Part 6 (1/2)
”Well,” I said, with some show of reluctance, ”if I succeed, you will be responsible to me, remember. No flirtations.”
”I promise,” she said. ”Here's my hand,” and she put her tiny white-gloved hand into mine.
”And if I heard of any affectionate meetings I should put down my foot at once.”
”Yes, that's agreed,” she exclaimed, with enthusiasm. ”At once.”
”And I should, perhaps, want you to help me in England,” I added slowly, looking into her pretty face the while.
”Help you, in what way?” she asked.
”At present, I hardly know. But if I wanted a.s.sistance might I count on you?”
”Count on me, Uncle Colin!” she echoed. ”Why, of course, you can! Look at my indebtedness to you, and it will be increased if you can secure me permission to go back to England.”
”Well,” I said, ”I'll do what I can. But you have told me no untruths to-night, not one--?” I asked very seriously. ”If so, admit it.”
”Not one. I swear I haven't.”
”Very well,” I said. ”Then I'll do my best.”
”Ah! you are a real dear!” cried the girl enthusiastically. ”I almost feel as though I could hug and kiss you!”
”Better not,” I laughed. ”There are some people sitting over there, and they would talk--”
”Yes,” she said slowly. ”I suppose really one ought to be a bit careful, after all. When will you see the Emperor?”
”Perhaps to-morrow--if he gives me audience.” Then I related to her the story of the attempt in the Nevski on the previous morning, and the intention of a.s.sa.s.sinating the Emperor as he drove from the Nicholas station to the Palace.
”Ah, yes!” she cried. ”It is all too dreadful. For seven weeks we have lived in constant terror of explosions. I could not go through it again for all the world. Those days in that stuffy armoured train were simply awful. His Majesty only undertook the journey in order to defy those who declared that some terrible catastrophe would happen. The Empress knew nothing of the danger until we had started.”
”And yet the only danger lay within half a mile of the Palace on your return,” I said. ”There have, I hear, been thirty-three arrested to-day, including my friends Madame de Rosen and Luba. You knew them.”
”Marya de Rosen!” gasped the Grand d.u.c.h.ess, staring at me. ”She is not under arrest?”
”Alas! she is already on her way, with her daughter, to Eastern Siberia.”
”But that is impossible. She was no revolutionist. I knew them both very intimately.”
”General Markoff was her enemy,” I said in a whisper. ”Ah, yes! I hate that man!” cried Her Highness. ”He is a clever liar who has wormed himself completely into the Emperor's confidence, and now, in order to sustain a reputation as a discoverer of plots, he is compelled to first manufacture them. Hundreds of innocent men and women have been exiled by administrative order during the past twelve months for complicity in conspiracies which have never had any existence save in the wicked imagination of that brutal official. I know it--_I can prove it_!”
”Hus.h.!.+” I said. ”You may be overheard. You surely do not wish the man to become your enemy. Remember, he is all-powerful here--in Russia.”
”I will speak the truth when the time comes,” she said vehemently. ”I will show the Emperor certain papers which have come into my own hands which will prove how His Majesty has been misled, tricked and terrorised by this Markoff, and certain of his bosom friends in the Cabinet.”
”It is really most unwise to speak so loudly,” I declared. ”Somebody may overhear.”
”Let them overhear!” cried the girl angrily. ”I do not fear Markoff in the least. I will, before long, open the Emperor's eyes, never fear-- and justice shall be done. These poor wretches shall not be sent to the dungeons beneath the lake at Schusselburg, or to the frozen wastes of Yakutsk, in order that Markoff shall remain in power. Ah! he little dreams how much I know!” she laughed harshly.
”It would hardly be wise of you to take any such action. You might fail--and--then--”
”I cannot fail to establish at least the innocence of Madame de Rosen and of Luba. The reason why they have been sent to Siberia is simple.