours threatens to be exceedingly inconvenient; -and if you mean to allow it to interfere with urgent matters of State, -we may as well abandon all our plans, or look for some other means of -carrying them out.” - -“If a policy of murder is your only alternative, I agree with you,” -she exclaimed, taking up his challenge instantly. “I will not have the -steps of my throne running with blood shed by Russia.” - -He bit his lip in chagrin and manifest embarrassment. - -He might well be embarrassed. He had fired his two big guns--a threat -first to withdraw from her cause and then to throw her over--and had -found them both burst at the breech. A long pause followed, in which -I watched his face closely. He appeared to come suddenly to a fresh -decision, and changed his manner accordingly. - -“Well, I am sorry to have distressed you, Princess. What is it you -wish?” - -“I will not have Count Benderoff, or any of my friends, subjected to -interference at the hands of your agents. Their personal freedom and -safety are my special charge.” - -“The Count is at liberty to leave,” he replied on the instant, in his -more customary curt, decisive tone. “And I trust his future actions -will not bring him again in conflict with me. He may take this as a -warning.” - -“I have done nothing in this case, and need no warning,” I said -warmly. “If you allege anything against me, I am prepared to take the -consequences, and demand to stand my trial.” - -“This is no occasion that calls for mock heroics,” he sneered. “In my -opinion you should be in Tirnova; but the Princess has thought well to -interfere in your behalf, and I bow to her wishes--for the present. -That is all.” - -“For the second time I owe my safety, and probably my life, to you, -Princess,” I said, advancing to her. “I have no words to thank you.” - -“If you wish to show your thanks you had better stop that despatch you -told me of,” interposed the General, not without a note of concern in -his voice. - -“There is no need for it if I am to remain at liberty,” I answered, -half disposed to smile. - -“I am ashamed there should have been this need for my interference, -Count,” said the Princess, looking at me and smiling. - -“I trust that there may come a chance for me to prove my gratitude,” I -replied, scarce daring to meet her eyes; and with that I withdrew. - -As I passed through the ante-chamber I was stopped by the Captain, -whose men remained there on guard. - -“I hope I am to let you pass, Count,” he said most courteously. - -“General Kolfort has this moment said I am at liberty to go.” - -“You know how strict our discipline is. Will you wait while, as a -matter of form, I obtain his confirmation?” - -“Most willingly,” I asserted. He went to the General’s room, and in a -moment returned smiling and holding out his hand. - -“I am delighted. I know of you, of course, and, believe me, I have -never passed through a more embarrassing minute in my life than that -in his room.” His manner was so unaffectedly frank and friendly that I -shook his hand cordially, and he came with me down the stairs and out -into the street. - -“I heard an account of last night’s proceedings from one who was at -Metzler’s house, Count; I hope you do not judge us all by such an -instance. I have just heard also what occurred this morning;” and in -his tone and manner he contrived to convey a genuine compliment to my -skill. “The Duke is well punished.” - -“I shall be glad to hear how he progresses,” I said, as my man brought -my horse up. - -“I hear that you have an excellent shooting gallery at your house, and -that you are a remarkable shot.” - -“Will you care to come and see it?” - -“Immensely, and perhaps to try the foils with you;” and his face -lighted as though I were granting him a great favour when I asked him -to dine with me. I rode off, thankful indeed that I was still free, -speculating whether I could in some way attach this Russian to me; and, -what was still more important, wondering what lay behind the sudden -change in old Kolfort’s manner, and whether he was concocting some -further subtle plan against me. - -Before I reached my house I had resolved on an important step, as -the result of these later developments. After I had sent to Zoiloff -to let him know what had happened, I wrote a fresh despatch to send -to London, embodying much of what I had before written, and giving -a brief description of my treatment at the General’s hands. I urged -at greater length and with more insistence the desirability of steps -being taken immediately on the lines I had suggested, declaring that -there was necessity for immediate action; that I believed a complete -change of front was contemplated by General Kolfort; that the Foreign -Office must be prepared instantly with a successor to the reigning -Prince--otherwise a _coup d’état_ would be carried out, which I was -convinced would result in Russia being left the complete master of -the position; and that the one key to the situation would be found in -timing the Prince’s abdication with the finding of a successor who -would not be Russia’s tool. And I declared strongly in favour of the -Princess Christina. - -As soon as I had finished it I sent for my servant Markov, who had -been away with me the previous night, and explained to him that he -was to carry it to Nish, and place it in the hands of the British -consul there, and at the same time deliver a letter, which I wrote to -Lieutenant Spernow. This note was to tell him to destroy the first -despatch. - -“When you leave Nish,” I added, explaining the next step, “you will -return to the frontier by train, and from there to Sofia you must -organize relays of horses at distances of from ten to twelve miles, -avoiding the main road where possible, so that at any moment I can make -sure of a quick, clear journey from here to the frontier. Spare no -money in the effort to do the work well and quickly. You must have it -complete in four days at the outside, three if possible. Choose your -agents with great care, and give no hint for whom the work is being -done. If questions are pressed, you can say it is in connection with -a wager between Russian officers. I trust you implicitly, Markov,” I -concluded. “And if you serve me well I will give you such a reward as -will make you independent for life.” - -He assured me earnestly of his attachment to me, and said that, as he -came from that part of the country, he knew just the people who would -do what was needed. Then he added a characteristically Bulgarian touch: -“They know me well in those parts, Count, and they hope that some day -I shall settle among them. I am looking forward to being able to buy a -small farm that I know of there, and marry.” I took the hint. - -“Do this for me well, and I will buy the farm for you.” - -“My lord is generosity itself!” cried the fellow, his face radiant -with glee, and I knew I could depend upon a man of his kind when his -personal feelings and self-interest were running in double harness. - -My object was, of course, to prepare the means of flight should that -become at any moment imperative; and such a contingency grew more -probable the more closely I reflected upon what had passed at my -interview with the General. And I explained my views to Zoiloff, who -came hurrying to me on the receipt of my letter, and told him what I -had done. - -The Russian officer, Captain Wolasky, dined with me, and we spent an -hour together in the shooting gallery. I did my utmost to create a -favourable impression upon him, and appeared to be very successful; for -he expressed a warm wish that we might see more of one another, and -we parted on particularly friendly terms. I was careful, of course, -to avoid any reference to political matters; but he himself let fall -enough to show me that his work in Sofia was exceedingly distasteful, -and that he had little sympathy with Kolfort’s policy, and none at all -with his methods. - -“Russia must, of course, dominate the Balkans; that is the law of -Nature,” he said once; “but I detest a roundabout way of going to a -mark when a straight road could be cut with ease. That’s old Kolfort’s -way, however. He’s just like a man grubbing in a cellar for coals, and -will insist on having every little bit of rubbish through his fingers -and storing and binning it for future use, as if he expected the day to -come when rubbish would be worth more than coal, whereas one vigorous -use of the shovel would give him all the coal he wants at once.” - -I was far from displeased to find him out of conceit with the General, -but said nothing. - -“What could have been more abominable and disgusting than his treatment -of you to-day?” he exclaimed, when my wine had begun to heat him. “It’s -that sort of barbarism that brings us Russians into such ill-repute. I -know what would have happened. He would have given that order to shoot -you without turning a hair and then would have drawn up some bogus -report or other about you having made a desperate attack upon his life, -and have called upon me to witness it. I suppose he hates you for some -reason, and that’s at the bottom of it. There are plenty of black pages -in his past, I can tell you.” - -“You had better not,” I answered, smiling. I did not wish him to have -the after-reflection that he had been talking too freely. If he were -inclined to give me his confidence he should not lack opportunities; -and I pressed him warmly, therefore, to come and see me frequently. - -He came the next day when Zoiloff was with me, and again on the -following day, when Spernow had returned, and we encouraged his -intimacy in every possible way. Zoiloff, in the meantime, had made -guarded inquiries about him, having at first been disposed to distrust -him as a possible spy acting in General Kolfort’s interest. He had -found out that he was as genuine as he seemed--a man with no family -influence to push his interests, of no means of his own, and constantly -standing in his own light because of his scruples, and a blunt, rugged -way of expressing them. - -“A man not to be bought, but to be won,” declared Zoiloff. “And, once -won, to be trusted. He may be valuable to us;” and so indeed the event -proved. - -On the occasion of his fourth visit I noticed that he was reserved and -seemed preoccupied, and while we were all going through our practice -in the gallery he joined in it with small zest. We three were even -more jubilant than usual. We had been pushing forward our preparations -with the greatest energy and activity, and Zoiloff had declared to me -his belief that in another ten days or a fortnight we might venture to -make the _coup_ towards which all our efforts were bent. Men had been -sounded in all directions, and fresh adherents had come in in large -numbers, and with great enthusiasm. - -I myself had not seen the Princess since the memorable interview at the -General’s house; but she knew of all that we were doing. The marriage -had been rendered impossible for the moment because the Duke’s wound -had taken a turn for the worse, and he lay battling almost for life. We -had had no hint that our suspicions of a change of front on Kolfort’s -part had any foundation; and our hopes ran high therefore that, after -all, we should yet carry things through with a dash. - -When our fencing was over, I observed that Captain Wolasky hung about -as if waiting for Zoiloff and Spernow to go; and I dropped them a hint -quietly that they had better do so. - -As soon as we were alone, the Captain said: - -“I am afraid this may be my last visit, Count.” - -“Oh no, I hope not. Why?” - -“You will not betray my confidence, I am sure. I have received a hint -that my coming here is not acceptable to those in authority--to old -Kolfort that means, of course.” - -“Believe me, I am genuinely sorry. It cuts short what I hoped would be -a pleasant friendship.” I spoke in all sincerity, for I liked him. “But -I can understand your position.” - -“That is not all,” he added, and then hesitated and paused. I waited -anxiously. “Of course I ought not to say anything to you, but you -have been so exceedingly friendly. You may have heard that strange -developments are on foot?” - -“No, I have heard nothing.” I began to take alarm. - -“I am, of course, precluded from telling you their nature; but I -should ill return your hospitality if I were not to give you a word of -warning. You may prepare yourself for a startling change, likely to -involve very serious consequences to you personally--if you remain in -Sofia;” and his look said more than his words. - -“You mean, I am in some danger?” - -“Very grave danger, Count, and not you only.” - -“I may not ask you whom you mean?” - -“No, I am afraid not. But there is one person in whom report says you -take a deep interest. I beg your pardon for even referring to such a -matter. But the danger is very grave and--well, the frontier is very -near, and not yet closed. I can say no more, and, indeed, I am sure I -need not.” - -“You have acted the part of a true friend, Captain. How long will the -frontier be open? May I ask that?” - -“Yes, I am expecting orders at any moment to guard a certain line of -it, and the cordon will be very securely drawn.” - -This was news indeed, and for long after he had left me I sat brooding -over it deep in thought. I was right after all, it seemed; and the -cunning old Russian spider had woven a fresh web. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -FIGHT OR FLIGHT? - - -With the following day came startling confirmation of Captain Wolasky’s -warning. While I was with the regiment a letter was brought to me from -the Prince requesting me to wait upon him. - -I found him labouring under considerable excitement, pacing the floor -restlessly and awaiting me impatiently. - -“I thought you were never coming, Count,” he said, irritably. “There -seems to be no one now on whom I can rely.” - -“I came the instant I received your command, your Highness.” - -“Then there must have been some strange delay in giving my message. I -cannot understand it.” - -“Is there anything in which I can serve you?” - -“I wish to Heaven you could get me out of this wretched kingdom -honourably. That would serve me.” The words burst from him in obedience -to an irresistible impulse. “I am sick and weary to death of it all;” -and he continued his restless pacing for three lengths of the room. He -stopped abruptly and threw himself into a chair close to me. - -“Sit here,” he cried, pointing to the chair next him. “I want to speak -frankly to you.” He paused again, and then laying his hand on my arm -said very earnestly: “My friend, you are playing a deadly game--and, -mark me, you are going to be defeated.” - -“Your Highness means----?” I asked steadily. - -“That your ideal is magnificent and worthy of you, full worthy of any -Englishman--but impossible.” - -“I am flattered to hear such words from you,” I replied cautiously, but -he caught me up and answered sharply: - -“For Heaven’s sake, Count, don’t answer me with any courtly phrasings -that come tripping off the lips and mean nothing when spoken. I don’t -ask you for your confidence, unless you care to give it to me. I’ll -tell you what I know about you first.” - -“The Countess Bokara has no doubt----” - -“Yes, of course she has; she has told me all she knows, or guesses, or -suspects, or whatever it may be. But while it was only what she said I -did not think of seeing you or interfering with you. But I have learnt -it now from another source--one vastly more important. And that’s what -I mean when I tell you that you are steering straight for the rocks and -are dead certain to be shipwrecked. Listen to me. You are in love with -the Princess, and naturally enough people credit you with the intention -of trying to climb into the throne by----” - -“It is monstrous,” I cried, unable to keep silent. - -“I hope your repudiation comes from your heart--I hope it for your own -sake; for there is no happiness under such a crown as I wear, Count -Benderoff,” said the Prince bitterly. “Men think of the dazzle, the -pomp, and the grandeur, the magnificence, and forget the dangers, -the cares, the awful loneliness. If you seek happiness, seek it not -in the glitter of a king’s garb, but in the frank enjoyment of true -manliness. A monarch has mighty opportunities of making others happy, -but himself is doomed to sorrow and solitude. There is no solitude that -this life can know half so awful in its depression as that which hedges -a king. You seek advice, you find intrigue; you hunger for the truth, -and they feed you with the bitter apples of flattery; you yearn for -the sweet counsel of a friend, and you meet the tempered phrasings of -a courtier. Your every word is weighed in the balance of your hearer’s -self-interest, your every thought is caught still-born and distorted, -your every action is judged by the sordid standard of some intrigue, -and every motive twisted and dissected, and analysed and maligned, till -your very face becomes a mask to hide your mind, lest your enemies -should use your looks to help the plans which their malice is spreading -under your very eyes. God, it is unbearable.” - -I listened in silence to this outburst. - -“You wonder why I speak like this to you. I can read it in your -eyes--for am I not trained to find the truth in the face and hear the -lies in the voice? Well, I would warn you, and more, I would warn that -good, true, noble woman whom you love. Time was when I hated her, and -believed all the harm that was said of her; but now that I have learnt -her real object--to act, not with, but against, the bloodsuckers who -seek to devour the land--I know her goodness and sincerity. But the -movement must fail. The Russians know of it, General Kolfort best of -all, and he has already taken his measures to thwart you all. And -you will find his hand a heavy one, Count. If the Princess Christina -had succeeded in gaining the throne on her own terms--I mean by -means of the men you and those with you were seeking to train as her -adherents--she must still have failed in her object, and have doomed -herself to a lot as miserable and hopeless as mine has been. But -Kolfort does not mean her to succeed; and, I warn you, the measures of -prevention will be sharp, sudden, and terrible in their severity.” - -I sat amazed and disconcerted at his words. - -“You wonder how I know all this, and set it down to the Countess -Bokara. Of course, she has told me; but I have my news straight from -General Kolfort himself. You little know Bulgaria or the Bulgarians, -or you would have seen the consummate hopelessness of trying to avoid -treachery. Every man you have added to your band has been a fresh -centre of probable treachery. The rule here is each man for himself; -and some one of the men with you was bound to ask himself in time -whether he could not gain more for himself by carrying the news to -the Russians than by standing true to a desperate cause like your -Princess’s. Someone has betrayed you; and the betrayal began when your -love was known. They do not believe in disinterested love in this -country, Count. The peasants may, but no one else. And when that secret -leaked out, General Kolfort’s task of suborning a traitor became easy -enough. If I knew the scoundrel’s name I would give it you, that you -might cut his heart and tongue out for his cowardice. But, believe -me, everything is known--everything. And your knowledge of that grim -Russian leader may tell you what to expect.” He spoke with all the -earnestness of a troubled friend; and I could not doubt him. - -“When did your Highness learn this?” I asked after a pause. - -“Yesterday. Three days ago, the General came to me with proposals that -showed he had some fresh plans in mind. He was all for my remaining -here as reigning Prince, and offered to concede more than half the -conditions of freedom of action I had before demanded. It was a -pity to disturb the country by a change of rulers; the country was -thriving under my wise rule; the people were growing more contented, -and the malcontents could be overawed; the advantages of my rule were -appreciated in St. Petersburg, and the basis of achieving mutual ends -might probably be arranged with honour to me and substantial benefit -to the country; and so on for an hour or more he prated. I asked the -reason for the change of tone, and he hummed and hesitated, and, in -a word, lied. I said I must have time to think; and he gave me till -yesterday. Last night he came with his tale prepared--that the Princess -was conspiring for an end hostile to both my aims and those of Russia; -that you were her right hand and had been set on by her to fight and -kill the Duke Sergius, but had succeeded only in wounding him; that -your plot was to use the Russian influence to gain the throne and then -yourself marry her and reign as her consort; and to gain this end you -were both prepared to throw the country into the throes of a civil -war which God forfend, and so on, till I was sick to death of his -intriguing slanders. I tried to lure him on to tell me what he proposed -for you, but he contented himself with saying he had all but completed -what I might rely upon would be effectual measures of precaution.” - -“May I venture to ask how your Highness answered him?” - -“How should I answer him but as I have always answered? That I would -never bend the knee to Russia; that I did not believe St. Petersburg -would ever sanction any such arrangement as he outlined; and that if -what he stated of the objects of the Princess were true, I would be -the first to abdicate in her favour and join with her in her efforts, -shouldering a musket if need be, in the ranks of the men to fight for -her; and that would I, Count, if I saw the faintest gleam of a hope of -success. But there is not a chance, no jot or tittle of hope.” - -“Now that we have been betrayed, that is.” - -“Before the betrayal the chances were not one in a hundred; now they -are not one in a million. There is but one course for you and for -her--flight, and at once.” - -“She will not desert the men who have stood by her. Nor shall I,” I -answered firmly. - -“As you will. The Russian preparations are all but complete; Russian -troops are being hurried to the Black Sea; the slightest sign or -movement on your part will be seized on as the pretext for measures as -drastic as Russian measures commonly are; and you yourselves, you two -in particular and all associated as leaders with you, will be treated -you can guess how. Russia knows how to treat her friends badly enough; -but no one ever yet accused her of not dealing effectively with her -enemies. You have been blind, Count; but then a man in love is seldom -anything else.” - -It was useless to pretend that I was not vastly affected by what the -Prince told me. I read in it ruin and worse than ruin to everything, -and my heart sank at the prospect before Christina. - -“Your warnings, and more, the kindly motives that have prompted them, -have moved me deeply, your Highness.” - -“They had better move you out of Bulgaria. But that is your personal -affair. I have told you, because of the service you rendered to one -who is now, I regret, your enemy.” - -“Your Highness knows of the attempt on the Princess Christina’s life,” -I asked. - -“To my shame and sorrow, I do. She must not think that I would have -countenanced such a thing for a moment,” he said in tone of deep pain. - -“She does not,” I assured him. - -“That you thwarted it is another service you have rendered me, which -adds to my eagerness to help you both to safety. But even on the -throne here I am powerless to help my friends. Ay, and even my friends -are driven to inflict deeper wounds upon me than my enemies.” His -manner was that of a weak, hopeless, dejected, sorrow-broken man. -“You have spoken of that deed, and I will tell you. Since I knew of -it, I have refused to see the Countess. I cannot see her again; and -I learn that in the mad hope of helping my fallen cause she has been -in communication with Kolfort, leading him to think that I could be -induced to remain here. And I declare to you, Count, I do not pass an -hour, day or night, that is not care-ridden by the fear of some yet -more desperate deed she may attempt--the consequences of which must -fall on my head. Every step she takes adds to either my danger or my -disrepute. And I can do nothing.” He wrung his hands in weak unavailing -despair. - -I rose to leave; and, looking up half-eagerly, he asked: - -“And will the British Government do nothing?” The question was so -absolutely inconsequential, and suggested motives behind it so utterly -at variance with his attitude and words, that I was surprised. At one -moment he was declaiming against the miseries of his position, and yet -now he was clinging to the throne, like a drowning man to a spar, with -a vague reasonless hope that even England would risk a war with Russia -to maintain him upon it. - -“I have not the remotest right to say a word on that matter, your -Highness; but personally I do not think for a moment that any -interference can be looked for.” - -“Then all is indeed lost!” he exclaimed, throwing up his hands, and -sighing heavily. “Farewell, Count, let it be farewell; and do your -utmost to snatch that brave girl you love from the ruin that threatens -to overwhelm her.” - -I needed no words of his to spur me to such an effort, and as soon as I -left the Palace, in grievous trouble at all that I had heard, I sent a -message for Zoiloff to come to me at once, and hurried home to try and -strike out some line of action to meet this most dire emergency. - -My impulse was to fight--to strike our blow without a day’s delay; to -take the Prince at his word--if he had meant it; to get him to abdicate -on the very next day, and have the Princess proclaimed ruler in his -stead. Our preparations were not ready, and the _coup_ would be much -less effective than if we could have had time to complete everything. -But then neither was General Kolfort. He had not openly abandoned -Christina’s cause, and might be half afraid to oppose her, if once on -the throne, and without the aid of the troops which the Prince had told -me were being hurried up to his support. For him to cause a civil war -was to take a step in the face of Europe which might cost him dear, and -force the other Powers to interfere--the one step that Russia dreaded. - -Unprepared as we were, and much as we had to gain by a few days’ -delay, Kolfort had much more to gain. When once his grip had tightened -in the way he projected, there would not remain a vestige of hope for -us. Clearly, then, if we meant to fight, we must do it at once. - -It must be fight or flight. - -In regard to the latter, I found Markov had returned, and he assured me -he had carried out my plans to the letter--had even improved upon them, -for he had told me he had arranged for the last stage of the journey to -be by a very slightly known route to the frontier. - -“I did this,” he explained, “because I heard rumours of certain changes -as to the guardianship of the frontier roads, and I thought it well to -choose the route which would be the least difficult in case of trouble.” - -“You have done well, Markov, and have earned your reward,” I said. - -“You will let me stay with you to the last, my Lord?” he asked. - -“I wish it above all things, for I need faithful men about me.” - -When Zoiloff came I explained my views, putting bluntly the alternative -of fight or flight, and he was all for fighting. But he shook his head -gloomily at the chances. - -“We have left to the last the most hazardous work of all,” he said, -“and yet in some respects the most important. I mean the winning over -of some of those men, the politicians, the men of tongues not deeds, -whose names are most before the public. They are the most dangerous of -all to meddle with, and yet without them I fear for the result. And we -cannot draw them to us until we can show that the army is on our side.” - -“And what of the army?” - -“We have done all that human effort could achieve in the time--but we -could not do impossibilities. On the troops in Philippopoli I believe -we can count surely. General Montkouroff is Bulgarian to the core, -and where he leads the majors will follow. He has been sounded and -will act with us. But here in Sofia there is not a regiment, except -that to which I and Spernow belong, which would not turn against us. -This disposition of the troops has all been arranged by Russia and the -traitors who are Russia’s friends. The risk is tremendous.” - -“There is no alternative but flight, remember.” - -“And fly I will not. Come what may, we will strike.” - -“If the Princess will,” said I. “We must see her at once.” And in this -mood we started for her house, Zoiloff urging me on the way to see her -alone. - -“You have more influence with her than all of us put together,” he said -quickly. “I will remain at hand, and you can call me in if you cannot -prevail. But you are right, Count, and I am with you hand and heart. We -must either strike an imperfect blow at once or abandon everything.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE HOUR OF INDECISION - - -My anticipations of the interview with Christina were a mingling of -pleasure and apprehension. I was longing to see her. I had not set -eyes on her for four days, and, busily as the time had been filled, my -thoughts had been constantly with her. I recalled, too, with a feeling -of mixed tenderness and pain, how she had then said we must not meet -again alone, and at the recollection my pulses thrilled again with the -sad sweetness of our acknowledged but never to be avowed love. - -The knowledge of her present danger moved me deeply. I had to tell -her the ill news myself, and, in telling it, to urge her to take the -course which I knew must put an impassable gulf between us. It had been -easy enough for me, in consultation with Zoiloff, when we were both -staggered by this new development, to decide for the counsel of energy -and to choose the course which, while loyal to Christina, my Princess, -was traitor to Christina, my love. But if she would fly the country, -there would be no longer the barrier of a throne between us. - -And in the minutes I was alone waiting for her coming, the thought -of all I was to lose in losing her, and of all I was to gain if she -would consent to flight, threatened to make a coward of me and urged -me to plead with all a lover’s strength that she should choose the -course which would make her my wife. Away from her I could be the -impassionate adviser, but in her presence, with the light of her eyes -upon my face, with my heart glowing and throbbing with the knowledge -of my love for her and hers for me, it would be hard to be more than a -lover, and, being that, not to set the hopes and desires of our love -beyond all other consideration. - -I had to wait some minutes for her; and, as they passed, the struggle -grew fiercer, the temptation strengthened, and the fear of losing -her waxed until I was almost impelled to call in Zoiloff to prop my -stumbling resolve. There were so many arguments to favour flight. The -road was still open; the means were instantly available; safety could -be won in a few hours--long before this Russian tyrant could strike; -the Prince had counselled, even urged it; the Russian captain had done -the same; all were convinced that safety could lie in no other course. - -And if we struck and failed, what outlook was there but humiliation, -ill-usage, a prison, and possibly death? Love was calling to us both -on that frontier road, and smiling with the promise of a life of rare -delight; and here in the city stood the gaunt shadow of menacing -defeat, with all its grim terrors and gloomy threats of ruthless -indignity, and quenchless, loveless sorrow and separation. Is it to -be wondered at that I hearkened for the moment to the whispering -invitation of love, and closed my ears to aught beside? - -But before she came I had fought it back, thrusting the temptation -away from me as a thing dishonourable and unclean, and I rose to greet -her with a heart as full of loyalty as of love. She was looking sad -and troubled, and she bowed to me merely, not giving me her hand as on -former visits. - -“I had not thought that we should be alone again, Count Benderoff,” she -said, a little formally; and I hoped I could detect in this reception -and in the light of her eyes when they fell upon me the sight of a -personal feeling of pleasure that needed to be held firmly in check. I -adopted a tone of formality that equalled her own. - -“I had not forgotten your wish, Princess, but I have been compelled by -grave circumstances to come to you thus. Have you heard any news? Your -anxious looks suggest that you may know what I have to tell.” - -“I have heard nothing. Is there bad news?” - -“I grieve to say it is of the worst.” - -“This time, at least, you are the bearer of it,” she replied, smiling -faintly. “And I can trust you to tell me frankly. What is it?” - -I told her plainly everything. First, the warning which the Russian -officer, Captain Wolasky, had given me on the previous evening; and -his strong advice that she should fly before it was too late. Then, in -great detail, all that had passed between the Prince and myself that -morning. - -She was very pale and much agitated as my narrative proceeded; but she -interrupted me scarcely once, and at the close sank back in her seat, -and with her hands across her eyes remained buried in thought. - -“It is hard news to hear,” she said despondently. “You say it spells -the ruin of everything.” - -“It is to the full as hard for me to tell as for you to hear,” I -answered gently. “But it is no moment to flinch from the facts, however -ugly. I fear it means the ruin of everything.” At my gloomy words she -shuddered, and sat for some minutes silent in dismay. When she turned -her face to me, it was so full of anguish and pain that it made my -heart ache. - -“How can I save those whom I have involved in this?” - -“We are thinking of you, Princess,” I answered. - -“Oh no, no, not of me!” she exclaimed vehemently. “For myself I care -nothing. Heaven knows, my motives have not been inspired by mere -personal ambition. I do not crave a throne, but I have longed with -a passion I cannot perhaps make you feel, to spread the blessing of -freedom among the people. For this end I have striven; and now it seems -I have failed. Do not think of me. I will not think of myself. But to -bring others to ruin is more than I can endure. Tell me--what do you -advise? What can I do?” - -“There seem but two courses open,” I said, and told her what Zoiloff -and I had agreed together. - -“You did not think that I would fly and leave those who have rallied to -my cause to bear the brunt while I was seeking the coward’s refuge of -safety?” she asked, half indignant that I should even have suggested it. - -“No, I did not,” I answered quietly; “I knew you;” and her eyes thanked -me for the words. “I should remind you, too, that this check has come -so suddenly and prematurely for our plans that there are very few who -are really involved in any danger. We have barely had time to throw -off the veil of Russia’s sanction of our efforts, so that there are -scarcely more than a handful of us who know the real object of the -scheme; and General Kolfort would be unable to bring home even to them -any acts against Russia. It is he who has encouraged the plans laid ‘In -the Name of a Woman,’ and his own writing was in evidence to prove it. -You will remember my early insistence upon the necessity for obtaining -his written sanction. In the face of that I do not see that he could -produce proofs to convict anyone except our trusty Zoiloff and Spernow, -and say two or three others.” - -“But yourself?” she cried, in a tone of quick alarm. - -“I do not regard the consequences to myself as very serious, Princess,” -I said calmly. - -“I shall not run away,” she said, taking what I said as an argument in -favour of her seeking her own safety, and she paused again to think. -“Could I go myself to General Kolfort; give up everything on condition -of his visiting it all on me? I am responsible.” - -It was a true woman’s offer, and a noble one; but I shook my head. - -“I fear it would be hopeless. He would but drag from you all that you -could tell him, and then use the information remorselessly and without -a scruple against those implicated. You would do the very thing you -seek to avoid.” Her face fell as she saw the truth of this, and she -sighed heavily. - -“But this alternative--what is it but a wild forlorn hope? A desperate -step with scarce a chance of success? May not the consequences be a -thousandfold worse than the worst that can come of doing nothing? Have -you thought of what would happen if we failed? You said just now that -so far only a few are openly embroiled; but should we not be forcing -each man to declare himself, and would not each be marked out plainly -as a target for Russian malice?” - -“There is the hope of success, even if it be forlorn. There are many of -us who think it better to fight and fail than not to fight at all.” - -“I do not like it; I am afraid of it. The chances are so few; the -risks so enormous to others. I dare not sanction it.” - -“We are men; the cause is a noble one; enthusiasm has spread -everywhere, and a lesser spirit has ere now led a feebler movement to -success. There is not one of us, I believe, who would stand back in -fear.” - -“There may be bloodshed,” she cried. - -“Much blood has already been shed in the cause of oppression. We must -think of the ends, not the means. A bold stroke here will bring the -army in the south to your standard--and that may do everything.” - -“It is a momentous decision to have to make. I cannot make it. I must -have time to think.” - -“Every hour that delays the decision may turn the balance between -success and failure.” - -“If I thought we could triumph!” she cried, her eyes flashing and her -cheeks glowing for a moment. But she paused, the light died out as -quickly as it had come, and she shook her head mournfully. “I must have -time.” - -“Let me send for Captain Zoiloff. Hear him.” - -“Do you think he can persuade me where you fail, Count?” she asked, her -eyes burning again, but with a different emotion. - -“At least I would have you hear him, Princess,” I said, dropping my -eyes and speaking as evenly as I could command my voice. - -While he was sent for I stood in silence, and when he came I told him -briefly what had passed. He spoke strongly and bluntly like the sturdy -fellow he was; but he could not prevail any more than I, and he left -the room rather abruptly. - -The Princess looked after him with an expression of the deepest pain, -and when she turned again to me I saw the tears standing in her eyes, -and her voice was all unsteady as she cried from her heart: - -“Does he think I would not do this if I dared?” And throwing herself -back in her seat, she pressed her hands to her face, quite overcome -with the strain of her emotions. - -I waited in much embarrassment, uncertain whether to go or stay. Some -moments passed in this tense silence, and then, to my surprise, she -turned upon me with some indignation. - -“Why did you bring him here to humiliate me like this? Does it give you -pleasure to stay and witness my weakness--or what you deem weakness? -Cannot you understand what I feel? Is everything to yield place to -ambition, and are the dictates of humanity nothing to you? Cannot you -see what I am suffering, torn in this way by the distracting doubts -of such a crisis? Do you think these tears are not as hard for me to -shed as the blood of others as innocent of wrong as God knows I am? -Why do you plague me until I---- Oh, forgive me my wild words! I don’t -know what I am saying.” And she passed in a breath from indignation to -lament. - -“Permit me to leave you now, Princess,” I murmured. - -“Would you also leave me in anger? Have I no friend staunch enough -to bear with my moods, or true enough to understand me? Yes, Count -Benderoff, if you wish to go the way is open to you.” And, rising, she -stood erect and proud, and made me a stately bow as of dismissal. “I -can decide and act alone, if need be.” Yet in the very moment of her -passing indignation her lip quivered and her breath was tremulous. - -“As God is my judge, I have no thought but for you!” I cried, with -a rush of passion at the sight of her trouble, and I threw myself on -my knee before her. “Tell me how you wish me to act, and when I have -failed reproach me with want of staunchness, but not till then.” - -My voice was hoarse and broken. - -As I knelt I could hear the quick catches in her breath as she stood -over me, and the very rustling of the trembling laces of her dress -seemed to speak to me of her sufferings. - -“I have wronged you, or worse--I have insulted you, Count. Ah me! I who -know so well how you are indeed my friend! Do not kneel to me. It is I -who should kneel to you.” And at that her hand, fevered and trembling, -was laid gently in mine, as if to raise me to my feet. - -I kissed the fingers, the tender grace of her words of contrition -almost unmanning me, and driving out all thought but of my love and my -desire to comfort her. I rose, and, still holding her hand, gazed into -her eyes, which shone on me through the dew of her tears in a smile of -loving confidence. - -“I trust you wholly,” she whispered. “Help me to do right.” - -“If I were thinking of myself, I would urge you with every means in my -power to fly,” I said in low, rapid accents of passion. - -“No, no, you must not counsel that,” she cried vehemently. “We must -not, dare not, think of ourselves. Spare me that temptation.” - -“You cannot stay here and be safe unless we make this desperate -venture.” - -“And the world would say I ran away because I feared for my safety, -betraying all who have sought to help my cause; or else that I fled -to----” She paused, her face aflame with sudden blushes. “You would not -have me do that?” - -“You are my world,” I answered recklessly. “Listen one moment. In our -hearts we all know, Zoiloff as well as any, that the cause is lost. -Till I fired him again--knowing how you would shrink from flight--he -was saturated with hopelessness. When he heard the ill news, his one -thought was how you could be saved. That is the thought of us all. The -way to the frontier is still open. I have ready at instant command the -means of securing your safety. If you will go, I will stay to check the -slanderous tongues whose malice you dread. If you bid me I will never -see you again. But for God’s sake, I implore you, leave me at least the -solace that you are safe.” - -The words moved her so that for a while she could not speak, but the -clasp of her hand tightened on mine. Then she asked tenderly: - -“Do you think the woman in me would know a moment’s happiness if you -were in danger?” - -“Then let it be a woman’s decision,” I urged passionately, carried away -by the love in her voice. “Life is all before us.” - -“No. It cannot be. Cannot. Must not,” and she shook her head and -shuddered. “You know what this temptation must be to me. Do not urge -it. I cannot listen. I dare not yield. I beg you be merciful,” she -pleaded. - -“Then fly and let me remain,” I said. - -“The Princess cannot and must not go.” The words came all reluctantly, -but were firmly spoken. I saw my pleading of love was to fail, and my -heart sank. “But you must fly!” - -“Christina!” The name slipped in protest from my lips before I thought, -and I feared she would resent it; and I felt her hand start. - -“That is the hardest plea of all you have used,” she said softly, with -a smile of rare sweetness. “Christina is powerless to resist you, but -the Princess must decide this. Do not use that plea again.” - -“I must--I cannot lose you,” I cried desperately, “I love you so.” - -“Don’t, please, please don’t. If I dared to think of myself there would -be no gladlier fugitive under Heaven’s bright sky than Christina. -There, I have bared my heart to you, as I never thought to open it. And -by the love I know you have for me, and by the love that answers it in -my heart, I entreat you help me to be strong enough to resist you. Let -us never have to think that we placed our love before our duty--however -hard and stern. Lend me your man’s strength; I need it so sorely.” And -with a little piteous action of entreaty she placed her other hand on -mine, and gazed full into my eyes. - -I stood fighting down my wildly roused passion, trembling under its -stress like a child, till I conquered it. - -“It shall be as you wish,” I said at length. “We will stay and face -this together. But you must not ask me again to desert you.” - -“There is a higher happiness than is bounded by our own wishes only,” -she whispered. - -“I can know no sorrow deeper than my loss of you. But it shall be as my -Princess desires;” and I bent and kissed her hands again. - -“The sorrow should be the lighter if divided,” she whispered, with a -tender reproach for the selfishness of my words. - -“The thought made me a coward for the moment. And no man should be a -coward whose ears have been blessed by the words which you have spoken, -and the knowledge I have gained. Forgive the cowardice.” - -“I would I could as easily spare you the sorrow,” she murmured. - -“To do that now would be to rob my life of its one great happiness. -Come what may for me, I shall never love again;” and with that -assurance, which brought all the love in her heart in a rush of -eloquent, speaking tenderness to her eyes, I left her, caring little -indeed what might happen to me if our union were impossible. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -IN FULL CRY - - -The night that followed was a memorable one in the history of Bulgaria -and, as an incident of the great event, it brought the crisis in our -affairs. - -It was the night in which by the machinations of the Russian agents the -Prince was abducted, and at the point of the pistol was forced to sign -an abdication of his throne. It is not necessary for me to write about -an event which has been often enough described, nor to tell how the -crowd of unpatriotic and disloyal officers led their troops to surround -the Palace, ordered them to fire into it, and then breaking in forced -his Highness to leave, and hurried him off to Nikopolis, making him a -prisoner on board his own yacht, to be landed on Russian territory. - -Exactly what led up to this crisis I do not know. My opinion is that -General Kolfort’s offer to maintain him on the throne on certain -relaxed conditions was genuine and would have been fulfilled, but at -the same time the alternative plot was already in progress, and this -scheme was hastened forward on the Prince’s refusal of the Russian -terms. - -Had our own preparations but been a couple of weeks more forward the -issue would have been different; but, as it was, that _coup_ set the -final seal on our failure. - -The event took us absolutely by surprise. I had retired for the night -wondering what the morrow would bring forth, when my household were -roused by a loud summons at the door. My first thought was that the -General had again sent his men to arrest me; and I was for resisting to -the utmost, when it was discovered that the summons came from Zoiloff -and Spernow, who had come in hot haste to bring me the great news and -to confer with me as to our actions. - -The perilous nature of the crisis was obvious, and my first thought was -naturally for the Princess, with a deep and bitter regret that she had -not done what I had urged so strongly--used the means we had to make a -dash for the frontier. - -Choosing half-a-dozen of my servants on whom I knew I could rely -implicitly, we armed them fully and set out on foot for the Princess’s -house. The sounds of firing from the direction of the Palace reached -us as we made our way through the streets, in which the people were -beginning to cluster in groups drawn by curiosity and alarm, discussing -in high and excited tones the meaning of the disturbance. - -No one stayed or questioned us on the way to the Princess’s house, but -when we reached it we halted in amazement. Every window was dark, not -a light showing anywhere, while the gates and doors and forecourt were -thronged with armed men. - -“They’ve captured her!” exclaimed Zoiloff, instantly. “And we are -helpless against such a crowd.” - -“We must know the truth,” I said, my heart misgiving me. “You are best -known, Spernow; go forward and try to ascertain the truth, whether the -Princess has been carried away, and if so, where.” - -He went at once; and then Markov stepped up to me. - -“I think I can find out all. I am sure to know some of the men,” he -said. - -I sent him after Spernow, and stood back in the shadow to wait with -such patience as I could command. My excitement and fear made me like -a madman, till I felt I could almost have rushed single-handed against -the troops and tried to hack my way into the house. - -“This means devilish mischief, Count,” said Zoiloff in a hushed tone. -“You will be the next.” - -“I care nothing for myself, but I will save her,” I said between my -teeth. - -Spernow came back in a few minutes. - -“I can learn nothing. The men have orders to hold their tongues. But -the Princess is not in the house; at least I gather that.” - -“Then why the devil do they guard it?” cried Zoiloff fiercely. - -“They may be waiting for orders where to go next.” - -“It will be to your house, Count. You mustn’t return there, but fly at -once and leave us to settle this.” - -“When I leave you either I shall be dead or the Princess will be safe,” -I answered hotly. “Let us wait for Markov; he is a shrewd, cunning -fellow, and may find out something.” - -“I am anxious about Mademoiselle Broumoff, Count,” said Spernow, eager, -as I could see, to get tidings of her. I sympathised with him, as well -may be understood. - -“Go in quest of her at once,” I said; “and, when you can, return to my -house, and we will thresh out some plan of action. We may have news by -then.” - -He was off like the wind, and Zoiloff and I waited on in silence for -Markov to return. - -He seemed an age in coming, and I strained my eyes in trying to catch -some trace of him in the crowd of moving figures that thronged the -place. I gave a deep sigh of relief when at length I saw him come out -of the gate, stand idly a moment glancing up and down the street, and -then, as if sauntering away in obedience to the merest curiosity, cross -the road to us. - -“Well?” I asked eagerly. - -“I have news. We had better not stay longer here, your honour,” he -whispered, and walked away, speaking rapidly as we walked. “The -Princess Christina left here some two hours ago. She is a prisoner in -the hands of General Kolfort’s men. She was roused by them just before -midnight and compelled to enter a carriage that was in waiting, and was -driven off under a strong guard, with a considerable escort of mounted -men.” - -“Where have they taken her?” cried Zoiloff and I, in a breath together, -when he paused. - -“The actual destination is not known, but the carriage started for the -south road, that leading to Liublian; and one suggestion is that they -will carry her to Ichtman or on to Samakovo, where there is a strong -Russian detachment.” - -“Do you know who was with her? Was anyone?” I asked. - -“Yes; Mademoiselle Broumoff was taken from home at the same time, and I -believe was in the carriage with the Princess.” - -“Did you hear anything concerning the Count?” asked Zoiloff. - -“I was asked if your honour was still at liberty, and advised to look -out for a new master. I shall not do that yet, sir, I hope,” he added; -“not till you tell me, at any rate.” - -I liked his faithfulness in choosing such a moment to assure me of his -attachment. - -“It may be a dangerous service for the next few hours, Markov; but you -have done excellently in this--excellently.” - -We were now hastening back to my house, for I had already resolved to -follow on the Princess’s trail instantly; to rescue her at any hazard, -and hurry her across the frontier, fighting our way, if need be, -through all who challenged us. Zoiloff was with me heart and soul; and -we set about the preparations with an energy almost feverish in its -earnestness. - -Fortunately I had a large stud of first-rate horses, and every man in -the place who could be relied upon was armed to the teeth and mounted, -and provided with enough rations to last through the coming day. I had -taken care to provide myself with a large sum in gold, so as to be -ready for any such emergency as the present, and this I took with me. -We numbered nearly twenty men, all trained, vigorous, staunch fellows, -and all zealous to the heart’s-core in our cause. - -When we were ready I took Zoiloff aside. I knew his resolute character -and his fidelity to the Princess; but I knew also that his career lay -in Bulgaria, and that if he were caught with me on such an enterprise -the consequences to him would be worse than disastrous, and I did not -wish to embroil him any further. - -“Zoiloff, I am going to speak as a friend. No one can see the end of -this business of ours. We may find ourselves face to face with the -troops and may have to risk an encounter with them. For me it does not -signify. I am an Englishman and can scramble out of the mess somehow. -For these men here there is no great danger either. Old Kolfort won’t -deal harshly with servants who can plead that I forced them into it. -But with you it is all different. You are an officer, and to fight -against the troops is an act of deadly treason--mutiny probably, -punishable with Heaven knows what penalties. Now, as my friend, will -you let me ask you to stay here and guard our interests in Sofia?” - -He heard me impatiently and looked at me keenly. - -“Are you serious, Count?” he asked. - -“Yes, my friendship----” - -“Stop, please, or I may say something I should regret, Count,” he broke -in, bluntly. “I should not reckon that man a friend who would urge me -to be a coward. Were you any other man I would not brook it once, and -even you will put a strain on our friendship if you breathe a word of -this again. We are wasting time. Let us to horse. I have not deserved -this of you, Count, and if I thought I had I’d shoot myself for a cur. -Are you the only man that can love the Princess?” - -“Forgive me, friend. I beg your pardon,” I cried, vastly moved by his -words; and I held out my hand. - -“I am no rival of yours,” he said earnestly, as he wrung it. “But if a -hair of her head be injured I will know by whom, and if it does not go -hard with him I am no man. Come, I am hot to be away.” - -As we were mounted, Spernow dashed up on horseback, pale of face and -wild of manner. - -“Nathalie has gone, too,” he exclaimed, and I told him very briefly -what we believe had occurred. - -In another minute we started, riding in couples and at some distance. -Quietly, until we were clear of the town, was the order I gave; then -join, and forward in full cry. The firing had not entirely ceased at -the Palace when we set out, and an occasional report reached us as we -wended our way through the city by different streets to the point on -the south road where we were to join. So much was now astir in the -city that even our cavalcade caused little or no comment or surprise. -Strange tidings and rumours were now on the wind, flying everywhere, -and the excitement and confusion they spread caused our movements to -pass unchallenged. - -Once at the meeting-place we pricked our horses into a gallop and set -out, a stern determined band dead set on revenge, and resolved every -man of us to achieve the end we had at the cost of life itself. - -I rode at the head, with Markov as guide; Zoiloff and Spernow behind -me, and the rest, four abreast, keeping order like a small cavalry -detachment. The night was bright with moonlight, and the country lay -around us everywhere still and sunk in sleep. Scarce a soul was astir -in the hamlets through which our road passed, but I took the utmost -precaution to prevent any mischance. - -As we reached each village, I called a halt and sent Markov forward to -see that all was clear, for I half expected that Kolfort would have -foreseen our pursuit of Christina and have posted men to stop us. To -save time we gave Markov three minutes; and if he did not return or -fire a shot to give an alarm, we clattered after him at full gallop. - -So long as it was night, there was no one of whom we could make -inquiries, and thus we were riding somewhat at random; but as soon as -the dawn should begin to streak the east I knew the peasants would -soon be astir, and that then we might pick up a trace or two of those -we were seeking. - -Then Markov made a valuable suggestion. - -“Will your honour let me ride on ahead some half mile or so? We are -nearing Liublian now, and if I am alone I may get news which would be -refused to so large a body of us together. I may see any danger, too, -and be able to warn you.” - -“A prudent thought, Markov,” I said, bidding him ride on. “If we see -you riding back to us, or if we hear you fire a shot, we shall draw -rein and wait till you join us;” and with that he plunged ahead at full -speed, and we watched him till he was out of sight over a rise in the -road. - -I told Zoiloff the arrangement, and we were discussing the situation in -jerky whispers while we halted, when one of my men came galloping up in -great excitement. - -“My lord, we are being pursued. I had to stay behind to get a stone out -of my horse’s hoof, when I heard the sound of horses galloping some way -behind me.” - -“How far behind?” - -“I cannot say--the night is very still. Perhaps half a mile, or maybe a -mile.” - -“Ride on at once and overtake Markov, and warn him to draw into -cover. Off with you! We must find out who the horsemen are and their -strength,” I added to Zoiloff. - -“There is a small wood there, which will do for cover, Count,” he -replied instantly. “Let the men ride there and take our horses, while -you and I stay on foot to watch the newcomers.” - -I told Spernow to post the men in the covert, and Zoiloff and I lay -down in some bushes to wait for the pursuers. - -It was an anxious moment, and we lay close together, whispering in -hurried conference. We had not long to wait. - -“I hear them,” whispered Zoiloff, gripping my arm. His ears were -quicker than mine, but a moment later I, too, caught the clatter of -horses’ feet and then the clash of accoutrements. - -“Troops,” I whispered; and we both peered between the bushes, straining -our ears, through the grey twilight of the dawn. - -As they reached the foot of the rise near the top of which we were -concealed the party slackened speed, first to a trot and then to a -walk, to ease the horses. - -“I hope to Heaven none of our horses neigh,” whispered Zoiloff -earnestly. - -I made no reply. I was too anxious for speech, for such a chance might -ruin everything. I almost held my breath as the first of the horsemen -came into view, and then my companion gripped my arm again in a spasm -of irresistible excitement. - -“Kolfort, by the luck of hell!” he breathed, and sure enough, in -the second line of three, I recognised the grim, stern face of that -implacable man. - -So excited was I that I almost forgot to count the men with him, and a -thousand thoughts, wild and incoherent, rushed through my mind as the -band of horsemen came up at a quick walking pace, got abreast, then -passed on up the rise, and dipped out of sight as they broke again into -a gallop, the footfalls of the horses dying away very quickly over the -summit of the hill. - -“I hope to the Lord he’s going to the Princess!” exclaimed Zoiloff as -we scrambled to our feet. - -“More likely he wants to be in a position to prove his absence from the -city when the Prince is being carried off,” said I. “But wherever he’s -going we must know and follow.” - -I ran across to where our men were posted and told off one of them to -follow hot on the heels of the party and be ready to guide us, and I -gave him enough start of us to allow for our not being heard. - -“It’s clear he wasn’t following us,” said Zoiloff. “There were only -twelve men all told in the party. What a chance we have missed! If we -had only known, we could have lined the road just where we two lay, and -they’d have walked right into the trap. Only twelve to nearly twenty -of us! and we should have had him safe enough. God! If we could only -get hold of him, the safety of the Princess would be a simple matter -enough.” - -“We may do it yet,” said I as I mounted, and we set off again in -pursuit of those we had believed to be in pursuit of us. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -THE ATTACK - - -It was true enough of course that we had missed a glorious chance in -not surprising and overcoming General Kolfort’s party and making him -a prisoner; but with our end in view it would have been madness to -risk an encounter when we had absolutely no knowledge of the strength -opposed to us. A defeat at such a moment would have overthrown all our -plans and have involved the abandonment of Christina to whatever fate -might be in store for her. - -It was true, too, that in allowing the General to pass and his men to -get in touch with the others who were guarding the Princess, we had -increased our difficulties; and the result of a hurried consultation -with Zoiloff as we rode forward was a decision to seek and overtake the -General’s party and try conclusions with them. - -For this purpose, however, we had wasted valuable time, and the now -rapidly lightening dawn greatly lessened the chance of catching them -unawares, and vastly increased the risk. But we were in no mood to -count the chances too gingerly and we dashed along at as rapid a pace -as our horses could travel. - -The road was execrable--rough and uneven beyond description, with -large loose stones scattered about in it in a way that made the going -exceedingly difficult, and in parts galloping was impossible. - -We had ridden in this way about half an hour, constantly having to -draw rein for either the roughness of the road or the steep hills, when -we came up with the man we had sent to warn Markov, and the other who -had been despatched to follow the General’s party. - -Markov had undertaken the spy work in preference to the man I had -despatched, and the change was a good one. I had not been free from -the fear that Markov might be surprised by the General, despite our -precaution in sending to warn him, and it was good news that he was -safe. - -We did not stay our progress a moment. The men rode by my side as each -in turn gave me his report, and then dropped back into the ranks behind -as we thundered forward, eager to overtake the General before he should -fall in with any other troops; and the best news that the men brought -us was that we were gaining fast upon them, and that Kolfort was not -far ahead. - -This spurred us to further effort, and we were rushing on filled with -the hope of catching him, when I saw Markov in the distance galloping -wildly in our direction. I ordered a halt instantly, and drew up to -await him. - -“I have tracked them, my lord,” he said hurriedly; “but the news is -bad. General Kolfort and his party are in a house, about a mile ahead, -that belongs to him, and it is there the Princess Christina has been -carried. At least I judge so, for I slipped from my horse and managed -to find out that there were a number of soldiers about; and I spied a -travelling carriage in front of the house with all the signs of a long -journey on it. The horses had been taken out, and I judged it had just -been left where it stopped, the horses being taken to the stables. I -saw General Kolfort’s party halt there, and he and one or two with him -entered the house while the soldiers went round to the back.” - -“How many soldiers in all?” I asked. - -“From what I heard in the city last night, I gathered there were about -a dozen in charge of the Princess; I counted another dozen with General -Kolfort--say from twenty-five to thirty, all told, sir.” - -“We can do it if we surprise them,” said I, turning to Zoiloff. “Not so -good a chance as we had just now, but still a chance.” - -“Certainly,” he agreed. “Catch them while off their guard and probably -getting food after their ride;” and in less than a minute we were -moving forward again, Markov riding on my left. - -Just before we came in full view of the house, Zoiloff, Spernow, and I -rode forward to reconnoitre the ground and plan the attack. The house -lay well situated for such an attempt. We were looking down on it from -a slight hill, and on three sides some fairly thick wood and shrubbery -shut it in, in which a couple of regiments could have been posted had -we had such a force available. We could see three or four men in the -front of the house and in the road, left to do sentry work; but they -were lolling about chatting together, and obviously thinking of nothing -less than any such attack in force as we meditated; and, had we dashed -up the road in a body, it was likely enough we could have carried the -place before any effective resistance could have been offered. - -But we formed a far different plan. Markov led us along the ridge of -the hill fringed with trees to a point from which we could command a -view of the rear of the house, and then I observed something that gave -me an idea and made my heart leap with exultation. Preparations were -going forward quickly to give the soldiers their breakfast, and I saw -all the things being carried from the house to a low building across a -wide yard that looked like a barn. The soldiers were chaffing the women -and helping to carry the food and vessels; and in a moment my plan was -ready. - -“We shall catch them like rats in a trap,” I cried to Zoiloff, as I -pointed this out to him. “The place is made for us and couldn’t be -better. We’ll time our visit when the men are just at breakfast yonder, -and, if a couple of our fellows can steal up unseen, that big door can -be slammed, and there won’t be more than half a dozen left for us to -deal with about the house. We shall cage the old fox to a certainty. -Let Spernow and two men creep along this way and down under cover of -those trees to the entrance to the yard, and post themselves there. The -main portion can get to the house through the orchard below us”--and I -pointed to the spots I meant--“and we shall be into the place before -they even dream that we are near. Once we get close to the house, do -you and half a dozen make for the front and settle with anyone there, -making an exit from the house impossible. I’ll enter by the back with -the rest of us and square accounts with anyone inside. The horses must -be left up here in the woods, tethered; we can’t spare a man to stay -with them.” - -We discussed the minor points of the attack, fixed the moment, and left -it that Spernow’s closing the door upon the troops at breakfast should -be the signal. If things went wrong with him and the men escaped, we -settled that Zoiloff should, as arranged, rush round to the front, but -that I and the men with me should hasten to Spernow’s assistance and -attack the men there. - -We went back to the rest of the party, led them all into the wood -on the hill from where we had made our observations, had the horses -fastened over the hill and well out of sight of the house, and then, -with arms all ready, crept back to the edge of the wood to wait for the -moment to commence. - -The movement and bustle of preparation were going on briskly below; the -maids and the men were hurrying and scurrying in all directions, and -there was such stir and life that it threatened to be impossible for us -to creep down unseen. - -Gradually there came a change. Things grew quieter, and presently -the servant girls went into the house and did not return. We saw the -soldiers, laughing and joking, cross in couples and threes to the -barn; two of those who had been on guard in the front came running -round, rested their muskets against the wall of the barn outside and -joined their comrades within; and the place was quiet and unguarded. I -gave the word to advance, and a moment later we began to wend our way -stealthily down the hill-side, closing gradually on the house. Not a -word was spoken, and not a sound betrayed our presence. When we reached -the point where Spernow was to leave us to get to the other end of the -yard, I whispered to him to take an extra man in case of emergencies, -and then at the head of my men I threaded my way up the side of the -orchard, with Zoiloff close in attendance. - -All went well. We reached a low mud wall that parted the orchard from -the homestead yard, and halted there until Spernow should give the -signal by slamming-to the great barn door. By peering through the -branches of some fruit trees I could see the spot where he was to -post himself. Just when all was about in readiness, and he and his -three men were standing at the end of the barn, round the corner of it -fortunately, one of the soldiers came out, picked up one of the muskets -leaning against the wall, and stood a moment laughing and chaffing with -those within. He was one of the sentries, and called to those within -to be quick. Then, whistling carelessly, he shouldered his weapon and -moved away. - -Moments were growing precious now. Would Spernow wait for the man to -disappear round the front at the risk that others of the soldiers would -finish and come out, or would he act while the man was in full view and -take the risk of a shot? He was in dire hesitation; and I could see him -peep round the corner of the barn and peer anxiously after the man. - -Then something seemed to decide him--he told me afterwards he heard the -men in the barn beginning to move--and with quick, stealthy steps he -and his men rushed to the great door, slammed it to, and secured it. -The soldier was attracted by the noise, turned, saw what had happened, -raised an alarm, and was in the act of firing at Spernow when one of -the latter’s men shot him and he fell to the ground. - -At the same time Zoiloff called his followers and dashed for the front -of the house, while I, seeing that all was well with Spernow, rushed -to the back door. It was slammed in my face, but a blow from our guns -smashed it in, and after a short delay we gained the passage. - -All the house was in wild alarm, and the soldiers in it put themselves -in my way, offering a stubborn resistance. But we outnumbered them -by three to one, and after a scrimmage that was hot enough while it -lasted we overpowered them, struck their weapons from their hands, -bound them, and thrust them into a room in the custody of a couple of -men with strict orders to shoot if any nonsense was attempted. - -Our surprise was in that respect completely and triumphantly -successful, but in regard to one of the chief objects it failed. The -way which we had chosen for Zoiloff to make his rush to the front of -the house was blocked by some outhouses which we had not seen, and he -and his men had had to return and run round to the other side. The -delay caused was not long, but it was fatal, for the first thing he -saw on reaching there was General Kolfort in company with a couple -of attendants, presumably officers, spurring at topmost speed in the -direction of Samakovo. He came rushing into the house, his face black -in his deep disappointment, and told me the ill news, just as we had -finished our scrimmage with the men inside. - -I saw at once pursuit would be hopeless. I should not have dared divide -our little party even had there been a good prospect of overtaking -the fugitives, and to send them on a wild-goose chase would have -been worse than madness; moreover, our horses were away on the top -of the hill, and already somewhat spent with the fierce ride. But it -took some moments to get Zoiloff to see the uselessness of such an -attempt--moments that could ill be spared, seeing all that we had yet -to do. But I was firm, and he gave in at length. - -“Take our men and secure those fellows in the barn, or we shall have -them breaking out. Find the best horses you can, too, and have them -into the carriage as quickly as possible, and I will see the Princess -and tell her to be ready at once. We dare not waste a minute or all -will be lost.” - -I dashed up the stairs, and after searching a couple of empty rooms -found one with the door locked. - -“Are you there, Princess? It is I, Count Benderoff,” I cried, turning -the key and partly opening the door. - -She answered me and I entered. She was calm but pale, with the little -Broumoff at her side, very agitated. - -“We have heard the noise, but could see nothing from here, and have -been filled with anxiety as to what it meant. What has happened?” cried -the Princess. - -“I can say no more now than that when we heard last night that you had -been carried off we followed at once, and happily are now in possession -of the house; but you must be ready to fly at once.” - -“What of General Kolfort? He came here only a few minutes since and -threatened me with all the terrors of a Russian gaol. He was like a -madman.” - -“Most unluckily he has escaped us, and may return at any moment in -force. Will you get ready at once? Our only hope is to make for the -frontier before we can be pursued.” - -“I am ready now,” she cried, throwing on her travelling wraps. “Come, -Nathalie, come, the Count has saved us.” - -The girl was dressed almost as quickly as the Princess, and together we -went down to the front to wait for the carriage. - -“Have you had anything to eat? We have a long journey before us.” - -“I could not think of food.” - -Without a word, I got some milk and cakes and bread, and put them in -the carriage, to which Markov was already harnessing horses. Then I -described in the fewest possible words what had happened, and they both -listened in breathless interest. - -“And Michel?” asked Mademoiselle Broumoff eagerly. - -“Is safe,” I answered, with a smile, “and has behaved splendidly, like -the magnificent fellow he is.” - -As soon as the carriage was ready I told Markov to draw out into the -road in readiness to start, and I ran through to call off our men. -Zoiloff met me excited, hot, and breathing hard. - -“We have secured them all right. I filed up the men, and when we threw -open the door the caged men were met with a line of muskets. They had -no fight in them, for they had no arms. We have bound every man, and -to make pursuit impossible I have had every horse in the stables shot. -A cruel job, but necessary; and I have brought away the men’s arms. We -may start, Count. Our men are already away for their horses, and will -meet us at that bend in the road above.” - -“Good,” said I; but I wished he had brought the horses with us for -remounts instead of shooting them. - -“Good, yes; but much better if that wily old devil, Kolfort, hadn’t -slipped through my fingers.” - -“What is the route, Markov?” I said, going out to him. “We dare not -return to Sofia. How can you reach the nearest point on the frontier -road where we can get fresh horses for the carriage?” - -“We must go back to within three miles of the city, sir, and then I can -pick a way round and strike the west road there.” - -“Don’t keep on this road for a yard longer than is absolutely -necessary. It is dangerous. But do your best. Push on with all speed. -We shall overtake you.” - -As I finished speaking Spernow came running from the house and rushed -to the carriage window. I let the carriage stand half a minute that he -might exchange a word or two with Mademoiselle Broumoff, who I knew was -very eager to see him, and while they were speaking the Princess looked -out of the window, beckoned Zoiloff, and gave him her hand and a word -of hearty thanks for all he had done in her behalf. - -It was a thoughtful, gracious act, and I was as glad as Zoiloff -himself, who stood aside with a flush on his stern face to let the -carriage pass when I gave the word to Markov to start. - -“The fairest and best of all women on earth,” he said, -enthusiastically, as we three watched the carriage dash up the hill -that led from the house. “I hope to heaven we shall get start enough to -save her;” and he glanced back anxiously along the road that Kolfort -had gone, as if he feared that pursuit might already be on foot. - -And the same fear infected us all as we followed his gaze. But there -was no sign of any pursuit; and we hurried up the hill to the spot -where the men were to meet us with our horses. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -SUSPENSE - - -As we three hurried up the hill we discussed earnestly our plans; and -the supreme seriousness of the failure to secure the person of General -Kolfort grew more vividly forcible the more we considered it. - -We could have held him a prisoner in his own house easily and without -creating any alarm at his disappearance. And the Princess could have -gained the frontier before ever a question had been asked as to her -whereabouts. I gnashed my teeth as I thought of it. - -Now, however, he would raise the alarm at the first possible moment. -He knew that we were in considerable force, and not only could he send -troops after us, but by telegraph he could send instructions to have us -intercepted at any one of a dozen points. - -“Does anyone know where the wires run from Ichtman and Samakovo to -Sofia?” I asked. “If we could cut them, we might save some hours when -even minutes may be vital.” - -“Of course. Why didn’t we think of it before?” exclaimed Zoiloff. “I -know them. They run along the course of the projected railway. I can -find them inside an hour. The line is to touch Liublian, and must run -close here somewhere.” - -“Then take a couple of men as soon as we are mounted and rattle off -across country and cut them, and rejoin us with all possible speed. You -will easily overtake the carriage;” and the moment we met our men he -started to carry out the plan. - -I then arranged the order of our ride. I left Spernow in command of the -greater number of men, with orders to follow in straggling formation -until we had passed through Liublian; then they were to close up and -keep the carriage in sight. One man was to ride about a mile or so in -the rear to watch for any signs of pursuit. For this work I chose the -man whose horse was the fleetest and freshest, and ordered him to keep -a sharp lookout behind him, and at the first sign of anything wrong to -gallop after us at top speed to give us the earliest possible warning. - -I myself took three men with me and rode forward at once, intending to -overtake the Princess and act as immediate escort. - -I had little difficulty, unfortunately, in getting up with the -carriage, for Markov, with all his skill as coachman, was only able to -make a very indifferent pace over the villainous roads. The carriage -bumped and rolled and jumped in the deep ruts and over the stones in a -way that filled me with alternate fear that it was travelling too fast -for the safety of the occupants, and of despair that so slow a pace -would make pursuit an easy enough matter. - -It was a great, heavy, lumbering, travelling coach, built for the -comfort of those who were content to travel at an easy rate; and about -as little suited for the purpose of rapid flight as anything could -be. I could have cursed it, as it lumbered along groaning, creaking, -straining, threatening to topple over at every other lurch, and -distressing the horses, powerful though they were, until the sweat -lathered on their flanks and dripped on the rough, cruel road. - -“Is there a hope of getting any better carriage at Liublian?” I asked -Markov, riding up to him as we neared that place. “We shall never reach -the frontier in this thing; an open cart would be better. Try if you -can’t get something. Steal it if you can’t hire or buy it.” - -“The horses are nearly done already, your Honour,” said Markov; -“although we’ve only come some seven miles. I’ll try.” - -“You must be quick,” I said, as I fell back behind again. - -Despite the very urgent need for haste, we entered the place driving -very leisurely, and drew up at the inn, when Markov and I entered to -make inquiries. We were in luck. The man had a comparatively light -open cart for sale and a couple of strong young horses. A few minutes -found the bargain struck, and while my men were refreshing themselves -the horses were put in, and Christina and her companion left the great -ugly, cumbersome carriage to take their places in the cart. - -“Could we get peasants’ clothes?” suggested Mademoiselle Broumoff. “Any -kind of disguise might help us.” It was a happy thought, and the ever -resourceful Markov acted on the hint directly, and procured cloaks and -headgear. - -“Better put them on when we are clear of the place,” I decided, as -Markov put the bundle into the cart. - -“I am afraid you will find the road to safety very rough, Princess,” -I said as I helped her into the cart. I had not spoken to her since -leaving the General’s house. - -“I am causing you all sore trouble,” she answered, smiling sadly. “How -shall I ever thank you enough?” - -“We shall have our reward when we see you safe in Servia.” - -“Ah, I ought to have done what you advised yesterday and have gone -then. All this would have been spared us.” - -“We could not foresee what old Kolfort had planned for last night. I -thought the road would have been as open to-day as it was yesterday.” - -“It is like you to lighten the blame, but it is my fault.” - -“We are ready, your Honour,” called Markov. - -“Forward then,” I said. “Cautiously out of Liublian, and then press on -with all the speed you can make.” - -I mounted, and was in the act of starting when a horseman was seen -riding hard up the road we had come. It was Zoiloff, and I welcomed him -gladly. - -“I’ve done it,” he said exultantly. “I don’t know whether there are any -other wires, but I’ve cut the main ones, and that will probably cause -some delay. But how came you to halt here?” he asked anxiously. - -I explained the change of vehicles, and we rode on after the Princess. - -“You passed Spernow?” I asked. - -“Yes, and left my men to follow with his. He tells me he is to join -you as soon as he is clear of Liublian; he should be near now;” and he -glanced back as I thought with some anxiety. - -“We have done well so far. It was a stroke of luck to get rid of that -lumbering old carriage,” said I. - -“True, but we have already been a long time covering very little -ground, and must press forward. Our pursuers won’t sleep on the road. -I’m surprised we haven’t heard from them before now.” - -It was unlike him to meet alarm half-way in this fashion, but I made no -answer except to urge my horse to greater speed, so as to close up the -distance between us and the Princess. - -Markov was now driving at a very rapid rate, the road was much better, -and I felt my spirits rise as we covered the ground quickly. Every yard -gained safely made the prospect of escape more hopeful. - -“Spernow should have joined us by now,” said Zoiloff again presently, -as we were breathing the horses up a steep hill. - -“We have been travelling much faster since we changed conveyances, and -his cattle may be a bit stale,” I replied, trying to reassure him. - -“I’m afraid something’s going wrong with him. It’s not like him to play -the laggard in this way. Can he have been overtaken by Kolfort’s men -and surprised?” - -“Scarcely that. We’ve got a picket thrown out behind and he’d have -warning. If there was any sign of danger, I told him to close up with -us at once, so that we could make a stand together. One or two of the -horses may have given out.” - -“I don’t like it,” said Zoiloff; and when we reached the top of the -hill we turned and looked back along the white road, searching eagerly -for some sign of Spernow’s coming. We saw nothing, and the doubts which -made Zoiloff’s face so grave began to affect me. - -“I am inclined to go back,” he murmured. - -“We can’t spare you, Zoiloff,” said I quickly. “If anything is wrong -with him, you alone can do no good; and if anything is to go wrong with -us, we are too few already for safety.” - -“I could find out what it means.” - -“Or be cut off yourself;” and with that we resumed our ride, my -companion’s face unusually gloomy and thoughtful. - -“How far are we from Sofia, Markov; and when do you turn off?” I asked, -riding up to him. - -“About five miles from the city, your Honour, a little more than two -from the branch road I am making for.” - -“We’ve only a few minutes more on the main road,” I said, falling back -to Zoiloff; “and, once away from it, our chances will be fifty in a -hundred better. It’s this road I’ve feared.” - -“Ha! Here comes news!” exclaimed my companion suddenly, a few minutes -afterwards, turning in his saddle and looking back. “And bad news too,” -he added. - -A single horseman was dashing down a hill behind us, and as we turned a -number of other horsemen reached the crest and came streaming down the -hill after him, the sunlight glistening through the cloud of white dust -as it fell on their arms. - -“That should be Spernow and our men,” said I anxiously. - -“It is Spernow, but they’re not our men. I feared it meant mischief. -They are troopers; and I can count a dozen of them. Tell Markov to -drive like the wind. They’re after us.” - -A bend in the road at that moment cut off our view, and almost directly -afterwards Markov turned away to the left into a narrow lane, putting -his horses to the gallop. - -“We shall have to fight for it, Count,” cried Zoiloff. “There didn’t -seem more than a dozen troopers that I could see, and, with Spernow, we -shall be six. We can hold them at bay in this narrow lane, and perhaps -drive them off.” - -At that moment a loud shout of dismay came from Markov, and we saw him -pull his horses up in a scramble. - -“What’s the matter?” I called, riding up. - -“I’ve taken the wrong lane, your Honour, cursed fool that I am,” he -cried in sore distress. “I know it now; there is no outlet. I should -have driven on for about five hundred yards farther;” and he backed his -horses as if to turn them. - -It spelt absolute ruin. - -“There’s no going back, Markov,” I said decisively. I was calm enough -now for all the trouble. - -“The devil!” exclaimed Zoiloff. “Well, we must make a fight of it.” - -“Stay a moment. Where does this lane lead, Markov?” - -“To a peasant’s homestead, with no outlet anywhere.” - -“Forward to that, then--at a gallop. We can hold the house against the -men with far better chances than here,” I said to Zoiloff. “Besides, -they may not have seen us turn off the road, and may go on to the next -turning. But what of Spernow?” - -“He was gaining on them fast, and will escape in any event,” said -Zoiloff; “but it’s a perilous fix.” - -A couple of minutes later we halted in front of the cottage, to the -infinite surprise of the inmates. Markov knew them however, and while -he was explaining things to them the rest of us set to work to put the -place in readiness to resist the expected attack. Fortunately it lent -itself well to the purpose; and, long before the peasant owner had -been pacified with a good round sum of money, every door and window -was closed and barred, and the horses and cart had been stabled close -to the rear of the house in a shed, the door of which we could easily -command, so as to prevent anyone trying to steal off with them. - -The Princess and her companion were placed in an upper room, well out -of the danger of stray bullets; and, though we were breathless with -our exertions, we were quite prepared to give our visitors a warm -reception before a sign of the soldiers or of Spernow was visible. - -Both Zoiloff and I kept an anxious lookout from a window in the roof -of the cottage which gave a view of a considerable portion of the lane -that led to the homestead; but the minutes crept on until a quarter of -an hour, half an hour, an hour passed without a sign or trace of either -our friend or our enemies; and, indeed, until we grew as anxious to see -the former as to know we had escaped from the latter. - -What could it mean? Zoiloff and I exchanged many an anxious question -and hazarded many futile guesses. I was inclined to hope that the -soldiers had not seen us after all, and that in our little hiding-place -we had not only escaped them, but had been overlooked by any other -parties that might have been despatched in search of us. - -At the end of an hour I sent Zoiloff down to see that food was prepared -both for the men and for our horses; and when another hour passed -without any sign of disturbance the hopes of all of us began to rise. -The one thing that had caused me more anxiety than anything else was -the obstacle which daylight presented to a successful flight; and when -noon came and passed, and the afternoon shadows began to lengthen, I -was glad enough; for every hour that passed diminished the risk and -increased our chances of getting to the frontier unseen in the darkness -of the night. - -Moreover, the rest was just what the horses needed; and thus on both -accounts the hanging hours of safety on that hot summer’s day were -doubly precious to us. Markov was certain that under the cover of the -night he could find his road unerringly; and though his blunder in the -morning had at first caused such a panic and had shaken my confidence -in his knowledge, I was ready to believe him now. - -“I could drive it blindfolded, your Honour,” he said earnestly, when -I questioned him. “I know every house, and cottage, and tree, almost -every bump in the road--more than that, I could find my way secretly -across the country were every road and bridle-path choked with armed -men. It is my own country!” he exclaimed vehemently. - -“How long will it take you?” - -“It is fifty miles from the frontier to the first place where I can get -fresh horses, and perhaps fifteen from here to that--at the outside -say seventy miles. I can do it in seven hours with such horses as are -waiting for me at every stage--probably less.” - -“You will be ready to start as soon as it is dusk,” I told him, and, as -the afternoon passed, I went to acquaint the Princess with our plans. - -“You have left us long alone, Count,” she said with a smile. “And -I have needed you sorely. Nathalie here is in distress for news of -Lieutenant Spernow.” - -“You may feel assured on his account,” I said to the girl, who was very -pale and troubled. “When we saw him last he was gaining rapidly on his -pursuers, and was not at all likely to fall into their hands.” - -“But where is he? Why have you no news of him?” she wailed. - -“Probably he knows no more than our enemies where we are. But he is -safe. Both Captain Zoiloff and I are convinced of that.” Her fears were -not to be stayed by words, however, and in truth I myself had more than -a misgiving on his account. - -The Princess was eager for the moment to come when she could start, -and would have set out at once had I not told her of the far greater -security which darkness would afford. - -“What time is it now?” she asked. - -“Just past four. At seven, or soon after, we may venture to start; -and if all goes well, as Heaven grant it may, you will be across the -frontier and in safety before the sun rises again.” - -“I shall owe it to you,” she said, “as indeed I owe so much already.” - -“Not more to me than to all here with us. Indeed, this blessing of a -shelter at the very nick of time we owe to the accident of Markov’s -blunder. We may well forgive him such a happy mistake.” - -“Would you have me think I owe nothing to you?” she asked in a low -voice, looking at me with a glance of love. - -“Perhaps I may answer that question at a future time,” I returned in -the same low tone. She blushed and dropped her eyes and was silent. - -In the silence I heard the sounds of some commotion in the house below, -and I started uneasily. “Something has happened; I must go and see what -it means!” I exclaimed; and with a hasty excuse I hurried away. - -Something had indeed happened, for at the bottom of the stairs I found -Spernow and Zoiloff in excited talk. I called them up, and together we -entered the Princess’s room, that he might tell us the story of his -experiences, and relieve at once the anxiety of his sweetheart. - -On seeing him she jumped up and, regardless of our presence, threw -herself into his arms. - -“Are you really safe, Michel?” she asked, gazing into his face with a -look I could understand readily, and, laughing and crying by turns, -she plied him with a hundred questions. - -His story was of deep interest and moment to us, and, though I was in -full mood to sympathise with the lovers, I was eager to hear it. - -“I can tell my story in a very few words,” he said at length, turning -to us. “Just after we left Liublian we were attacked by a party that -outnumbered us by five to one. Our man in the rear galloped up to warn -us as you had ordered him, Count, but the troops were right on his -heels, and, as our horses were anything but fresh, I dared not risk a -race in the effort to reach you. I determined to fight it out there -and then, but from the first we hadn’t a chance. The troops fired not -at us, but at the horses, until only two of us were left mounted. The -rest you can gather. We had never a chance. My men resisted as long as -resistance was possible, but one after another they were surrounded, -disarmed, and secured. When all was lost we two fled, but some dozen -of the troops came pricking after us. My companion’s horse was shot; -but almost by a miracle neither my horse nor myself was touched, though -the firing was heavy enough. When I came down that hill yonder, I saw -you, and saw you turn into the lane. In a moment I knew the mistake you -had made, for I know this country to a yard, and it occurred to me to -pass the entrance to the lane in the hope that the troops behind me had -not seen you. I made for the next turning, therefore--that which you -should have taken but happily did not--and to my intense relief the men -behind, thinking no doubt that I was following you, followed me. The -rest was easy enough. My horse was fleeter than theirs, and I led them -a dance at a rattling speed for some ten miles. Then I dismounted, and, -giving my horse a whack with my hand, sent him on without me, while I -slipped into some bushes and waited for the men to pass. They did this, -swearing prettily, as you may imagine, and as soon as they had gone by -I set off across country in a bee-line for this place, thinking it not -unlikely that you would take refuge here for a while. And here I am, -and that’s all.” - -Our congratulations poured upon him, and then Zoiloff and I went away, -that he and the little Broumoff might be together. It was the best -reward we could make him just then. - -“Those men will try back when they find he’s fooled them,” said -Zoiloff, “and we had better be ready.” - -“They’ll have to come soon,” said I, “or they’ll find the nest empty -and the birds flown.” - -“They’ve over two hours yet,” he returned drily, and together we went -back to our watch-window in the roof, giving orders that the house was -to be kept as silent as if it were deserted. - -The minutes were weighted now with the old fears and suspense, and -scarce a word passed between my staunch friend and myself. And when we -spoke it was in a whisper, as though the men had already come. For an -hour more nothing occurred to disturb us, and once again the flame of -hope began to kindle. But it was only to be ruthlessly quenched. - -When a glance at my watch told me that an hour and a quarter had gone -by we saw that which made us start and draw breath quickly. - -Two troopers came riding slowly up the lane, looking carefully to right -and left as they approached. The peasant’s dog barked loudly, and at -the sound they stopped, and peered curiously at the house. Then they -advanced until they stood close to the yard-gate, and both stared at -the house and spoke together. - -We held our breath in suspense. - -The closed doors and shutters puzzled them, and after a few moments one -of them dismounted, handed the reins of his horse to his companion, -pushed open the gate, and walked up towards the house. - -At that moment fortune served us a scurvy trick. Down below a roar of -laughter broke out among our men, loud enough to reach us. - -The soldier heard it too. - -We heard him strike a lusty summons on the door panels and call to -those within. Then everything was as still as the grave. - -The man knocked again, and when the door remained unopened he went back -to his companion, mounted his horse, and, giving some instructions, set -off up the lane at a quick canter. The second man drew back into the -shade of a tree and waited, keeping his eyes warily upon the house all -the while. - -“We may as well get the men posted,” said Zoiloff. “That fellow will be -back in a minute with all there are with him. We’re in for a scrimmage.” - -He went down at once to give the necessary orders, while I stayed to -watch. - -I had not long to wait. In a few minutes I heard the advancing -footfalls of horses, and a number of troopers came swinging up the lane -at the trot. I counted thirteen in all, and thanked Heaven there were -no more. - -But it meant fight, and I saw the man in command of the party taking -his observations, and giving his instructions to those under him to -surround the house. - -There was no need for me to watch longer. There would soon be plenty of -other work on hand. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -A FORLORN HOPE - - -I left the window and hurried down to tell the Princess the bad news. -Spernow was still there, sitting apart, exchanging love confidences -with Mademoiselle Broumoff, and they all started up at my sudden -entrance. - -“The troops have found us out, Princess, and there will probably be -some trouble before we get rid of them and shake them off. I wish to -impress upon you the necessity for you to remain close in the corners -of the room for fear of mishap. Spernow, will you go to Captain -Zoiloff? He is below with the men.” - -The Princess took the news very calmly. - -“Do you think they will attack the house?” she asked. - -“I fear so--or, rather, I hope so; for, if not, we shall have to attack -them, and I would rather act on the defensive.” - -“There will be danger for you,” she said earnestly, looking into my -eyes. “You will be careful--for my sake;” and she laid her hand on mine. - -“I hope it will not be serious, and I will be careful,” I replied -smiling. “But we must not be beaten.” - -“I trust no blood will be shed--no lives sacrificed. I cannot bear the -thought of that.” - -“We can have no thought but your safety.” - -“But can we not be of some use--Nathalie and I?” - -“I fear not, at present. But if there is need, depend upon it I will -not fail to ask you. Come, Spernow.” - -“Michel, let me have a gun. I would rather be by your side than cooped -up here in suspense,” cried the girl with great spirit, holding her -lover’s hand. “Now that you are with us I am not afraid.” - -“We have not come to that yet, Mademoiselle,” I said, liking her spirit -and courage. “You need not be afraid. We are quite strong enough behind -these walls to cope with the few men against us. But we must go.” - -Christina pressed my hand again, and her lips murmured a prayer for my -safety. - -Zoiloff had been busy enough with his preparations, and when we reached -him had posted his men. He had done a shrewd trick on leaving General -Kolfort’s house, and had brought away with him the men’s carbines with -a quantity of ammunition. These were now distributed in the rooms -from which the work of defence was to be carried on; and he explained -that his object was to create the impression that we were a much more -numerous party than in reality. - -“We can fire volleys from the different windows in very rapid -succession, and they’ll think the place is alive with men,” he said. -“But the main work must be done from the windows of each room on the -floor above us. There are two in the front room and one at the back, -and we can from there command the approach to the front and back doors, -and could hold the place against four times the number.” - -We went to the front room and looked out. - -The soldiers were taking matters very leisurely. Evidently they were -confident that they would have no serious difficulty in carrying the -house, even if we were inside, of which they still seemed to have -doubts. - -The leader was only a non-commissioned officer--a troop sergeant--and -he appeared to be at a loss what to do. He was consulting with the two -men who had ridden up first, and all three were gesticulating freely as -they pointed to different parts of the house and yard. - -The longer they debated, and the more time they wasted, the better -for us. If they would only let the afternoon steal away and twilight -come, we could in the last resource make a sally, have a brush at close -quarters, and then trust to our horses to save us. - -“Zoiloff, I have a plan,” I said, as an idea struck me. “That man has -made a fool’s mistake. Every horse there is in full view, and can be -picked off easily. Let our first volleys, when it comes to firing, be -for the horses. Before the men even guess our intention, every horse -will be killed or disabled, and not only will the men be unable to -follow us, but prevented from riding for help.” - -“Good!” he cried. “We’ll have every man at these two windows, and each -man shall pick out his own target. A couple of rounds well aimed and -the thing’s done. But someone must keep a lookout at the back.” - -“Nathalie will do that,” said Spernow eagerly; and he went at once to -ask her, while the men were brought into the room and their orders -given to them. We waited, watching closely for the commencement of -hostilities. - -“They don’t like the look of things,” whispered Zoiloff, smiling -grimly, “and don’t know what to do or how to start. Ah, now they’ve -settled something,” he added as the leader came towards the house, -knocked at the door, and called in a loud voice for it to be opened. - -No answer was given, of course, and after he had repeated his summons -he called: - -“If the door is not opened we shall break it in.” - -Getting no reply, he returned to his men, and sent four of them round -to the back of the house. Then one of the men called his attention to -something at the side of the yard, and eight of them went and picked up -a heavy balk of timber lying there. - -“They’re going to use it as a battering-ram,” said Zoiloff. “We must -stop that.” - -“Wait,” I said quickly. “When they are in position I’ll warn them, -and through the open windows we can then shoot the horses. Remember, -men, level your guns first at the men, and when I tell you, aim at the -horses, and shoot straight.” - -The timber was heavy, the afternoon hot, the men fatigued and with no -great zest for the business, so that they took a long time before they -had brought it round near the door. - -Then I threw up the window sharply, and called, in a ringing voice: - -“Stop! We sha’n’t allow that.” - -Looking up, the troopers found themselves covered by the guns of our -party, and, dropping the timber, they rushed like hares for cover--all -save the leader, who flung curses at them for their cowardice. - -“Now fire,” I said; and, levelling my rifle, I picked out a horse, and -we fired our first volley. - -“Quick! again!” and a second volley rang out. - -The effect was indescribable. Five horses fell at the first round, and -the rest stampeded and plunged so violently that any accurate aim the -second time was very difficult. Only three fell, but the rest broke -from their fastenings in a very frenzy of fear and galloped wildly off, -plunging across country at a speed that made any thought of pursuit -hopeless. - -The men started to follow them, but were recalled by the leader, and -came slinking back to cover like whipped dogs. - -The loss of the horses was not their only misfortune, however, for in -getting the log they had set down their carbines near the gate in a -spot which we could cover with our guns. Seeing this, I called again: - -“The man who touches one of those guns will be shot!” - -The sergeant had plenty of pluck, and, though sorely perplexed by the -turn things had thus suddenly taken, was as cool as if he had been on -parade. - -“What do you want here?” I cried. - -“I want to know who’s in the house,” he said. - -“I am. What next?” - -“Who else?” - -“I decline to say.” - -“Will you surrender without causing any more trouble?” he asked coolly. - -“If you ask that again, you’ll stand a good chance of asking no more -questions in this world,” said I drily. “You had better draw off your -men while they are still unhurt.” - -“You can’t hope to beat us off,” he said doggedly. - -“We can try.” At the reply he shrugged his shoulders. - -“If you resist you must take the consequences,” he called. - -“I am quite prepared for that.” - -He turned away then as if to walk back to his men, but I saw him -start; and then he did a really plucky thing, like the daring devil he -evidently was. When he was half-way towards his men he made a quick -rush to the guns and tried to snatch them up in his arms and bolt -with them to cover. It was wasted courage. A couple of guns rang out, -Zoiloff’s for one, and the man rolled over with a groan, shot through -the leg, with the carbines scattered round him. - -His men made no effort to go near him, and so long an interval of -inaction followed that I began to hope the struggle was already over -before it had well begun. - -“Lucky we shot those horses, or we should have had half the scoundrels -bolting for reinforcements,” muttered Zoiloff. - -“You’d better see what the men at the back are after,” I said; and even -as I spoke the little Broumoff came running excitedly to tell us they -were trying to get our horses from the shed behind. - -Zoiloff hurried out with a couple of men, and a moment later I heard an -exchange of shots. - -“Run and see what has happened, Spernow, and let me know,” I said, -and in a couple of minutes he returned to say all was well, and that -Zoiloff had wounded one of the men and scared them off. They had made -for the side of the house, he told me, and had been joined by the rest -of the troopers; unfortunately there was no window at the side, so that -we could neither watch nor threaten them. - -Another long interval passed without the troopers making a sign of any -kind, and I judged that their intention was simply to keep watch until -reinforcements could come up, and guessed that they had sent one or -more of the men away on foot in search of help. - -It was now past six o’clock, and in less than half an hour it would be -safe to make a start. I went to Zoiloff to consult. - -My plan was to make a rush upon the men and drive them away -sufficiently far to admit of our horses being put in the cart, and then -risk the chances of flight. He agreed readily, for the inaction was -vastly less to his mind than any fighting, and we made our preparations -accordingly. - -“We are seven to their nine or ten, say. The leader lies there wounded, -you have disabled a second man, and they have sent away probably two -and certainly one; and as we are armed and they are not, and we shall -catch them unawares, we can certainly beat them off. We must then get -the horses ready and be off. The sun’s low now, and, as there is a mist -rising, it will be dark enough for our purposes long before seven. And, -anyway, we can’t wait here to be trapped like rabbits as soon as they -succeed in bringing up reinforcements.” - -We set to work at once. The barricade of the back door was removed -quietly and we all mustered by it in silence. - -“Silence till we are outside,” I whispered. “Then with a rush fall on -them with more noise than force, and scare and drive them off.” - -I lifted the latch noiselessly and, opening the door, stepped out, -followed by the rest. Then with a loud shout we rushed round the house -and caught the men as they stood smoking and talking, expecting nothing -less than an attack from us. - -They fled like chaff, helter-skelter in all directions, not venturing -even a pretence at resistance. The two or three who had guns attempted -to fire, but we struck up their arms and they fled as incontinently as -the rest. - -We made a show of pursuit, but it was no more than a show, and then all -hands turned to the work of getting the horses harnessed and saddled. -Meanwhile the mist was rising fast, and promised to form a welcome veil -to our flight. - -As a precaution I told one of our men to ride some distance along the -lane to see that the road was clear, although I had no doubt that the -troopers had been effectively disposed of; and I went to fetch the -Princess and Mademoiselle Broumoff. All was ready and we were in good -heart, when the man I had sent out came scampering back with news that -filled me with sudden consternation. - -He had seen a large body of horse-soldiers at the end of the lane on -the high road, and with them were several of the men we had just beaten -off. - -I heard the news with genuine anguish of soul. We were hemmed in. -The absence of any outlet except by the lane made escape absolutely -hopeless, and for a moment I was borne down with despair. - -“We can only make a forlorn hope of it,” said Zoiloff. “Charge them and -try to make off in the confusion.” - -I bit my lip and racked my brains in the effort to find some other -than this useless, desperate scheme, and then suddenly a light beamed -through the darkness. - -“Markov, can you find your way across the fields at the back here to -the road--on horseback I mean?” - -“Yes, certainly, your Honour, but with the cart----” - -“Zoiloff, good friend, we must part now. There is only one way. You -and Markov must ride with the Princess on horseback, escaping by the -back across the fields till you strike the road. I must go in the cart -with Mademoiselle Broumoff, if she is brave enough to risk this for the -Princess;” and I looked at her eagerly. - -“I will do anything,” she assented readily. - -“It will make them think that only we six were in the house here; that -Mademoiselle Broumoff is the Princess, and that we are making the rush -to escape after the fight just now.” - -“I cannot consent to that,” said Christina earnestly. “You will be -going to certain capture.” - -I drew her aside from the rest to urge her, and Zoiloff, understanding -things with the quick instinct of a friend, led them out of the room on -the plea of hastening the preparations. - -As soon as we were alone she threw off all reserve, putting her hands -on my shoulders and gazing at me with glowing eyes. - -“Do you press me to do this?” she pleaded. - -“I must; it is your only hope of safety, and a desperate one at the -best.” - -“You love me--Gerald?” - -At the sound of my name, spoken prettily in tremulous hesitation, I -felt the blood rush to my face. - -“With my whole heart,” I cried hoarsely. - -“Do not send me from you, then; I urge you, by our love. Let us face -what has to come together. I could meet death with you, but without you -I am a coward. I cannot go.” - -“You must go, Christina,” I said in a low voice, and scarcely steadier -than her own. - -“It is sending you to death, Gerald. I cannot do it. I could not live -if harm came to you through me.” - -“No such harm as that can come. But, for God’s sake, think. If we -remain together now it can be but for a few minutes. If we fell into -these men’s hands, their first act would be to separate us. You must -go, my darling, you must.” - -She gave a deep, heavy, sobbing sigh, and let her head fall on my -shoulder. - -“It is worse than death to go alone like this.” - -“It is our only chance for a happier life. You must go, and even these -moments of delay are imperilling everything. You must go--and at once. -God knows how gladly I would have you stay with me if I dared.” - -“Then go with me. Captain Zoiloff will----” The look on my face checked -the sentence. “Oh, I cannot part with you, I cannot!” She moaned in -such agony that my heart ached. “We may never meet again.” - -“We shall meet again with you in safety, do not fear,” I said, trying -to put a ring of hope into my voice, though my heart echoed her cry. -“You must go, my dearest;” and I began to lead her to the door, for -every moment now might turn the balance between safety and capture. - -As I moved she threw herself into my arms and clung to me convulsively. -I held her to my heart; her face was close to me; my lips sought hers, -and our very souls seemed to rush together in that kiss. - -“Till death, Christina,” I whispered passionately. - -“Till death, Gerald,” she answered; and then with a long, trembling -sigh she drew from me. “Oh, how hard is fate!” - -“Come, sweetheart,” I said; and without another word I led her out -to the horses, to where good Zoiloff was waiting with gloomy growing -impatience. - -I lifted her tenderly to the saddle, and with a last yearning look and -a lingering pressure of the hand I turned away, sick and sad with the -sorrow of it all. - -Zoiloff was mounted by then, and I wrung his hand. - -“Guard her with your life, friend.” - -“With my life,” he answered to the full as earnestly as I. - -The plucky little Broumoff was already in the cart, with Spernow close -to her, and in another moment I was by her side. - -There was still no sign of any troopers, and as for my scheme it was -necessary that they should see us, I led my party round to the front. - -“When you hear the sound of our wheels, steal off at once, and make -across the fields there for the road,” I said, as a last word; “you -will be out of sight in the mist before the men have a thought that we -are not all together. Good-bye, and may God speed you!” - -“Amen to that,” came in Zoiloff’s deep voice, and for the last time I -met Christina’s eyes. - -When I reached the front of the house I waited a moment, listening -intently, and then hearing the sound of horsemen coming up the lane I -started my horses, and as soon as we were through the gate I whipped -them and dashed along the lane at a smart gallop, just as the foremost -couple of troopers loomed into sight through the shroud of the white -mist. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -A FRIEND IN NEED - - -Although I was certain that we were rushing straight upon inevitable -capture, I still had it in my mind to make a strenuous dash to get -through the soldiers, and I flogged the horses vigorously, and told my -companion to cling hard to her seat, for the cart swayed and bumped -and jolted over the rough road in a manner that threatened to send us -sprawling into the lane at every second. - -“Draw that hood over your face to conceal it as much as possible, and -remember if we are caught I shall address you as ‘the Princess,’” -I said to my companion. “I can’t tell you now what I think of your -courage.” - -She did what I asked, and her features were so concealed that, had the -troopers known the Princess by sight, they could not have seen it was -not she by my side. - -The first party numbered under a dozen men, and as we approached they -made no effort to stop us, but drew their horses aside and let us pass. - -“Are they following us?” I asked anxiously, for that would be the test -whether my ruse was to fail or succeed. - -The girl glanced back. - -“Yes. They’ve closed in behind and are galloping after us.” - -“Thank God for that!” I cried; and I laid the whip on the horses again -till they were travelling at headlong, desperate, racing speed. - -Then in the mist, as we neared the end of the lane, I saw the main body -drawn up in a mass completely blocking the road. They had evidently -heard us coming and were prepared for us, and they sat on their horses -with their carbines levelled. - -“Halt there! or we fire,” shouted someone. - -But he might as well have shouted to a mountain torrent to stop, for -my horses were smarting under the whip I had laid on so generously, -and no driver on earth could have stayed their wild rush. Indeed, the -words were scarcely out of his lips before we plunged madly right into -the midst of them, scattering them to right and left and sending them -cannoning one against the other in the utmost confusion. - -The officer in command had formed them in a bad order for such a -reckless charge as ours. The chief strength was at the sides, and in -the middle, where our horses by luck carried us, the line was only two -deep. - -The check was thus but momentary. There was a violent shock as we -dashed against the first horseman; my horses stumbled and I thought -would fall. My companion and I were jerked violently forward nearly -on to their backs, but in a second and scarcely with a pause they -recovered, and before I could realise what had happened we were through -the ranks and clear of them, with Spernow and another man close behind -us and dashing along again with barely abated fury for the main road. - -“Lie down on the floor of the cart; they may fire after us,” I cried. -The next instant the guns rang out and the bullets came whistling past -our ears. But the aim was bad, and the jolting and swaying of the cart -as it lunged over the ruts helped us. - -“Are you all right, Spernow?” I called over my shoulder. - -“Yes, but I am alone. The two behind me were stopped in that business -just now, and the other has just gone down. By God, it was splendidly -done, Count. But they’re streaming after us in full cry.” - -I was nearing the corner now, and remembered the sharp awkward turn -with something of a shudder. I did not care which way we went; but the -cattle knew the road and seemed to care, for they turned for their old -stables at Liublian with a swerve that tilted the cart to such an angle -that it was nothing less than a miracle that we did not upset. - -It righted, however, and once on the main road we darted off on our mad -flight at a speed which made the misty air sting my face with rushing -damp in it. - -I was right glad that we had turned that way. The men behind would be -sure to think I had taken it purposely, and thus we should draw off -pursuit from Christina effectually, and every mile that we could now -contrive to cover meant two miles’ start for her. - -The race could not continue for long. I knew that, and knew, too, how -it must end unless some unforeseen accident happened; but I meant to -make the most of the opportunity to lead the men as far from Christina -as possible, and with this object I flogged the horses until they flew -along like things possessed at such a speed that Spernow, though he was -well mounted, could hardly keep up with us. - -In this reckless way, up hill and down at the same headlong, breakneck -pace, our limbs and lives at hazard with every bad bit of road we -covered, we raced for some miles till we came to the foot of a steep -hill, which, I remembered, was as long as it was steep. The horses -charged at it in the same gallant, desperate way, but our pursuers had -now gained on us and were closing up fast. - -They had not fired another volley, and though at first I wondered at -this, and could not guess the cause I was soon to learn it. When we -turned in the direction of Liublian they knew that we could not escape -them, and were content to ride us down or wait till we ran against some -other body of troops. The hill now helped them, for the wild pace had -distressed my horses until they began to falter at the steep ascent, -breathing hard. I flogged them unmercifully; I would have every yard -out of them that was to be got, because it meant a yard longer start -for Christina; but my heart was sore for the brutes, for they had made -a valiant effort. - -Before we reached the crest of the hill the troops were up with us, and -the leader, pointing ahead, called to me to surrender. - -“You had better give up the struggle, Count Benderoff,” he said, riding -abreast of me. “We have another body of men at the top there.” - -But I was fighting for yards, and my answer was to cut the horses -desperately with the whip, so that they sprang forward again with a -last frantic effort. The man rode to the nearest horse, and, drawing -his revolver, placed it close to the animal’s head. - -“I shall be sorry to fire, but if you don’t stop I shall have no -alternative,” he called. - -“Shall we yield?” I said, turning to the little Broumoff, who had -maintained her seat unflinchingly, and pretending to consult her, while -I whispered, “Keep your face well concealed.” - -She nodded, and I drew the horses to a standstill. - -“We yield only under protest,” I said. - -“I am glad you spared me an unpleasant job,” replied the officer, -putting his revolver away, and saluting the “Princess.” “Your animals -have made a magnificent struggle, but you have been racing all the time -toward certain capture, Count Benderoff. Escape from the first moment -was hopeless.” We waited then in silence while his men drew up and -surrounded us. “Will you drive Her Highness into Liublian?” - -All the horses were greatly distressed, and we waited a few minutes -for them to recover, and then went forward at a slow pace. I had been -anxious to hurry before, but now I kept my animals at the walk, and -halted more than once on the steep hill. It was my cue now to waste as -much time as possible before the identity of my companion should be -discovered, and I thought with glee of the long start which Christina -would have. - -At the top of the hill the other soldiers met us, and the two officers -spoke together for a minute, discussing the incidents of our capture. -Then we went forward again at a very slow pace. - -We reached Liublian an hour and a half after leaving the homestead; -and there again fortune favoured us. No one was there to recognise my -companion, and we had to push on to General Kolfort’s house, still at -a slow pace, for I declared my horses were so beaten they could not -travel beyond a walk. I managed to occupy another hour over the drive, -and with this start, which meant nearly five hours to Christina, I felt -hopeful she would reach the frontier safely. My ruse had succeeded far -beyond my best hopes. - -As we drew up at the General’s house, I smiled to myself as I pictured -his fury at the discovery; but he was not there. He had returned -hastily to Sofia, I overheard; but the place was packed with troops, -and he had left some drastic orders for our disposal. - -I helped the plucky little Broumoff from the cart with a very -deferential air and led her into the house, Spernow in close -attendance. They took us into a room on the ground floor, where three -officers awaited us, one of them being Captain Wolasky, who, to my -surprise, gave no response to my start of recognition. - -A chair was placed for the “Princess,” and she was shrewd enough to -seat herself so that the light of the lamp left her face in the shadow. -I could have laughed at the comedy underlying the situation, but, -assuming a tone of hot indignation, I exclaimed: - -“I demand to know the reason why I am subjected to this infamous -treatment! What is the meaning of this arrest?” - -The man in the centre of the three looked up angrily: - -“It is not in my instructions to give you any such needless -information, sir. You must be fully aware of what you have done. You -are the Count Benderoff?” - -“I am the Hon. Gerald Winthrop, as well as the Count Benderoff, and a -British subject.” - -“Englishmen are much too prone to meddle in matters that don’t concern -them, and must be prepared to take the consequences,” he answered drily. - -“There may also be consequences for those who meddle with them,” I -returned hotly; and with the object of provoking him into a personal -dispute so as to waste more time, I poured out a volume of protests -and objections, together with loud and angry demands for a specific -charge; and in this way prolonged the wrangle for many minutes. - -He ordered me at length to be silent, under threat of packing me out of -the room, and then he turned to the “Princess.” - -“I much regret, Princess, to have to put you to inconvenience, but my -instructions are imperative. You will have to remain in this house for -the night; but arrangements have been made for your personal comfort, -and to-morrow General Kolfort’s intention will be explained to you.” - -She made no reply other than to bow, as if in acquiescence. - -“I must ask you to remove your disguise,” he said next, just as I was -hoping she would even then escape recognition. She made no attempt to -comply with the request, and it was repeated in a sharper tone. - -She turned to me as if to ask what to do, and, seeing the end had come, -I broke in: - -“This is another of your ridiculous proceedings,” I said warmly. “Not -only am I personally treated in this outrageous manner, but, because -I am seen driving on the highway, you must needs conclude that the -Princess Christina is with me. It is shameful.” - -“What do you mean, sir?” cried the officer hastily. - -“Simply that this young lady is no more the Princess Christina than -you are. You may as well draw your hood back to show the mistake,” -I added to Mademoiselle Broumoff, who did so then, to the complete -consternation of all the three officers. I could have smiled at their -utter bewilderment. - -“Where is the Princess Christina?” asked the chief sternly. - -“We are at least as anxious as you can be on that point,” I answered. -“If your men make blunders of this kind, and don’t know the difference -between her Highness and her friends, who can tell where she is?” - -“You will find it a hazardous work to play tricks on us!” he cried -furiously. - -“I play tricks on you, indeed! It is you who seem to be amusing -yourselves with us,” I said, with an insolent laugh. “But you will have -to answer for it, I promise you.” - -“Silence!” he shouted; and I shrugged my shoulders and threw up my -hands in response. - -He muttered some hurried instructions to Captain Wolasky, who left the -room to carry them out. I glanced at my watch. It was a quarter to ten; -three hours since Christina had started, and I calculated that, if all -had gone well, she would be at least two stages to the frontier, and -beyond hope of pursuit by any troops that could now be despatched after -her. For aught else I cared nothing. - -I edged close to Spernow, and managed to whisper to him: - -“If you get a chance try to steal off, you two, in the confusion;” -and just as I had said this Captain Wolasky came back with a file of -soldiers, and the officer at the table ordered them to lead me away. - -“You have your orders, Captain Wolasky,” he said in sharp, peremptory -tones, and I was led away, Wolasky following me. - -[Illustration: “I RODE BETWEEN TWO TROOPERS.”--_Page 299._] - -He took me out through the hall, now thronged with soldiers, to the -front of the house, where a small troop of horsemen were drawn up; and -then, halting at a spot where the light of a lamp fell full upon his -face, he looked at me with a peculiar expression in his eyes which I -did not understand, and said in an unnecessarily harsh, strident tone: - -“You have played us too many tricks for me to dare to take your parole -not to escape, sir; and if you are treated with indignity you have -yourself to blame for it. Bind the prisoner’s hands behind him!” he -said roughly to a couple of men near; and a murmur of approval came -from the troopers standing around, mingled with a good deal of strong -Russian. - -“I protest against the outrage!” I shouted, and commenced to struggle. -It was useless, of course, and I was held, and my hands fastened behind -me. “Where am I being taken? I demand to know.” - -“I’ll demand you,” said Wolasky, in a voice of passion; and, seizing -me, he pushed me forward to where a horse stood riderless. - -“Excuse this farce,” he whispered; “but it is necessary;” and he -covered the whisper with a loud imprecation and abuse of me. I was so -astonished that I forgot to resist. “Struggle,” he whispered again; -and then I set to work to play my part with a will, and fought and -struggled so desperately as they were forcing me to mount, that the -Captain appeared to lose his temper, and struck at me, taking care, -however, that the blow spent itself in the air. - -“Watch him,” he ordered, “and at the least sign of treachery, shoot -him like a dog. It doesn’t matter whether he reaches Tirnova alive or -dead, so long as he does reach there;” and again some of the soldiers -clustered about, laughed and oathed in evident glee. - -I rode between two troopers, whose horses were fastened to mine by -light chains attached to the bits, while each man held a rein; and, as -we started in this alarming fashion, some ruffian shouted after us to -keep the “damned English dog safe on the chain.” “Tie his legs under -the horse’s belly, and he’ll keep on, dead or alive,” cried another; -and a burst of ribald laughter followed, in which those about me joined. - -In this fashion we rode through Liublian, struck off to the right, and -soon after began the ascent of a steep hilly country, which made the -travelling very slow. We moved at no more than a walking pace all the -time, making, as I judged, about four miles an hour; but we kept on -all through the night, and did not halt until the sun was up, and we -reached a small village, where we dismounted and had breakfast. - -I was overpowered with fatigue, and so soon as I had eaten the food -brought to me I fell into a deep sleep. In about three hours I was -awakened and the march resumed. The sun was overpowering, and towards -midday a halt was called under some trees. Here again I slept, and -when, in the late afternoon, I awoke, I was vastly refreshed, and began -to think about the chances of escape. - -I had been treated all the time with the sternest measures. The Captain -did not come near me; and, when we halted, my legs were bound before my -hands were liberated for me to take any food. The country was of course -entirely strange, and when I asked a question of the men on either side -of me they ordered me with an oath to be silent. - -When the sun was getting low in the afternoon Captain Wolasky reined up -to my side, and, pointing to a road we passed, he said in a jeering, -insulting tone, but with the same expression I had noticed on his face -the night before: - -“That’s the road you’d like to take, Mr. Count Englishman; feast your -eyes on it, for you won’t see it again, I promise you. See, it leads -to Sofia over yonder;” and he pointed far away over the hills to where -the sun’s rays were shining on some distant buildings. - -I looked eagerly enough, for I thought I understood him, and I began to -pay special heed to the road along which they took me. - -“It’s prettier scenery than Tirnova,” he cried, with another loud -jeering laugh, as he went on again to lead the party. - -After that we travelled on a fairly level road for about two miles, -when another halt was called for the soldiers’ evening meal. My legs -were tied as before, and a good meal brought to me, and in moving to -put away the cup and platter I noticed that my legs were fastened so -loosely that I could slip them out in a moment. - -The dusk had fallen, and the mist risen, so that the whole party were -enveloped in gloom, and I heard the Captain say to the men, who were -sitting at a short distance from me: - -“We’ve a long night ride, and I shan’t halt again before dawn. You’d -better snatch an hour’s sleep.” - -I saw in a moment that the whole thing had been arranged cleverly for -my escape, and that the Captain himself had told me in his insulting -tone the road I must make for. I threw myself back and pretended to -sleep, and the man on guard over me--a fat, heavy fellow, whom the -fatigue of the ride had already worn out--first satisfied himself that -I was as sound asleep as I was when we had halted previously, and then -curled himself up to follow my example. - -With the greatest care I drew my legs out of their bonds and sat up. -The men were breathing heavily in deep slumber, while the fellow close -to me was snoring vigorously. I glanced around, and just above me on -the road I should take was the Captain’s horse tethered alone. He was -by far the fleetest and best-blooded animal in the troop, and once on -his back I could laugh at pursuit. That he had been left there was due -to no accident, I was convinced; and stealthily, inch by inch, holding -my breath in my excitement, I began to crawl toward him. - -I reached him unnoticed, and, stroking his neck, I cast off the tether, -and led him away for a few paces along the soft turf. All was dead -silence in the little camp of sleepers, and in the murky mist I could -see nothing of them and they could see nothing of me. - -I led the horse until I reckoned to be out of earshot, and then mounted -and set off at a canter, keeping on the turf as long as possible. - -Suddenly a loud shout behind me from the men announced that the fact -of my escape had been discovered, and, driving my heels into the -horse’s side, I dashed off at a rapid gallop for the road which Captain -Wolasky had said was the road to Sofia. I found it without difficulty, -of course, and paused a moment at the turning to listen for signs of -pursuit. - -I could hear nothing, but resolved to make the best of my start, and -galloped off at a pace which showed the splendid quality of the animal -under me. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -A FEARSOME DILEMMA - - -As I plunged along in my wild ride through the quickly darkening gloom, -I began to take stock of my position and shape some kind of plans. -Beyond the statement that the lane would lead me to Sofia, I had not -a notion of where I was, and the twists and turns of the road along -which I was galloping madly soon caused me to lose all knowledge of the -direction in which Sofia lay. - -But this did not trouble me very much. I was mounted on a splendid -animal; I was armed, for I found the Captain’s revolver in the holster; -and I had money in my pockets enough to more than serve any needs -likely to arise. - -I did not much fear any serious pursuit. The same timely friendship -which had led Captain Wolasky to venture so much for me would, I was -sure, suffice to induce him to lead the pursuit in any direction but -that which he knew I should take; and after I had covered a few miles I -halted and listened again for any sounds of followers. There was not a -sound, and after that I determined to proceed leisurely, and so spare -my horse for any effort should I stumble across any patrolling party of -troops. - -My wish was, of course, to push for the frontier; but, as the city lay -between me and the west road, and as moreover I knew neither how to -find a way round the city, and thus avoid the risk of crossing it, nor -my road to the frontier, should I ever be able to get through Sofia -safely, I was much puzzled what course to take. - -I could of course trust to the chance of being able to make inquiries -as I went, but there was so much risk in such a course that I feared -it. If I was to get through safely, I knew I must ride for the most -part at night, because the daylight spelt a double danger to me. -It was practically certain that the main road would be infested by -Kolfort’s men, and the chances of my being able to evade them all were -infinitesimal. - -Another scheme suggested itself to me--hazardous, no doubt--but -possibly not so dangerous as the alternative. Markov had given me -a plan of his route to the frontier, with a list of the places and -persons where he had arranged for the relays of horses; but in the -confusion and hurry of my departure from Sofia I had left this behind -me. It was not of much consequence so long as he had been present to -act as guide, but without him it had become of vital importance. My -present idea was therefore to risk a return to my own house, get the -paper, which was locked up in a secret cabinet in my library, and -perhaps remain hidden in the house during the following day, setting -out on my journey to the frontier when darkness came to help me. - -The obstacle to the scheme was, of course, the possibility that my -house might be in the possession of Kolfort’s agents, and that I might -run my head into a trap. But the house contained so many secret ways -and passages that this risk was greatly lessened; and I reckoned that -I could at least effect an entrance without being discovered, and if -I found the project impossible could leave it again. In any case, -the possession of the plan of route was so essential to me under the -circumstances that I made up my mind to run the risk of the venture. - -I had first to find my way to the city, however, and in this I was -singularly fortunate. I had ridden some three or four hours when the -moon rose, and soon afterwards, to my intense satisfaction, my cross -road came out at a point which I recognised as being some four or -five miles from my house. I quickened my pace, therefore, riding very -warily, and, wherever possible, cantering on the turf, until I came out -on the heath which was close to the mouth of the underground passage -leading under my grounds. I would not trust myself to use that because -its secret was known to Kolfort’s agents; but I chose a path which led -me to another gate of the garden. - -I dismounted there, unlocked the gate, drew my horse under the shadow -of some trees, fastened him, and, thrusting the revolver into my belt -for use in case of need, crept forward to reconnoitre the house. - -Every window at the back was in darkness, even to the kitchens, and the -place seemed empty and deserted. Keeping well within the shadow of the -walls, I stole round with the utmost caution to the front, taking care -that every footfall should be deadened by either the turf or the soft -mould of the flower beds. - -In the front there was a faint light from one window; a carriage stood -in the roadway, and, near the gates opening from the drive, I saw one -or two moving shadows of men. - -The carriage surprised and startled me. Obviously someone was taking a -keen interest in my concerns, and was inside the house; and I had to -consider whether I dared to venture any further with my plan in the -face of such added danger. A minute’s thought determined me to proceed, -however. What I had feared was the presence of a fairly large number of -men holding possession of the house; but there was no sign of this, and -if only one or two attendants were with this visitor, whoever it might -be, they would not have an easy task to capture me, while I should not -have a difficult one to avoid them. - -At the side where I stood there was a small opening into a passage that -led straight to my library, and, unlocking it very softly, I entered, -and stole along it on tiptoe, feeling my way by the wall in the pitchy -darkness. There were several doors leading off from the narrow passage -to different parts of the house, and at each of these I stood and -listened intently, venturing to unlock one or two of them with my -master-key. In this way I was able to satisfy myself that not a soul -was in the lower part of the house, and, assured by this knowledge, I -crept up the stone staircase that led to the library. - -The need for absolute silence on my part increased with every step, and -when I reached the top I drew off my heaving riding boots and moved at -a snail’s pace, my stockinged feet making no noise whatever. - -The entrance to the passage from the room had been masked very -cleverly. It was formed by a revolving panel in the wall, which swung -on well-oiled pivots and opened behind a sham cabinet, through the -painted glass doors of which care had been taken to allow of anyone who -stood in the cabinet both hearing and seeing all that went on in the -room. I moved the panel inch by inch with infinite care and caution, -and as I did so heard the sound of voices. - -I started, and almost lost my presence of mind as I recognised the -deep, gruff tone of General Kolfort, followed by the soft, dulcet, -seductive laugh of the Countess Bokara. Passing noiselessly through the -panel, I entered the cabinet, and the sight that met my eyes made me -almost cry out in astonishment. - -The wily old Russian had for once met more than his match. He was -seated in a chair with his arms fastened behind the back of it, staring -up, with leaden face and fear-filled eyes, into the face of the woman -who stood over him with a long, deadly-looking dagger in her raised -hand, passion and hate blazing in her eyes, and making the blade -tremble in her grasp so that the light quivered and danced on the steel -as the taunting, scoffing words flowed volubly from her lips. - -“Yes, you are to die. I lured you here for the purpose--lured you, as -you say, with lies about the secret proofs of this Count’s guilt which -I could put into your hands. A single movement, and my blade strikes -home to its sheath in your treacherous old heart!” - -The words came through her clenched teeth, and she looked a very -she-devil as she gloated over her helpless and cowering victim. He -might well cower, for if ever the lust for human blood was written on a -human face, it was there in every line of hers. - -“What do you want?” he asked at length. - -“Nothing but revenge. Nothing but that you shall feel before you die -some of the pain and horror you and your cursed agents and spies have -made my Prince endure for months past; nothing but to know that at last -our accounts are squared, and what you tried and failed to do with me -I have tried and succeeded in doing with you; nothing but your life, -murderer!” - -“You can name your own terms,” he said again; and I saw him glance -about him as if in desperate search of some faint hope of escape from -the menacing knife. She saw the glance too, and laughed, a fiend’s -laugh, scornful, sneering, and utterly loathsome. - -“You may look where you will, but you remember your own -condition--alone in the house. Alone, that you might not be seen with -me, or perhaps might trap me with more of your damnable treachery. -Well, you’ve had your way, and we are alone; but it’s the trapper who -is trapped, the spider who is caught in his own web. I’m glad you are -afraid of death. I thought it would be so, you are so prompt and quick -to order the deaths of others. And now you want to find proofs that -will enable you to have this Englishman put out of your way, something -to give a colour to your order for his removal; and when your men had -searched here and found nothing strong enough, you swallowed the bait -I put to you, to guide you to the place where you should find all you -wanted and more.” - -“He is no friend of yours.” - -“What is that to me? You are my enemy, and here helpless in my power. -The great, powerful, ruthless, implacable enemy of my Prince and of -Bulgaria here alone, fastened like a child to a chair by the hand of -a woman. Where is your power now? Will it help you to unfasten even a -strand of your bonds? Will it bring a single soul to your aid? Will it -stay by a second the plunge of my knife, or turn by so much as a hair’s -breadth the point from your heart? Were you as feeble as the meanest -and weakest of your victims, you could not be more helpless than alone -here with me.” - -The bloodthirsty fury of this unsexed demon was a hateful sight. Had -she plunged her knife into the man’s heart in a paroxysm of rage I -could have understood the passion which impelled her to her act of -revenge, but it was loathsome to see her standing gloating over the -wretched, quivering old man. I made up my mind to stop her; and I was -about to dash into the room to tear the knife from her grasp, for I -could stand the sight no longer, when a thought inspired by his fear -struck me. Like a flash of light a way to safety for me darted into my -mind. If he was the coward at heart she had proved him I could turn -his fears to good account, and in a moment I turned as anxious to save -his life as I was to end the intolerable sight of her cruel, tigerish, -callous gloating. - -“You have tried to murder my Prince, and now you have dragged him from -his throne to some of your vile Russian prisons,” she began again, when -I burst open the doors of my hiding-place, darted upon her before she -could recover from her start of surprise, and, pushing her back, stood -between her and the General. - -“You!” she cried in a voice choking with baffled passion, and looking -for all the world as though she would spring on me. - -“Silence!” I said sternly. “This has gone on too long already. I will -have no murder of this kind done here.” - -I heard the old man behind me give a deep sigh of relief, and, glancing -round, I saw that his head had dropped back on his shoulders. He had -fainted in the sudden relaxation of the terrible strain, and with his -dead white face upturned, open-mouthed and staring-eyed, he looked like -a corpse. - -But I could give him no more than a glance, for I dared not keep my -eyes from the wild woman before me. - -“You know he came here to find proofs to justify him in ordering your -death?” - -“I heard you taunt him with it just now; but I can protect myself.” - -“I did not come to kill him for that.” - -“I care nothing for your motives; I will not have him killed here,” I -returned in the same stern, decisive tone. - -She eyed me viciously, like a baulked tigress. - -“You will not?” The words came in a low, strenuous, menacing voice that -fitted with her tigress look. - -“No, I will not;” and at that, without another word, she flung herself -upon me, wrought up to such a pitch of madness in her reckless yearning -to do the deed she had come to do upon Kolfort that she would have -plunged the knife into my heart to clear me out of her path. She -struggled with the strength and frenzy of madness, turning the knife -as I clutched and held her wrist until it gashed my hand, while she -strained every nerve and muscle of her lithe, active body in the -desperate efforts to get past me and wrench her wrist from my grip. - -She was now in all truth a madwoman. - -It was a grim, fierce, gruesome struggle, for her strength was at all -times far beyond that of a woman, and her mania increased it until I -could scarce hold her in check. Had I been a less powerful man she -would certainly have beaten me; but I thrust her away again, though -I could not get the dagger from her, and was preparing myself for a -renewal of the struggle, when, with a scream for help that resounded -through the house, she turned her wild eyes on me, now gleaming with -her madness, and hissed: - -“He seeks the proofs to kill you! He shall have them in my dead body! -My blood is on you! My murder shall give him the proofs he needs!” - -She cried again for help in the same ear-piercing screech; and, before -I could devise her meaning, she turned the blade against herself, -plunged it into her own heart, and, with a last half-finished scream, -fell to the floor with a sickening thud. - -In an instant I saw the method in her madness. The General had seen -me in the room; he was now unconscious; there was no witness of her -self-murder; my hand was streaming with the blood from the gashes of -her knife; it was in my house it happened; her screams for help must -have been heard outside. The suggestive proofs that I had slain her -were enough to convince anyone of my guilt, and in another moment I -should have the General’s men thundering at the door, not only to stop -my flight, but to have me denounced as a murderer. - -Surely never was a man in a more desperate plight, and for the moment I -knew not in my desperation what to do. - -A glance at General Kolfort showed me he was still unconscious, and I -rushed to him and shook him in the frenzy of my despair. But he gave no -sign of returning consciousness, and the white face rolled from side to -side as the head shook nervelessly on the limp, flaccid neck. - -I clenched my hands and breathed hard in my concentrated efforts to -think coherently and form some plan of action, and I cursed aloud in my -wrath the fiend of a woman who had brought me to this pass of peril. I -had no thought for her, dead though she was, but wild, raging, impotent -hate. - -Mere flight was no use. If I were charged with this awful deed I -should be proscribed as a murderer, and the charge would dog my -footsteps wherever I went and rest on me always, till I should be -dragged perhaps to a felon’s death. These thoughts flashed like -lightning through my mind in the seconds that followed, crazing, -bewildering, and frightening me till the drops stood cold and thick on -my brow and my hands grew clammy with the dew of fear. - -Then came the sounds of men running on the gravel outside, and I -listened to them in positively fascinated, helpless irresolution. - -Another second and the men were knocking loudly at the house door; -and still I could not move. My feet were chained by a palsy of fear -to the floor, my breath came in gasps so that I was like to choke, -and when the knocking was repeated I could do no more than turn and -stare helplessly in the direction of the sound like a crazy idiot. My -brain seemed to have stayed every function except to fill me with this -awesome conviction of deadly inevitable peril. - -The knocking was repeated for the third time, and I heard the voices of -the men calling to be admitted. I felt that in a minute more the end -must come, and still I could do nothing but stare in imbecile apathy -and wait for it. - -Never can I efface the horror of that terrible moment. - -Then suddenly it seemed to pass. I thought clearly again, the instincts -of self-preservation reasserted themselves, and I cursed myself for the -invaluable time I had lost. - -But it might not even now be too late. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -GENERAL KOLFORT TO THE RESCUE - - -As I stood in a last second of desperate thought I heard the crash -of glass, and I knew the men were breaking into the house; and I -knew, too, that another minute would see them in the room where I -should be caught red-handed. The instant General Kolfort returned to -consciousness he would be the first to denounce me, despite the fact -that I had saved him from death. He would only too gladly use against -me the awful proofs of my apparent guilt which the mad woman had -afforded by her self-murder. It was just such a chance as he would -welcome. - -I dared not leave him behind me. - -I seized him, and, tearing with the strength of passion at his bonds, -tugged and wrenched until I freed his hands and lifted him in my arms. -He was still faint, though I detected now the signs of returning -consciousness. Then I extinguished the light, darted with him through -the entrance into the secret passage, and, clapping a hand over his -mouth that he should utter no sound when his senses came back, I drew -my revolver, and peering through the glass into the dark room, stood at -bay, resolved to sell my life dearly, whatever chanced. - -But I had secured a magnificent hostage for ultimate freedom, could I -only get through this mess. It would all turn on what happened when the -General’s men entered the room, and I clenched my teeth as I stared -into the darkness. - -There was no long wait. I had barely hidden myself when someone knocked -at the door of the room, paused for a reply, knocked again, and -entered. Two men came in, the faint light from the hall beyond showing -up their uniformed figures. - -“This isn’t the room; it’s all in darkness,” said one in a deep bass -voice. - -“Yes, it is; it’s the library,” said the other, who evidently knew the -house. “Are you there, General? Did you call?” - -They both waited for an answer, and, getting none, came further into -the room. - -“It can’t be it,” said the first speaker. - -“Better get a light,” returned the second. “I know it is the right -room.” - -“Well, it’s devilish odd.” Fumbling in his pocket, he got a match, -struck it and held it up, glancing round the room with the faint, -flickering light held above his head. - -“Here’s a lamp,” said his companion; “hot too, only just put out. I -don’t like this. Where can the General be?” - -“Better mind what we’re doing, Loixoff. The General won’t thank us to -come shoving our noses into his affairs.” - -“You heard the scream for help, Captain?” - -“Yes, but it wasn’t the General’s voice,” returned the Captain drily. -“And he was alone with the woman we were to take prisoner afterwards.” - -They were lighting the lamp when this little unintentional revelation -of old Kolfort’s intended treachery to the Countess Bokara was made. - -At that moment I felt my prisoner move, and I pressed my hand tightly -over his mouth and held him in a grip that made my muscles like steel, -lest he should struggle, and, by the noise, bring the men upon us. - -When they had lighted the lamp they stood looking round them in -hesitation. From where they stood the body of the dead woman was -concealed by the table. - -“The General’s been here,” said the man who had been addressed as -Loixoff. “Here are his cap and gloves.” They lay not far from the lamp. -“What had we better do?” - -My prisoner made another movement then and drew a deep breath through -his nostrils, and I felt his arm begin to writhe in my grip. I slipped -my revolver into my belt for a moment, lifted him up in my arms, -holding him like a child, put his legs between mine while I pinioned -him with my left arm so that he could not move hand or foot, and moved -my right hand up to cover both nostrils and mouth. I would stifle his -life out of him where he lay rather than let him betray me. - -I could understand the men’s hesitation. Old Kolfort was certain to -resent any interference or prying on their part into his secrets, and -they foresaw that the consequences to them might be serious if they -were to do what he did not wish. He knew how to punish interlopers. -They were afraid, and I began to hope that, after all, I should yet get -out of this plight if I could only keep my prisoner quiet. - -Even if I had to kill him I could still get the paper I had come -for; and as no one would know of my visit to the house, no glint of -suspicion would ever fall on me. At this thought I almost hoped he -would die. - -The two men stood in sore perplexity for a time that seemed an hour to -me, but may have been a couple of minutes, and then the elder one, the -Captain, said: - -“We’d better look through the other rooms.” - -“As you please,” said his companion, and he turned away while the -Captain picked up the lamp. - -“I can’t understand it,” he muttered. - -“Perhaps we’d better not try,” said Loixoff. As he spoke he started, -and I saw him stare at the spot where the Countess lay. “By God! -Captain, there’s the woman, dead!” - -They crossed the room together, and while the Captain held the lamp -down close to the body Loixoff examined it. - -“It’s that fiend, Anna Bokara,” he cried. “Now we know what that scream -meant.” - -“Is she dead?” - -“Yes; here’s a knife thrust right through her heart. There’s no pulse,” -he added after a pause. “Is this his work?” - -“It must be,” returned the Captain; and I saw them look meaningly into -each other’s eyes. - -“We’d best clear out of this,” said the Captain. “I suppose it’s only a -case of suicide after all,” he added significantly. - -“Probably,” was Loixoff’s dry answer as he rose from his knees. -“Where’s the General, do you think?” - -“I never think in these cases;” and the Captain put the lamp down, -taking care to find the exact spot where it had stood, and then -extinguished it. “We’ll wait till he calls us, Loixoff. And mind, not a -word that we’ve been here. Leave the General to make his own plans.” - -They went out, closing the door softly behind them, and I heard them -leave the house. As I pushed open the doors of the cabinet again their -steps crunched on the gravel outside as they walked away down the drive. - -I breathed freely once more. I was safe so far, and in the relief from -the strain of the last few terrible minutes my muscles relaxed, and I -leant against the wall with scarcely sufficient strength to prevent my -companion from slipping out of my arms to the floor. - -But there was still much to be done, and I made a vigorous effort -to pull myself together. I relit the lamp, but placed it so that no -gleam of the light could be seen through the windows. Then laying my -prisoner, who had fainted again as the result of my rough treatment of -him in the hiding-place, on a couch, I secured the paper of the route I -was to take to the frontier. - -Next I applied myself vigorously to restore him to consciousness. I -dashed cold water in his face, and then, getting brandy from a cupboard -in the room, I poured some down his throat, and bathed his forehead. -The effect was soon apparent; his breathing became deeper and more -regular, until with a deep-drawn sigh he opened his eyes and stared at -me, at first in a maze of bewilderment, but gradually with gathering -remembrance and recognition. - -“You’ll do now, General; but you’ve had a near shave. If I hadn’t come -in the nick of time that woman’s knife would have been in your heart,” -I said. - -He started, and terror dilated his pupils as he glanced wildly about -him. - -“You’re safe from her. She’s killed herself. Drink this;” and I gave -him more brandy. As I handed it to him he started again and stared at -the blood on my hand. He was still scared enough for my purposes. He -drank the brandy and it strengthened him, and presently he struggled -and sat up. - -I drew out my revolver, made a show of examining it to make sure that -it was loaded, and put it back in my pocket. I had run my hands over -him before to make certain that he had no weapon. - -“What are you going to do?” he asked, with a glance of fresh terror. - -“Not to use that unless you force me,” I said, with a look which he -could read easily enough. “As soon as you’re ready to listen I’ve -something to say.” - -He hid his face behind his trembling hands in such a condition of -fright that I could have pitied him had it not been necessary for me to -play on his fears. He sat like this in dead silence for some minutes, -and I waited, thinking swiftly how to carry out the plan I had formed. - -“What is it you want?” he asked at length. - -“You came here to-night to meet the Countess Bokara in the belief that -she could put into your hands such papers as would give you an excuse -to have me put to death, and when she had done it you meant to have -had her arrested. Instead of that you fell into her trap, and she was -on the point of killing you when I interfered and saved your life. -Then she turned on me and struggled to kill me in order that she might -carry out her purpose. Her failure drove her insane, and in her frenzy -of baulked revenge she plunged the knife into her own heart. You will -therefore write out a statement of these facts while they are still -fresh in your mind, sign it, and give it to me.” - -I pointed to my table, on which I had laid the writing materials in -readiness. He was fast recovering his wits, if not his courage, and he -listened intently as I spoke. I saw a look of cunning pass over his -face as he agreed to what I said, and crossed to the writing-table. He -thought he could easily disown the statement, and had been quick to -perceive the use he could make of the facts against me. But he did not -know the further plan I had, and he wrote out a clear statement exactly -as I had required. - -“Seal it with your private seal,” I said when he had signed it, his -handwriting throughout having been purposely shaky. He would have -demurred, but I soon convinced him I was in no mood to be fooled with. -“Your seal can’t be disowned as a forgery,” I said pointedly. “And -now, as your hand has recovered its steadiness, you can write this -again--this time, if you please, so that no one can mistake it;” and -while he did this I watched him closely to prevent a similar trick. - -“Good!” I exclaimed when all was finished. The second paper he had -written I folded up carefully and placed in my pocket; the first I laid -inside the dress of the dead woman, in such a position that anyone -finding the body must see the paper. - -“That will explain what has happened when the body is found,” I said -drily. “I want the facts made very plain.” He looked at me with an -expression of hate and fear and cunning combined. - -“I must go; I am not well,” he said. - -“We are going together, General,” I returned quietly. “I am willing to -assume that you are so grateful to me for having saved your life, that -in turn you wish to secure my safety. You have had me arrested once, -your men have treated me like a felon, you have filled the roads with -your agents until I cannot take a step without further fear of instant -capture, and up to this moment you have sought my life with tireless -energy; but now you are so concerned for my safety, so eager to repair -your mistaken estimate of me, and heedful for my welfare, that you are -going to see me safe to the Servian frontier. That is the part you are -cast for; and, listen to me, if you refuse, if you give so much as a -sign or suggestion of treachery, if you don’t play that part to the -letter, I swear by all I hold sacred I’ll scatter your brains with this -pistol;” and I clapped it to his head till the cold steel pressed a -ring on his temple. “Now what do you say?” - -He cowered and shrank at my desperate words, and all the horror and -fright of death with which the Countess Bokara had filled his soul came -back upon him again as he stared helplessly up at me. His dry bloodless -lips moved, but no sound passed them; he lifted his hands as if in -entreaty, only to drop them again in feeble nervelessness; and he shook -and trembled like one stricken with sudden ague. - -“You value your life, I see, and you can earn it in the way I’ve said. -So long as I am safe you will be safe, and not one second longer. That -I swear. If there is danger on the road for me it is your making, and -you shall taste of the risks you order so glibly for others. Every -hazard that waits there for me will be one for you as well. You are -dealing with a man you have rendered utterly reckless and desperate. -Remember that. Now, do you agree?” - -“Anything,” he whispered, in so low a tone that I could only catch it -with difficulty. - -[Illustration: “THE COLD STEEL PRESSED A RING ON HIS TEMPLE.”--_Page -320._] - -“Then we’ll make a start. Come first with me.” I led him upstairs to my -dressing-room, and made him wait while I exchanged the uniform I was -wearing for a civilian’s dress, and shaved off my beard and moustache. -He sat watching me in dead silence, his eyes following my every -action, much like a man spellbound and fascinated. I had saturated him -through and through with fear of me, till his very brain was dizzy and -dimmed with terror. - -When my hasty preparations were finished, I took him down to the -shooting gallery while I armed myself with a stout sword-stick of the -highest temper, testing the blade before him, and took a plentiful -supply of ammunition for my revolver. I kept absolute silence the whole -time, letting the looks which I now and again cast on him tell their -own story of my implacable resolve. He was like a weak woman in his -dread of me, and at every fierce glance of mine he started with a fresh -access of terror. - -When all was ready for my start, I drew the plan of my route from my -pocket and studied it carefully. - -“I am ready,” I said; “and now mark me. You will call up one of your -men. What is that Captain’s name who is here with you?” - -“Berschoff,” he answered, like a child saying a lesson. - -“You will call up Captain Berschoff and order him to draw off his men, -and to send your carriage, unattended, mind, up to the front door. You -will be careful that the Captain does not see me. When the carriage -comes, you will order your coachman to drive you as fast as he can -travel to the village of Kutscherf. While you are speaking to Captain -Berschoff my hand will be on your shoulder and my revolver at your -head, and if you dare to falter in so much as a word or syllable of -what I have told you, that moment will be your last on earth. Come!” - -I held my revolver in hand as we left the gallery and went to the door -of the house. - -My breath came quickly in my fast-growing excitement, for I knew that -a moment would bring the crisis on the issue of which all would turn. -When once I had got rid of his men, his sense of helplessness would -be complete, and my task would be lighter. But my fear was that in -his cunning he might even dare to play me false in the belief that I -should be afraid to make my threat good. He knew as well as I that to -shoot him right in front of his captain would be an act fraught with -consummate peril for me. - -My heart beat fast as I unfastened the heavy door, opened it, and -turning gripped him by the shoulder as he went forward on to the step -and called to Captain Berschoff. - -Then I pulled him back, closed the door to within a couple of inches, -and, planting my foot to prevent it being opened wider, I pressed the -barrel of the pistol to his head, as we stood listening to the hurried -footsteps of the approaching officer. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -THE PUSH FOR THE FRONTIER - - -“Did you call, General?” asked the captain; and as the voice came -through the door I tightened the grip on my prisoner and pressed the -barrel of the revolver harder against his head. - -He hesitated, and when no answer was given the question was repeated. - -“Yes,” said Kolfort, in an unsteady tone. - -“Shall I come in? Is anything the matter?” and I felt the door pushed -from the outside. - -“No,” in the same unsteady tone. “No, I--I do not need you. You will -take your men back to my house and--and wait for instructions.” - -“And the prisoner, General? Shall we take her with us?” - -“Tell him she has killed herself,” I whispered. - -“There is no prisoner to take, Captain Berschoff. She has--has taken -her own life. Leave that to me. Withdraw your men and send my carriage -up to the door here for me.” - -“Very good, General. Is that all?” - -“Yes, that’s all.” The words came with a sigh of relief. I shut the -door immediately, and we stood in the dark, near the window which the -two officers had broken to get into the house, and listened as the -captain walked quickly to the gates. Then came a word of command, -followed by the scraping of the carriage wheels on the drive, and the -sounds of the soldiers’ horses and the rattle of their accoutrements as -they wheeled away along the road. - -So far all was going well, and the crisis I feared had passed safely. -The carriage drew up outside the door. - -“Remember where to tell him to drive, Kutscherf,” I said sternly. -“You have half earned your life, but you must go through with it.” I -opened the door, linked my arm in his, and led him down the steps, and -together we entered the carriage. He gave his order to the coachman -through the window, and a moment later we started, turned out of the -gates, and rattled along at a brave pace for the frontier. - -General Kolfort fell back on the seat and pressed his hands to his -face, as though dizzy and weak with the long tension of fear, and -partly, I judged, ashamed of himself for his cowardice. - -“You had better try to sleep, General,” I said; “we have a long drive. -I shall be on watch, and shall not need to disturb you unless we -stumble across any of your troublesome patrols.” - -This was indeed my one source of fear now, and I leant back thinking -how we should deal with them in the event of interference. The -General’s presence would probably make everything smooth enough, but -there was always a chance that an opportunity would be given for him to -try some trick to elude me. - -We had at least sixty miles to drive, and as it was now past midnight I -reckoned we could not reach the frontier until between seven and eight -in the morning. It would be sunrise by five, and there would be thus at -least two or three hours to drive in daylight. That would be the time -of chief danger. - -It was a bright, fine night, the moon had risen, and when we had -cleared the town I resolved to urge the driver to quicken the pace of -his horses. I let down the window, and the cool night air came rushing -in and roused my companion, who sat up quickly. - -“What is the matter?” - -“Nothing; I wish your man to travel faster.” I leant out and called to -him: - -“The General says you are to drive faster; at a gallop where possible.” -He did not hear me at first, and was for checking the horses, until I -shouted the order to him again. I drew in my head, and was only just in -the nick of time to avoid trouble. - -The General had opened the door on his side and, in his desperation, -was in the very act of springing out. I caught hold of him, dragged him -back, and shut the door again. He fell in a heap huddled up at my feet. - -“A very dangerous leap for a man of your age,” I said drily. “I have -probably saved your life, for the second time to-night,” and I lifted -him up on to the seat of the carriage again. “And now, understand -me, if you had got out, I would have sprung out after you and shot -you in the highway, had it cost me my life. I thought that you would -understand by now that I’m in too dangerous a mood for you to fool -with. But I’m glad of the hint you’ve given me, and I sha’n’t forget it -for the rest of the way.” - -He made no answer, but lay back on the seat as before, and I did not -attempt to rouse him. The incident disquieted me, for it showed that -he was dead set on outwitting me, and would do so if I relaxed for a -single second the strain of his terror of my pistol. - -The carriage was now travelling at a great pace, the man urging the -horses to a gallop over every yard of level road. We reached the first -village without further incident, and I told the man where to get the -change of horses. There was a little delay in rousing the people of the -place, but once roused they set to work with a will, and in a very few -minutes we were spinning on again with the fresh cattle at the same -high speed for the next stage. - -Markov had done his work shrewdly, and had planned the route so that -for the greater part of the way we travelled without having to use the -main road. But the by-ways were rough going in many places, and this -retarded our progress. We made good time, however, and when we changed -horses for the second, third, and fourth times without being stopped, -my hopes began to rise fast that we might even reach the frontier -unchallenged. We had covered over forty miles, and yet, including the -time spent in changing horses, we had barely been four hours on the -road. - -A check came soon after the fourth change, however. We had to take to -the main road, and had covered some two or three miles, when I heard a -shout and felt the carriage checked suddenly. - -“Who goes there?” called someone, and looking out I saw we were in the -midst of a strong patrol. - -“You’d better not stop us. I’m driving express. It’s General Kolfort,” -came the coachman’s voice. - -I caught my breath, and my prisoner roused himself instantly and sat -up. I passed my arm round him and, pressing the revolver against his -ribs over his heart from behind, I said: - -“You will tell these men to allow us to pass. My pistol is within an -inch of your heart, and my finger on the trigger.” I felt him shudder. -“Let that window down, and call to them angrily. You know me.” - -He let it down, fumbling clumsily, so that with my disengaged hand I -had to help him. - -The non-commissioned officer in charge of the patrol had dismounted and -came to the window. - -“What do you mean by stopping me? Don’t you know who I am, blockhead?” -cried the General, his teeth chattering with chill and fright. - -“My orders are imperative, to stop all travellers and see their -papers,” replied the man as he saluted. - -“Well, you’ve stopped us; that’s enough.” - -“I must see your papers, if you please,” he said stolidly. - -“Do you suppose the General writes passes for himself,” I broke in. - -“We have no papers,” cried the General sharply. I saw his motive; he -wished to provoke the man to stop us. - -“Then you will have to alight,” said the soldier. - -“Very well. I suppose there’s no help for it;” and as he turned to me -the General’s face wore an expression half defiant, half cunning. “I’m -not responsible for what these blockheads do,” he said. - -“What papers do you want?” I asked, at a loss quite what to do in this -new and perplexing turn. - -“All travellers this way must carry a permit, or they are to be -stopped. Those are my orders.” - -“But surely you know General Kolfort?” - -“I must see the permit,” he answered doggedly. - -“That’s easily managed. You can write one, General.” - -The man shook his head. - -“They must be signed and countersigned,” he returned, with growing -suspicion and rising anger. - -“The fellow’s right,” said the General, turning to me with a laugh. -“It’s absurd, but he’s right.” His manner enraged me. He was trying all -he dared to play into the man’s hands. - -“I am only obeying orders,” said the sergeant; and for a moment it -seemed as if between them I should be fooled. But I knew well enough -what short work my prisoner would have made of such an interruption -under other circumstances. - -“Do you tell me you don’t know that this is General Kolfort?” I asked -very sternly. - -“I am not here to study faces, sir, but to examine permits,” was the -blunt blockhead’s answer. - -“You can at least read, then? And I presume you know the General’s -handwriting. You shall have an order signed by the General, and one -which will need no countersign to ensure its being obeyed. What’s your -name and regiment? Quick!” I said in a short tone of command. - -“Max Pullschoff, sergeant, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Army Corps,” he answered -saluting. - -“Now, General, order him to allow us to proceed at once at his peril. -This fooling has gone far enough,” and I enforced my words with a look -of menace, while I pressed the revolver hard against his ribs, and -added in a whisper, “Instantly!” - -He hesitated just one instant, trying to nerve himself to defy me, but -it was only for the instant. - -“I am General Kolfort, and I order you at your peril to delay me no -longer.” - -“I am very sorry, sir, but my orders are absolute. I can’t do it.” - -“Write an order to Captain Berschoff that the rascal has mutinied -against your authority, General, and that instantly on his return to -quarters he is to be imprisoned and flogged for mutiny. We will see -then what he says about signatures,” and I took out my pocket-book and -gave it him with a pencil. - -He glared at me viciously, but the revolver was his master, and he -wrote out the order just as I had bade him, and signed it. - -“Now, Sergeant Pullschoff, read that, and say whether in the face of it -you venture to carry this thing further.” - -The man took it, and I saw his face turn deadly white as he read it and -scanned the signature closely. - -“I have done no more than my duty, General,” he murmured; but I saw -that I had beaten him, and I pressed that advantage home. - -“If you detain us a minute longer, my man, you will go galloping back -to Sofia in custody for that order to be executed. You and your men -know perfectly well that this is General Kolfort, and that this is his -carriage.” - -He stepped away from the carriage window, and I saw him consult with a -couple of his men. - -“If I break my orders you will hold me harmless, General?” - -“Of course we shall. Tell him so, General.” - -“Yes,” assented the latter, but very slowly and regretfully, for the -new turn of the matter was all against his wishes. - -“You can give me back that order,” I said then. “And I shall make it my -business to see that you are commended for your care in carrying out -your instructions. Tell the coachman to drive on.” - -“Thank you, sir. I wish to do no more,” said the fellow, saluting, as -he handed me the paper, and then called to the driver to proceed. - -“A very excellent soldier that, very wooden, but human at bottom in his -fear for himself,” I said quietly to my prisoner, as we passed the last -of the patrols, who all saluted us. - -“Curse you!” cried the General, in the bitterness of his chagrin and -disappointment. - -I laughed; I could afford to now that the danger was passed; and my -satisfaction was the more genuine because the danger had been more -serious than I had anticipated. Moreover, it suggested to me to take a -precaution which I had neglected before starting. - -When we drew up for the next change of horses I made my prisoner write -me a formal permit to pass all patrols, as being on special service, -and I pocketed it for use in case of need. The value of it I had an -opportunity of testing within a few minutes, for we were stopped again -by another patrol of troops. But I produced the permit this time, and -it was accepted without a word of comment. - -It was now daylight; and, as we drew near the frontier, my excitement -increased. When we changed horses for the last time my spirits were as -high as my companion’s rage and chagrin were manifest. - -In less than an hour I should be across the frontier if all went -well; and all had gone so well that it would be a mere superfluity of -cowardice to anticipate any serious obstacle now. We had left the main -road, and had travelled some four miles through rough hilly cross lanes -to the point where Markov had planned for the frontier to be crossed, -when I found that the driver was in trouble with the horses. They were -going very erratically, now jibbing and plunging in the harness, and -again dashing forward at headlong speed. While they galloped I cared -nothing, and, though we bumped over the rough roads so violently -that my companion could scarcely keep on his seat, and was constantly -thrown against me, I was well contented, and laughed. The greater the -speed the better it pleased me. But when they stopped, and plunged, and -kicked with a violence quite beyond the man’s power to control, I was -anxious enough. - -Then, quite suddenly, came an overwhelming disaster which ruined -everything. We had ascended a steep hill at a slow pace, with more -than one stoppage, and were descending a slope on the other side, when -the horses bolted, and dashed away down it with a frantic fury that -threatened to smash us up at almost every stride. The pace was mad -enough to frighten a man whose nerves were in far better order than -those of my fright-wrought prisoner, and his terror paralysed him. - -There was going to be a smash; and I had scarcely time to realise the -certainty of it, and to wonder vaguely how it would affect my escape, -when it came. There were a few moments of mad, jolting, dizzying rush -down the hill, then a fearful crash as the wheels struck against some -heavy obstacle, a wild jerk that threw us both forward in a heap, -a noise of smashing glass and rending woodwork, half-a-dozen great -lurching bumps and jolts, and the carriage was on its side, dragging, -and tearing, and grinding on the rough road, till it stopped, and I -found myself lying in its ruins, with my hands and face badly cut -and bruised, and every bone in my body, as it seemed, either broken -or dislocated. I struggled out of the ruin as best I could, to find -the driver and his horses in a heap in the road, the man himself in -imminent peril of being kicked to death. I managed to haul him out of -danger, and laid him by the roadside unconscious from the effect of -his fall, and left the horses to fight it out for themselves while I -looked after General Kolfort. - -He was also unconscious; but whether from hurt or fear I could not -tell. He lay pinned underneath the carriage, and I had great difficulty -in releasing him. But I got him out, and set him beside the coachman, -just as one of the horses succeeded in kicking himself free, struggled -to his feet, and began backing and tugging to break the reins. I ran -to him, patted and soothed him, and then, cutting the reins, I knotted -them and fastened him to a tree. I meant him to carry me to the -frontier on his back, and was glad to find, when I ran my hands over -him, that he had no more serious hurts than a few surface cuts. - -But I was in truth vastly puzzled how to act. To take the General -with me any further was impossible; yet to leave him behind might -be infinitely dangerous. The instant he recovered consciousness he -would set all his wits and malice to work to have me followed; and my -perplexity was vastly increased when I saw about a mile ahead of me a -couple of horse-patrols appear on the crest of a hill, and come riding -leisurely toward us. - -There was no time for hesitation. I realised instantly the -impossibility of holding the General in my power by means of threats -in the presence of a couple of soldiers in broad daylight. There was -infinitely less danger in trusting to flight. - -I rushed to the horse, therefore, unfastened him, leapt on his bare -back, and set off at a gallop to meet the approaching soldiers. As I -glanced back I saw to my dismay that the General had been fooling me -with a sham fainting fit, for he had risen to a sitting posture, and -was endeavouring to shake the coachman back to his senses. - -At this I urged my horse forward, for I knew his next step would be -to try and make the soldiers understand that I was to be stopped and -secured. - -As I galloped I made my plans. Getting within earshot, I called to them -to hasten forward, for they had halted, and stood with their carbines -ready to stop me. - -Reining my horse up as best I could, I said, in a tone of command: - -“General Kolfort has met with an accident there, and you are to hasten -to his assistance instantly.” - -“One moment, if you please, sir. Have you your papers?” asked one of -the men. - -“Of course I have. I am riding on special service. Here is my permit;” -and I showed it to him, not letting it out of my hands, however. He -pushed his horse forward and read it. - -“It seems all right,” he said. - -“Of course it’s all right. I am on a matter of life or death, and have -to press forward with all speed. I have had to use one of the carriage -horses; but one of you had better give me yours. It is an urgent affair -of State.” - -My tone of authority, added to the permit of urgency with the General’s -signature, impressed him considerably. - -“It’s all against orders,” he said, hesitating. - -“Do you suppose this won’t justify everything?” I cried, shaking the -General’s order in his face. “You may find it awkward to refuse. The -General will soon put you right. Quick! there’s no time to lose;” and, -to act my part thoroughly, I slipped off my horse. - -He dismounted slowly, and half reluctantly; but the instant his foot -touched the ground, I let my horse loose, and, giving him a thrust in -the ribs, sent him trotting down the road, while I seized the bridle of -the other and swung into the saddle, before the man had recovered from -his astonishment. - -Then an exclamation from the second soldier attracted the attention of -us both. There was good cause; for, on looking back, I saw that three -other horse-soldiers had joined the General, who was making frantic -gesticulations to the men with me. - -“Ah! he sees me stopping, and wishes me to push on,” I said. - -“I think you had better ride back with us, if you please,” said the -soldier who had dismounted, and he made a sign to his companion, who -was still barring my path, to stop me. - -“Nonsense, he wishes me to push on.” - -“I can’t let you proceed, sir, order or no order,” he answered bluntly, -and made as if to seize my horse’s bridle, while he ordered his -subordinate to prevent my passing. - -At the same moment the men with the General fired their carbines to -call our attention, and set off towards us at full gallop. - -“At least you can wait till those men reach us,” he said, and his tone -and face showed his suspicions that something was wrong. - -Thus in a moment the position had developed into one of fresh -embarrassment and imminent peril for me. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -THE RUINED HUT - - -The two soldiers mistook me vastly if they thought I was going to allow -myself to be caught in this way like a rat in a trap, when the trap was -a mile long, and the door of it guarded so loosely. - -I had backed my horse to prevent the man on foot catching hold of the -bridle-rein, and, wheeling round swiftly, I plunged my hand into my -pocket, drew out my revolver, and, before the second soldier could -guess my intention, I sent a bullet into his horse’s head. - -He dropped like a stone, sending his rider flying on to the road, his -carbine, which he had levelled at me, going off in the air as he fell. -The other made a rush at me, but I covered him with the pistol. - -“How dare you try to stop me on State business?” I cried in a voice of -thunder. “Another step and I’ll blow your brains out.” - -He pulled up short enough at that, and I clapped my heels into the -horse’s flanks, and was off like the wind. He was a good beast, in -excellent condition and very fresh, and more than fit to carry me -the six miles which I reckoned lay between me and the frontier. The -distance was so short that I had no need to spare him, and, as I had -over three-quarters of a mile start, I did not doubt that I could win a -race in which my safety and probably my life were the stakes. - -I was in luck, too, for the soldier before dismounting had thrust back -his carbine into its leathern shoe, and in among his saddle-furniture I -found a reserve supply of ammunition. - -Turning in my saddle I saw that the three soldiers had passed the two -with whom I had had the tussle, and were galloping after me at full -speed, striving might and main to lessen the distance between us, and -I knew, of course, that old Kolfort had given them his most imperative -command to overtake and capture me at all costs. - -But a few minutes of this hot work showed me that I was better mounted -than they, and that I was gaining. They perceived this, too, and -resorted to a tactic which gave me some uneasiness. One after another -they began firing their carbines, not of course at me, for I was -hopelessly out of range, but in the hope of attracting any other patrol -parties who might chance to be in the neighbourhood. - -This was by no means to my taste. It suggested that they knew there -were more troops about, and while I dug my heels into my willing -horse’s sides, and urged him with my voice to still greater speed, I -cast ahead many anxious looks. - -A minute later, too, I was thrown into a state of much perplexity as to -my road. About half a mile in front the road forked, and I did not know -whether my way lay to the right or left, and had no time to consult the -plan of route. It would have been fatal to hesitate, however, and I was -going to leave my horse to settle the matter for himself, trusting that -he might have been stabled somewhere near the frontier and would thus -make for that point, when a very disquieting fact decided me. - -A couple of troopers were riding at a quick trot along the road to the -left, and coming in my direction. They were at a considerable distance, -and I should reach the junction long before them. I determined to trust -to fortune and take the other road. - -They soon caught sight of me, and as the men pursuing me kept up their -fire, the two in front hustled their horses into a gallop, evidently -thinking something was wrong, and intending to cut me off and stop me. - -They saw me turn into the right road, checked their horses, leapt into -the fields, and came galloping across to intercept me. This was not -practicable, however, because the point for which they were making was -nearer to me by the road than to them by the fields, and after they had -galloped half across the fields they called to me to stop. Perceiving -my advantage, my answer was to urge my horse forward, till he was -straining every nerve and flying over the ground like the gallant beast -he was. - -Then one of them reined up suddenly, and being well within range, he -sat as steady as a rock on his horse, levelled his piece, and fired. -Fortunately for me he was quite as bad a marksman as the majority of -such men are, and the bullet whistled harmlessly by me as I dashed -past at the same headlong speed. His companion had, however, come much -nearer, and when he found he could not intercept me, he too halted and -fired after me in his turn. - -He also missed me, but I felt my horse give a violent change in his -stride, and immediately begin to slacken speed. I looked around -anxiously and found, to my intense alarm and consternation, that he was -wounded, and had gone dead lame on his off hind leg. - -For the first time I was inclined to despair. Behind me were five -well-mounted men eagerly bent on my capture, and before me lay at least -three miles of unknown road--even supposing that I was riding in the -right direction--while my horse was already beginning to stagger in his -stride. But my blood was up. I would not be taken alive, and I resolved -to fight so long as I could lift a finger in self-defence. - -Flight was now out of the question, however. Wounded as he was, my -horse could not have carried me to the frontier had I been able to ease -his pace, which was of course impossible. I could fight better on foot -than on the back of a wounded horse, moreover, and I began to think -desperately of my best course. - -I drew out the trooper’s carbine, put the ammunition into my pockets, -and looked about for the most likely spot for a last stand. About half -a mile ahead of me I spied a peasant’s cottage half in ruins, lying a -little distance from the lane. Just the place for me! I urged my horse -to the last effort, and he answered gallantly, as if he understood how -dire was my need. But he was reeling badly when we reached the spot I -was heading for; and the two men behind raised a glad shout as they saw -me pull up, slip from the horse, and make a dash, carbine in hand, for -the cover of the ruined cottage. - -They both fired at me as I ran, a cowardly act that filled me with -rage. Hitherto I had tried to avoid shedding blood, but I sent that -thought to the winds now as I sprang behind the shelter of the welcome -walls and turned to settle accounts with them. Armed as I was, I -believed I could for a time hold the place against a party twice as -strong as that which was coming against me, and I was so mad in my -rage and disappointment, that I swore I would shoot without mercy any -living soul that came within range. - -The two soldiers came galloping up to the point where my horse had -now fallen, and they stood chuckling at the successful shot which had -wounded him. - -I singled out one of them--the man who, as I thought, had fired the -fatal shot--took deliberate aim, and fired. He dropped like a stone, -and his companion turned instantly and scuttled back to meet the other -three, who were now closing up fast. I smiled grimly as I thrust in -another cartridge, and was turning to look for the next quarry when my -heart gave another throb of dismay. - -The place seemed alive with troops; and I saw another horseman coming -from the opposite direction along the lane towards the cottage, and -I did not doubt that he was the advance guard of a stronger patrol -following behind. - -The four men had halted out of range and were talking excitedly -together, and I was thus at liberty to watch the newcomer, whose -movements puzzled me considerably. When he heard the shot from my gun, -and probably saw the smoke, instead of dashing forward to join the men -threatening me, or falling back upon any party behind, he scuttled off -the road and concealed himself in a small clump of trees, from which he -seemed to be scanning the cottage where I lay. No trooper out on patrol -would have acted so, and I concluded promptly that he was in some such -condition as myself, and as eager as I to escape the attentions of the -soldiers. - -Could it be possible that he was a friend? The mere thought of such a -chance in my desperate position filled me with excited pleasure, and, -stepping forward, I stood so that the sun’s rays fell right on me as I -faced him, and I waved my hand. I thought he made some motion with his -hand in reply, but he stood in the shadow of the trees, and was too far -off for me to see him clearly. Then I waved my hand again, beckoning -him to come to me, and had time to do no more before the four soldiers -began to move, and I had to step back under shelter and watch them. - -Apparently they had resolved to make a dash for the cottage, in the -endeavour to capture me with a rush. But they should never reach the -place alive. I calculated that I should have time for two shots with -the carbine and half-a-dozen more with my revolver, and if I could not -empty the four saddles my hand and eye and nerve had lost their cunning -indeed. - -They crossed into the field, and seeing that there were no windows in -the end of the building from which I could fire upon them, they kept -out of range until they were in a line with the end, and then began -their advance. A shrewd enough plan, had I been a fool to be caught -unawares, or a coward afraid to expose myself to their rickety fire. -But I was neither, and creeping out at the front I was in a position to -take a kneeling shot at them before they started the advance. I don’t -think they even saw me, for there was a relic of what had once been a -palisade projecting from the end of the house, which gave an excellent -cover, and I waited till they were well within range before I fired. -One of them fell forward, and I had reloaded and was taking careful aim -for my second shot, when with a loud shout they pulled up hastily and -made ready to fire in their turn. - -I didn’t give them time to shoot before I fired again, and again -brought one of them out of his saddle. This reduced the number -to two, and neither of them had any relish for the business. They -discharged their pieces at random, wheeled about suddenly, and galloped -back faster than they had advanced. I had given them an excellent -object-lesson in the value of good shooting, and I stood watching them -in moody curiosity to see what they would do next. - -Then I heard the sound of a galloping horse from the other end of the -cottage, and when I ran back quickly to learn the cause I had indeed a -joyful surprise. It was the horseman I had seen in the distance. - -“Took you in the rear, Count,” said a deep voice I knew so well; and -the next instant Zoiloff and I stood hand-locked, his stern face aglow -with pleasure and I with more delight in my heart than either words or -eyes could tell. Never could a friend have been so welcome, and none -more welcome than Zoiloff. I was so moved that I could not even find -words to ask the news which I was burning to learn. He saw this, and -said: - -“All is well with the Princess. She is safe at Nish, waiting for you.” -I wrung his hand afresh in my delight. - -“Never did beleaguered force hear better news,” I said. - -“The beleaguered force is doubled now,” he answered, smiling. “Though I -can’t say it seems to need strengthening, judging by results. But now -we had best be off, for the country between here and the frontier is -like a rabbit-warren with the swarming troops. We shall probably have -to hide, for we can’t hold this place till nightfall, and I very much -doubt if we can get through the pass in daylight.” - -“I have a permit that will carry us through,” I said; “but I have no -horse to carry it on.” - -“I’ll soon mend that,” he answered, and without a word he mounted again -and set off at a gallop toward the two soldiers, who stood together -holding the horses of their wounded comrades by the bridles. What -followed was a gleam of farce in the tragedy that surrounded us. The -men seeing him coming were instantly filled with alarm, for my work had -told its tale well enough on their nerves, and after making a show of -resistance and firing their carbines at him with scarcely a pretence of -taking aim, they plunged their spurs into their animals and shot away -trying to lead the other horses with them. But Zoiloff gained at every -stride, and when he fired his revolver after them they cast off the -led horses and themselves fled for their lives in sheer scatterbrained -fright. He had no difficulty in capturing one of the horses, and came -cantering back to me smiling and victorious. - -“What rabbits,” he said contemptuously. - -“What a happy thought of yours,” I replied, as I mounted, and we stole -off, keeping the cottage between us and the still flying soldiers. - -“Shall we make a dash for it and risk everything; or shall we try and -hide? Those curs will soon be after us with a larger pack in full cry, -and we may find it difficult to hide.” - -“We’ll push straight for the frontier,” I answered, “and trust to old -Kolfort’s signature to get us through. The patrols seem to be in very -small numbers, and if there’s any trouble we can show fight. But now -tell me what has happened, for I am on fire with impatience to hear -everything.” - -“Happily there’s little enough to tell, for by some means we managed -to escape all interference, and under your fellow Markov’s guidance -we reached the frontier without let or question. There was plenty of -uneasiness after we left you as to whether we should be pursued; but -thanks, I suppose, to your ruse, we were not followed, and the only -trouble afterwards was in the frontier pass. It was only watched in the -loosest manner in the world, and as Markov knew his business thoroughly -he had us all past the lookout before they had even a suspicion of -our presence. It was only a matter of a quick gallop then for a bit -and we got through. I went on to Nish with the Princess, who was much -fatigued of course, and it was at her urgent request, when you did not -come yesterday, that I returned to see if I could hear any tidings of -you. My uniform saved me from any trouble, and I was intending to go -to Sofia, when I heard the firing and stopped to see what it meant, I -saw you stand out in the sun glare just now, and though I could not -definitely recognise you at such a distance I made a guess it was you, -and rode up on the chance.” - -“You left the Princess well?” - -“In all save her anxiety for you; and that we may hope to remove in a -few hours now. But how have you fared?” - -I told him the story, and he listened with many an approving smile and -nod, looking stern and serious at the story of the Countess Bokara’s -suicide, and laughing at the trick I had served old Kolfort. - -“After all that, we are not going to be stopped now,” he said at the -close; “although we shall have need of clear heads and perhaps quick -hands before we are through. But we shall know soon. You see that -narrow road climbing the hill yonder, with that small station-house -about half-way up. Well, the frontier line runs close ahead of that;” -and he pointed to the spot. “Hullo! who comes?” he added a minute -later, as we turned a bend of the road and came upon two or three -horse-soldiers. - -We were riding at a brisk canter, and did not rein up until they -challenged us. Seeing Zoiloff’s uniform they saluted him, but the -leader turned to me and asked for my permit. - -“I am on special service,” I said quietly, producing the permit. -He read it, returned it to me, drew back for us to proceed, and we -cantered on without having wasted a minute. - -“You had your wits about you when you got that paper,” said Zoiloff, -laughing. “If those fellows had only known what that special service -was, we should have had a brush with them. Let’s hope that those at the -barrier will be as easily satisfied.” - -“It’s a nasty-looking road,” said I, when we reached the foot of the -long tortuous hill. “We’d better spare the cattle in case of a bother,” -and we pulled up to a walking pace. I scanned the station-house closely -as we came in sight of it. - -“I wish to Heaven it was night. We could steal up that path there,” -said Zoiloff, pointing to the right of the road. “That’s how Markov -managed it. It leads out again about twenty or thirty yards on this -side of the station-house yonder, and we rattled through at a gallop.” - -“How many men are stationed there, do you think?” - -“I couldn’t see more than half-a-dozen or so all told this morning when -I passed, and I stopped intentionally and chatted with the officer in -command. But in a narrow place like this six men can do a lot.” - -“I see there’s a telegraph-wire. I hope the General hasn’t managed to -send a message,” I returned uneasily. - -“I should think not, judging by the ease with which those men below -there were satisfied. But I mean to get through. Once past the -station-house, and we haven’t more than two or three hundred yards to -gallop before we’re in Servia. But I confess I never thought of the -telegraph,” and Zoiloff shook his head. - -“Well, we’ll try the papers first and the pistols afterwards, in case -of need. And they won’t find it easy to stop us.” - -But as we drew closer I saw what Zoiloff meant about the ease with -which a handful of resolute men could hold such a spot. - -“They’ve turned out to receive us,” he said, as we saw an officer -posting men to block the road. “He won’t attempt to stop me, I expect, -and while you’re showing him your permit I’ll edge past and try to -get the men out of their order so as to leave a gap for you to dash -through. Then I’ll follow you, and they may hesitate about firing on -me.” - -“Very well; but we can’t make much of a plan. Probably I may find it -best to appear to yield at first and then wait for the moment to make -the rush;” and with that we rode on slowly, watching the men ahead -of us closely, but laughing and chatting together as though the last -thought in our heads was of any chance of being stopped. And we were -both laughing heartily as at some joke when the officer in command met -Zoiloff with a salute and turned to address me. - -“Your permit, sir, if you please,” he said courteously, but as I -thought with a glance of suspicion. - -“Certainly,” I replied, and I took it out and handed it to him. As -he read it Zoiloff pushed forward and entered into conversation with -the men. There were only five of them, making six with the officer, -as Zoiloff had said, and they were on foot. I saw him push his horse -between the two at the end of the short line, and then as he chatted he -coolly turned his horse broadside on the road, thus making a big gap. -It was cleverly done, and he sat there saying something which made the -men laugh. - -“This mentions no name, sir,” said the officer, looking up from the -paper. “May I inquire your name?” - -“Certainly. I am the Hon. Gerald Winthrop, an Englishman.” The reply -perplexed him. - -“An Englishman? And on special service for General Kolfort? I don’t -wish to appear impertinent, but have you another name?” - -“I am also a Roumanian Count--Count Benderoff.” - -“Ah!” His tone told me at once that he had had some instructions about -me, and I began to prepare for emergencies. “I am placed in an awkward -position, Count, but I’m afraid I cannot allow you to pass.” - -“My business is very urgent, lieutenant.” - -“The delay will probably be only a brief one. I am expecting a -messenger from General Kolfort, and I thought you were probably from -him. No doubt the moment he arrives you will be at liberty to proceed. -But you’ll understand my position.” - -“The consequences of stopping me may be serious.” - -“So may be those of allowing you to pass, Count. But in any case I have -no alternative.” - -“But I have ridden straight from General Kolfort himself, who handed me -the permit personally.” - -“My instructions have come over the wires, and within the last few -minutes; and they are imperative not to allow you to pass until the -General himself or those he is sending shall arrive. If you will -dismount I will try to make the delay as little irksome as possible, -though one’s resources in a God-forsaken place like this are not -abundant.” - -“Do you mean you wish to arrest me?” I asked quickly. - -“Certainly not. You are at liberty to return if you please; my -instructions are merely not to allow you to pass the frontier.” - -“Quiet, mare!” I called to my horse, which was fidgeting and plunging -restlessly, as I touched her secretly with my heel, making it difficult -for him to lay his hand on the bridle. Then I laughed as if the thing -were a joke, and I gave Zoiloff a look. He understood it, and began to -edge his horse so as to leave room for me to pass. - -“It’s very ridiculous,” I said to the officer, who had drawn a little -away from me, “but I suppose there’s no help for it; and in any case I -shall be glad of some breakfast.” - -“I shall be delighted to be your host,” he replied, without a suspicion -of my intention; and he called to one of the men to come and hold my -horse. - -This made the gap in their rank larger than ever; and, causing my -horse to fidget and strain at the bit, I suddenly slackened the reins, -plunged my heels into her flanks, and darted away up the hill as fast -as she could gallop. - -“Hallo! She’s run away with him!” said Zoiloff; and he wheeled round -and dashed after me. - -It was some seconds before the officer realised how we had fooled him. -Then we heard the order given to fire after us, and the next instant -the report of the guns rang out, echoing and re-echoing among the crags -on either side of the narrow gorge. - -The bullets whistled by me; and, glancing back, I saw that Zoiloff was -following all right. A second volley was fired, but not until we had -already passed the frontier; and I did not draw rein till I was nearly -to the crest of the hill and within sight of the Servian station-house -over the crest. Then I found that Zoiloff was not so close to me as he -should have been, and I halted to wait for him. Below him I saw the -officer and two of the men had mounted and were in hot pursuit. - -Zoiloff was leaning forward curiously in the saddle, sitting very -loosely, and his horse could hardly move. I rode back to him, filled -with alarm. - -He looked up as I neared, and I saw his face was bloodless. He tried to -wave to me to go forward, but his hand fell listlessly. - -“Are you wounded, friend?” I asked. - -“No--at least not much. Go on!” he said, his voice weak and faint; and -his horse was staggering so that I thought it would fall. Meanwhile the -men behind were coming up quickly. - -“Come on to my horse,” I cried, my heart sick with pain and fear -for him, as I rode to his side and tried to lift him off. But at -that moment his horse went down heavily, and only with the greatest -difficulty did I save Zoiloff from an ugly fall. - -In a moment I dismounted. There was no time now to mount with him on my -horse, so I laid him under cover of his own fallen animal and turned -with bitter rage in my heart to check the men behind us, as well as to -revenge the hurt of my staunch friend, who had given himself to save me. - -Snatching the carbine from my saddle, I knelt down, and, firing over -the prone horse, I aimed at the foremost rider, who fell in a huddled -mass on to his horse’s shoulder and then dropped to the ground. - -I was ramming home another cartridge as the other two halted and took -aim. I crouched under shelter of the horse, and felt him quiver and -kick feebly as one of the bullets plugged into him; and then the men -came dashing forward again. - -But not for many strides, for my second shot sent the officer toppling -out of his saddle heavily to the rough road. I loaded again instantly, -for the sight of Zoiloff’s death-white face and the thought of his -wound maddened me so that I could have killed a dozen men in cold blood -to avenge him. - -The remaining trooper had little stomach for any further fight, -however, and he reined up and stood irresolute. - -“Go back, if you care for your life,” I called to him. “We are on -Servian ground, and you have no right to pursue me.” He was afraid for -his own skin to come on, and yet afraid for duty’s sake to turn back, -and I saw him open his carbine at the breech to reload. - -I did not give him time to do that, however, before I fired. I missed -the man, but struck his weapon, shattering it in his hand. This was -much more convincing than any words, and, recognising his unarmed -helplessness, he wheeled his horse round and rode off back down the -hill. - -I had won; but what a price had the victory cost! - -I bent over my wounded friend, my heart sick with my grief. - -“Fly!” he whispered. Wounded sorely as he was, his thoughts were all -for me and none for himself. - -“There is no need, my dear friend. There’s no one to follow us. Can you -bear for me to lift you on to my horse? We’re safe.” - -“I’m glad. I’m not hurt much,” he whispered, trying to smile. - -I lifted him in my arms, and, drawing my horse to a stone by the side -of the road, managed to mount with him; and then, saving him all in my -power from the jolting of the horse, I walked up the rest of the hill -and over to the Servian station-house. - -The men turned out to meet us. - -“My friend is sorely wounded,” said I. - -“I heard the firing, but my orders are not to interfere,” said the -officer in command. - -“The outrage was committed on Servian territory,” I replied. - -“I have strict orders not to cause any trouble with the Bulgarians just -at present,” he said, as if by way of apologetic explanation of his not -having come to my aid. “We don’t inquire too closely into what is done -east of the station-house.” - -“Can you give me a place where my friend can rest?” - -He looked uneasy at the question and hesitated. - -“Can’t he bear any further journey?” - -“He is badly wounded, sir,” I returned, with some indignation. - -“I can do better than give him a bed here. My men shall carry him on a -litter down to the village at the foot of the hill, where there is a -priest who knows something of surgery, and he can get medical aid.” - -“As quick as you can, for God’s sake!” I said. - -Poor Zoiloff had fainted, and lay helpless in my arms, his head resting -on my shoulder. - -The men lifted him gently off the horse, the litter was brought out, -and I helped to place him in it. - -“I’m afraid I needn’t ask for his papers,” said the officer, as the men -moved off. - -I showed him my English passport, as clearing the way for me, and, with -a mere glance at it, he returned it. - -“I hope you will have better news than I fear of your friend,” he said -warmly. - -I could not answer him; I was too broken with this new trouble. I -followed the mournful little procession, and I am not ashamed to say -that as I watched it and gazed at the white face in the litter my eyes -were more than once half blinded by tears. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN” - - -Down in that lonely Servian village, nestling beautifully at the foot -of a range of hills, a scene followed, inexpressibly sad and mournful -to me. - -We carried Zoiloff to the house of the priest, a man whose heart was as -large as his means were straitened, and together we laid my poor friend -on the low truckle bed in the barely furnished room. I helped while the -examination of his wounds was made, watching the priest’s face with an -anxiety that cannot be put in words. - -“How did it happen?” he whispered. - -“A gunshot wound somewhere in the back, I fear,” I told him. - -But there was no need for this explanation, for the blood guided him to -the wound easily enough. - -“The ball has passed through his body and through his right lung.” - -“Is there any hope?” I asked, my own heart answering the question -before it was asked. He shook his head sadly. - -“On this earth none,” he said. He stopped the bleeding, which was -comparatively slight. - -“There is very little blood,” I said, hoping against hope. - -“The bleeding is internal. No man can save him. I have done all that -can be done. Let us pray for him.” - -He laid my friend back on the bed with a touch as deft and gentle as -a woman’s, and kneeling by the bedside, he began to pray earnestly -and fervently, in a soft voice rich with the rare gem of unaffected -sympathy. Following his example, I knelt on the other side of the bed, -and, with my face buried in my hands, I tried to follow his prayers -through the tumult of my thronging emotions at the knowledge that this -brave, staunch friend must die, and that it was his friendship that had -cost him his life. - -How long the good priest prayed I know not, but after a time I was -conscious that the rich, sweet voice had ceased, and when I looked up I -was alone with my dying comrade. - -I got up from my knees, and placing the one rush chair by the bed, -sat down to watch for the end and wait lest he should return to -consciousness. - -A short time later the priest looked in and beckoned me. - -“The men who carried your friend here are still waiting; shall I keep -them any longer?” I placed my purse in his hands to give them what he -would, merely asking him to reward them generously. - -“Will he recover consciousness?” I asked. - -“It were better not, but he is in God’s hands,” he answered reverently; -and I stole back to my chair to resume my vigil. - -He looked already like a dead man, and I had to hold my ear close to -his mouth before I could catch the faintest sign of his breathing. -I felt for the pulse and could detect no flicker of it, and then I -laid my fingers gently over his heart. The beats were barely to be -discerned. As I drew my hand away I came upon a secret. A dead flower -bound by a wisp of faded ribbon was fastened close to his heart, both -flower and ribbon dabbled with his blood. - -The sight of the little withered memorial of a dead passion, so wholly -unexpected in one I had found so hard and stern, affected me deeply. -I held it a moment, wondering what lay behind, and where and who was -the woman whose heart would be stricken by the blow of his death even -as sorely as mine would be. Then I laid it so that it rested on his -faithful heart, and, taking his hand, sat with it in mine. - -The hours passed uncounted by me. Once or twice the good priest came -back to the room, and at length, when Zoiloff showed no sign of a -return to consciousness, he administered the last rites of the Church. -The sacrament was placed between the nerveless lips, and the priest and -I joined in the solemn ceremonial. - -“He will not last long. I am surprised he is still alive,” he said, -when the simple, beautiful ceremony was over. “God be merciful to him!” - -When the priest left the room I followed and asked for some brandy, as -I thought there might be some last message Zoiloff might wish to send -by me, and I hoped to rouse a final flicker of strength for the purpose. - -I poured a few drops into his mouth with a spoon, and after a few -minutes gave him a second dose. I detected, as I thought, some signs of -a rally of strength, and gave him more, and sat with his hand in mine -and my eyes on his face and waited. - -“Zoiloff, Zoiloff, my dear friend!” I called gently. - -To my delight his eyelids quivered slightly, and after a moment or -two they opened and he looked at me. He recognised me, and his mouth -moved as if to smile, and I felt a slight, very slight, pressure of -the hand. I gave him more of the spirit, and it appeared to lend him a -little strength. - -His lips moved as if to speak and his eyes brightened. - -I felt his hand move in mine as if he would lift it, and, guessing -his wish, I lifted it to his heart so that the fingers could feel the -little treasure of love that lay there. His fingers closed over it, and -he smiled again. But his strength would not suffer him to hold his arm -up, so I propped it up, that the hand might rest on the flower. - -“Can you hear me, Zoiloff? Do you know me?” - -His lips moved and his eyes seemed to assent. - -“Can I carry any message for you?” and I laid my fingers on the dead -flower to show my meaning, and then bent my ear down to his mouth. - -He seemed to make a great effort to speak, and I caught a struggling of -the breath, as I held my own in the eager strain to listen. But finding -he could not speak I gave him a few drops more of the brandy, now -convinced that he wished to say something. - -“Have you any message, dear friend?” I asked again, as I bent down. - -There came another pause of effort and then I caught a word. - -“Christina’s,” and I felt the fingers near his heart close on the -flower. - -In an instant the full knowledge of his heroic sacrifice rushed upon -me. He loved Christina; and in the nobleness of his self-denying love -he had given his life that mine should be saved for her. - -I grasped his other hand and held it, as I pressed my lips to his -marble forehead. - -Then I saw his lips move again. - -“Leave it,” and the movement of his fingers near his heart told me what -he meant. - -“On my honour, Zoiloff,” I said earnestly. “God bless you! the -staunchest friend man ever had. I never dreamt of this.” - -“Don’t tell her,” he whispered, trying to shake his head. Then I felt -his hand try to lift mine, and, divining his wish, I laid mine to his -lips, and he kissed it. This effort exhausted the little reserve of -strength, and with a sigh his eyes closed, and his hand slipped utterly -nerveless and flaccid from mine. - -I thought he was gone; but he was not, and when I held a glass to his -lips there was a faint dulling with his breath. Taking his hand again -in mine, I waited for the end. - -He lingered perhaps an hour longer till the twilight began to gloom -the little chamber, and I was hoping that he would pass away in this -peaceful slumber of unconsciousness, when I heard his breath strengthen -suddenly. He opened his eyes; the fingers on the flower at his heart -tightened into almost a firm clasp; a quiver shook his body, and -raising his head slightly from the pillow, he cried in a voice strong -enough to surprise and for an instant give me hope: - -“Christina, Chris----” The word was not finished before the spasm of -strength was spent, and he fell back again with a deep sigh. - -He was dead; and I thank God that in the last struggle of his strong -brave soul to escape he had been comforted by the love which had -controlled and impulsed every act and motive of his life, and which -he had carried locked away from the knowledge of all the world in the -deepest recess of his loyal, noble heart. - -If I had treasured him as a friend in his life, I loved him in his -self-denying death; and when I had satisfied myself that he had really -passed, I flung myself on my knees by his bier and wept like a woman. - -The room was dark when I rose from my uncontrollable passion of grief, -and I pressed my lips to his cold forehead before I drew the sheet over -the dead face and left the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -THE END - - -It was with a heavy heart that I mounted my horse and, accompanied by a -guide whom the priest found for me, set out that night for the railway -station to take the train to Nish. Even the thought that the morrow -would see me with Christina could not at first relieve the gloom of my -sorrow or take from my eyes the picture of the cold still form of my -dead friend, lying in the sombre bare room in the priest’s house. I had -left him full instructions for sending on the body to Nish, and had -given him a sum of money which made him glad with the thought of all -the charities he could dispense among the poor of the village. - -But youth is youth and love is love, and as the miles passed which -brought me nearer to Christina the drear mournfulness of my grief for -the dead began to lose its blackness beneath the glamour of my love -for the living. It was a sad tale I had to carry her after all, and -though in obedience to my comrade’s dying wish I could tell her nothing -of his love for her, I knew how she would mourn his loss. But love is -selfish; and when at length I reached Nish my heart was beating fast -with the throbbing of the delicious, delirious knowledge that we were -close together again, with no obstacle to bar the mutual avowal of our -passion, and no need to dread another parting. - -It was far too late when I arrived for me to seek her that night, and -I myself was so spent with my experiences of the last thirty hours that -I was glad to throw myself on a bed. Excited though I was, I slept -soundly for some hours, and did not awake until the sun had long been -streaming into my room. - -I hurried, of course, to the British Consul for tidings of Christina. -He told me she was staying in his house, and, at my request, sent at -once to tell her I had arrived. - -“There is great news this morning, Mr. Winthrop,” he said; “news that -will interest you as much as it has me. The Russian plot has failed. -Thanks largely to my colleague, the English Consul at Philippopoli, -General Mountkoroff has declared for the Prince, and he is even at this -minute marching on Sofia with the flower of the Bulgarian army against -the traitors who sold themselves to this Kolfort and Russia.” - -“Will the Prince return then?” - -“Assuredly he will. The Powers will stand behind Mountkoroff, and -Russia will not venture to resist.” - -“Then my friend Lieutenant Spernow will be safe,” I said, describing -briefly the plight in which I had left him. - -“You need not have a moment’s uneasiness. Russian influence for -the moment will decline to zero, and the Prince’s friends will be -paramount.” - -“Will you telegraph at once for news of him?” - -“Willingly;” and he went at once to give his instructions. The result -was all I could have wished, and later in the day telegrams arrived -from Spernow himself, saying that both he and Mademoiselle Broumoff -were safe. - -“The Princess Christina is ready to receive you,” he said when he came -back. “Will you come with me?” - -I followed him with heart beating high, and, as if he understood how -matters were, he opened the door of a room and stood back for me to -enter alone. - -She had been eagerly watching for my coming, but, thinking that -perhaps the Consul would be with me, she had put a strong restraint -upon herself, and stood waiting in an attitude of reserve. But the -colour mantling her cheeks, and the bright glow in her eyes, told me -her feelings, and as soon as she saw me enter by myself she ran to -meet me, and with a glad cry threw herself into my arms with the utter -self-abandonment of love. - -It was no moment for speech, and many minutes passed with nothing more -than an exclamation or two of delight or a few softly breathed words -of passion. All thoughts of the dangers passed, the anxieties still -present, even of my poor dead friend, were lost, and merged in the -ecstasy of holding in my arms the woman I loved beyond all else on -earth, looking into her eyes glowing with love for me, hearing my name -whispered in her moving voice, and feeling her lips pressed to mine. -It was a moment of love rapture, and so untellable in any language but -that which love itself speaks. - -When at length we drew apart, the first wild rush of excitement past, -and sat hand-locked to talk, I saw how anxiety and suspense had paled -her, and how deeply she had suffered. - -She listened intently to the story of my experiences since we had -parted; and the ebbing and flowing colour, the passing light and -shadow in her eyes, and the quick catches in her breath told of varied -feelings which the recital roused. When I came to the sad story of -poor gallant Zoiloff’s wound and death, she was moved to tears of deep -and tender regret. But we were lovers and but just reunited, and the -interchange of sympathies and mutual comfort in this our first sorrow -in common served to awake a fresh chord in the rhythmic harmony of our -love. - -For her friend, Mademoiselle Broumoff, she was still full of tender -concern, and it was a cause of rare happiness that, while we were still -together--for the interview lasted some hours--the news came over the -wires telling us that she and Spernow were safe, and coming post haste -to join us at Nish. - -There was but one shadow, besides Zoiloff’s death, that hovered in the -background. The question whether she would feel it her duty to return -to Sofia. I asked her with some dread. - -“I have been thinking of it while we talked, and since you told me -of the turn which matters have taken,” she said, her voice low and -anxious, as if she were undecided. - -I remembered my despatch to the Foreign Office urging that support -should be given to her. But it was not in my power to wish that she -should go; for I knew that it might still mean the breaking asunder of -our paths in life. - -“What do you think, Gerald?” - -“I cannot think on such a subject, I can only fear,” I replied in a -tone as low and tense as her own. “I might lose you then.” - -“Shall the woman or the Princess answer it?” she asked, her face all -womanly with the light of love. - -“The lover, Christina,” I whispered. - -“Then it is answered: my place is here,” she said softly. “The woman -is stronger than the Princess where you are concerned, Gerald; or -should I say weaker?” she added, smiling up to me. - -“We will leave it soon for the wife to decide the term,” said I, and -the answer brought a vivid blush to her face. But it pleased her, for -she sighed happily as she let her head sink contentedly on my shoulder. - - * * * * * - -It is six years since the stirring events happened of which I have just -written, sitting at my study table in my lovely English home. As I lay -the pen down and close my eyes in reverie two memory pictures come -before me. The one black-edged with the gloom of sorrow and death, the -other radiant with the glowing promise of since realised happiness. - -In that far away Servian town the bearers have just set down a coffin -by the side of a freshly-dug grave. The priest is reading the funeral -service; the white-robed choristers cluster near him; Spernow and I -stand side by side at the foot of the grave listening to the words -as they fall in rhythmic chant from the priest’s lips, and thinking -of the gallant comrade whose bones are being lowered to their last -resting-place, and I of the strange secret of his hopeless, noble, -self-denying love that is being buried with him. The final moment -comes. The sturdy bearers lift the coffin and lower it, and pull up -the ropes with a rasp that sounds like the severing of all hope; the -earth is cast down by the priest and falls clattering on the lid, and -the service goes on to its melancholy finish. The priest pronounces the -last words of prayer and blessing; stands a moment with covered face -in silent prayer, and then turns away, followed by the little choir. -Spernow and I move forward to take the last look at the coffin--a -long, lingering, memory-fraught look--and when we in our turn move -sadly away and our eyes meet, I see that my companion’s are wet with -tears. Poor, brave, noble Zoiloff, lying in that far away lonely grave! - -In the other picture Spernow and I are again among the chief figures, -but not alone now. Nathalie is by his side, Christina by mine. Again -there is the same priest and the same choir, but we stand in the lofty -chancel of a stately church, and the words are not of death but of -marriage. Around us a small group is gathered, well-wishers, relatives, -and friends, with faces bright with gladness and tongues eager to burst -out with noisy congratulations and fervent wishes for our happiness. -And when the blessing has been given, and we lead our brides down the -aisle, the mighty building resounds with the pealing notes of the -organ, and we leave the church through groups of curiously garbed men -and women. - -And at that point my reverie is broken by sounds of children’s prattle. -I look out on to the sunlit lawn to where Christina is kneeling and -listening with a smile to the cheery chatter of our two children. All -is warmth, peace, love, and rest in my English life now; and, as I -glance at my dear ones, I thank Heaven with fervent gratitude that they -are not destined to aspire to the dangerous splendour and evanescent -glory of a minor Throne. I get up quietly, and stepping through the -window into the sunlight, am hailed with a cry and rush of delight from -my little darlings and a welcome of love light from the eyes of my -beautiful wife. - - -THE END. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or alternate spelling has been retained from the original. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE NAME OF A WOMAN *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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