The czar rose unsteadily to his feet and came towards me with his right
hand extended.
"Derrington," he said, slowly, "I have been unjust. If I had other
friends like you, who dared to tell me the truth as it is, and not
distort it out of all recognition--if there were others here who dared
to defy me when defiance alone will make me see things in their right
light, Russia would be the better for it. Go to Zara d'Echeveria. Tell
her that I wish her to come here. Tell her that the Czar of Russia will
ask her forgiveness for an act that he could not avoid committing. She
will understand. You shall be married in the palace, and you will both
remain in Russia."
Then he put his arms around me in Russian fashion and bade me go.