"Why, sir, did you take Princess Zara d'Echeveria to the house of
Prince Michael?" continued the czar.
"Because I believed him to be an honorable man who would stand ready to
protect her good name, and who would conceal from all the world, even
from your majesty, the fact that she was there. Because he had told me
that he loved her, and I was innocent enough to believe that his love
was unselfish; and further, because I regarded him as my friend. There
are three reasons, your majesty, any one of which seems to me to be
sufficient."
"But why was it necessary to take her anywhere?"
"That, your majesty, is a question which I must answer to you alone."
"Do you mean that you will not tell the prince?"
"I mean that it was my intention to tell the prince as soon as I
arrived at the palace, but that now I deem it unnecessary. He has
taught me a lesson in hospitality that is as new as it is unique."
"Perhaps she will explain the strange affair herself."
"I have no doubt that she will, your majesty."
"I have sent for her. She will remain here in the palace as long as
danger threatens her. She should be here by now."
"May I inquire of your majesty whom you sent?"
"The captain of the palace guard."
"Captain Durnief?"
"Yes."
I looked at my watch, replaced it in my pocket, and then said calmly: "Captain Durnief will not return with the princess, your majesty."
Then I saw the heavy frown of rising anger. I knew my man, for kings
and emperors are less than men of the world when it comes to studying
them. Their own opportunities for observing others are so much more
limited. The czar angry, was a much easier man to influence than the
czar satirical.
"What do you mean?" he demanded. "Why will Durnief fail to carry out my
personal orders? Dare the princess refuse to accompany him?"
"She most certainly would not have the bad taste to refuse, and if she
did so, the captain would doubtless bring her by force; but Captain
Durnief has the misfortune to be, by now, a prisoner."
"Durnief a prisoner! The captain of my personal staff arrested! By your
order, sir?"
"By my order, your majesty."
"You have dared to do this?"
"I would dare to arrest the prince, or your own son, if I found either
of them inimical to your majesty's interests, and I beg you, sir, to
understand that I gave the order before I knew that your majesty had
sent him on the errand so treacherously suggested by Prince Michael." I
was angry at the prince for involving my affairs so meanly. I could not
withhold the thrust.