Part 3 (1/2)
”But they were conspirators.”
”With all respect to Your Majesty, I beg to express an entirely different opinion. Markoff has long been Madame de Rosen's enemy.”
His Majesty made a quick imperious gesture of impatience and said:
”Please do not let us discuss the matter further--at least, until you are in a position to prove your allegation.”
”I will,” I cried. ”I know that your Majesty will never allow such injustice to be done to two innocent, delicate ladies.”
”If injustice has really been done, then those responsible shall suffer.
Discover the truth, and report to me later,” he said.
”I will do my very utmost,” was my reply.
”And at the same time, Trewinnard, I trust you will endeavour to carry out the confidential mission which I have entrusted to you,” he said.
”Recollect that I treat you, not as a foreign diplomat, but as a loyal and true personal friend of myself and my house. Ah!” he sighed again; ”Heaven knows, I have but few trustworthy ones about me.”
”I am profoundly honoured by Your Majesty's confidence,” I a.s.sured him, bowing low. ”I certainly shall respect it, and act exactly as you desire.”
”The Court dislikes confidence being placed in any foreigner, even though he be an Englishman,” the Emperor said in a changed voice; ”therefore, remain discreet always, and disclaim that I have ever treated you other than with the formal courtesy which is expected by all diplomats.”
”I quite understand,” I said.
”You will see Natalia at the Court ball to-night, and you can speak to her diplomatically, if opportunity occurs. But recollect that she must know nothing of what I have said. I believe you know Hartwig, chief of the criminal detective force.”
”Quite well,” was my reply.
”Then I will give him orders. Use him as you wish, but tell him nothing.”
”I shall remain silent.”
”And you are ent.i.tled to leave of absence--eh? You can return to England without arousing suspicion?”
”Yes. I have eight weeks due to me.”
”Excellent. I can do nothing more--except to thank you, Trewinnard, to thank you most sincerely for a.s.sisting me, and to await word from you.
Sign it with `Bathildis,' and I shall know.” And the great burly, bearded man held out his big, strong hand--the iron hand--as sign that my audience was at an end.
I bowed low over it, and next moment the heavy white door of enamelled steel swung open and I backed out of the Imperial presence, the bearer of a secret as strange and grim as it has ever been the lot of any man to lock within his breast.
What the Emperor had revealed to me was undreamed of by that gay, reckless and intriguing circle which comprised the Russian Court-- undreamed of by the chancelleries of Europe.
The merest whisper of it would, I knew, stagger the world. And yet he had, in sheer desperation, confided in me a most amazing truth. As I descended that broad, handsome flight of thickly-carpeted marble steps, where flunkeys in brilliant grey and purple livery bowed at every turn, and equerries and officials in smart uniforms came and went, my brain was awhirl at the magnitude of the affair, and the terrible scandal which must result if ever the secret were betrayed--the secret of a throne.
A thought flashed across my mind--the knowledge of my own personal peril. I had enemies--bitter enemies. My heart sank within me as I stepped into the great gilded hall, for I had given a promise which I much feared I would never be permitted to live and fulfil.
CHAPTER THREE.
CONTAINS CERTAIN CONFIDENCES.