I took Zara back to the house of the prince, where I was well known to
every servant of the establishment, for I had been a constant and an
honored guest, there. From it I despatched messengers to O'Malley, and
to Coyle, and presently sent Durnief away to prison, in charge of the
former, while the latter brought a conveyance which took Zara and me to
the home of my princess. It was a much quicker return than I had
anticipated, at the time we departed from that house together, but the
condition in which we found it, told only too plainly what might have
been my sweetheart's fate, had I trusted to appearances, and left her
there. The nihilists had lost no time in searching for her, when they
were made to believe that she had betrayed them. The place was almost a
wreck. It had been searched, and the searchers had not hesitated to
become despoilers, also. Nevertheless it was a happy homecoming for
Zara, for looking upon the devastation that had been wrought in her
absence, she turned to me with a smile, and said: "I have lost much, this past night, Dubravnik, in shattered idols and
broken toys, but I have gained the whole world, too, for I have found
you."
When I had seen Zara safely inside her own door, and had given her
every assurance of her entire safety, I had myself driven to the
palace.
Although I had promised to see the emperor as soon as I arrived, I felt
that it was my first duty to interview Prince Michael, in the hope that
the events of the preceding day might be reviewed in a better spirit.
Accordingly, I proceeded at once to his apartments, after the captain
of the guard had assured me that his majesty was still sleeping, not
having retired until nearly daylight. When I rapped upon the door of
the room occupied by the prince, as a sleeping apartment, there was no
response, and I repeated the summons, more loudly than before. Still I
waited in vain, and at last, feeling some misgivings, and being assured
by the guard in the corridor that the prince had not left the room
since he had gone to it the preceding evening, I turned the handle and
entered.
I found him there. He was seated in a chair near one of the great
windows through which the lately risen sun was shining full upon him;
and the moment my eyes discovered him I started with horror, for I saw
that he was dead. Instantly I stepped back through the door, and told
the guard to call his captain, pointing out the lifeless form of the
prince, and ordering him to tell nobody but his superior officer of the
fact. Then I reëntered the room and approached the body of my former
friend. There was a pistol beside him on the floor where it had fallen
from his nerveless grasp after the fatal deed was performed, but he
reclined as easily in the chair as though he had dropped asleep
naturally, for a short nap instead of forever.