"Speak! On what business did you leave Orenburg?"
A strange idea occurred to me. It seemed to me that Providence, in
bringing me a second time before Pugatchef, opened to me a way of
executing my project. I resolved to seize the opportunity, and, without
considering any longer what course I should pursue, I replied to
Pugatchef-"I was going to Fort Belogorsk, to deliver there an orphan who is being
oppressed."
Pugatchef's eyes flashed.
"Who among my people would dare to harm an orphan?" cried he. "Were he
ever so brazen-faced, he should never escape my vengeance! Speak, who
is the guilty one?"
"Chvabrine," replied I; "he keeps in durance the same young girl whom
you saw with the priest's wife, and he wants to force her to become his
wife."
"I'll give him a lesson, Master Chvabrine!" cried Pugatchef, with a
fierce air. "He shall learn what it is to do as he pleases under me, and
to oppress my people. I'll hang him."
"Bid me speak a word," broke in Khlopusha, in a hoarse voice. "You were
too hasty in giving Chvabrine command of the fort, and now you are too
hasty in hanging him. You have already offended the Cossacks by giving
them a gentleman as leader--do not, therefore, now affront the gentlemen
by executing them on the first accusation."
"They need neither be overwhelmed with favours nor be pitied," the
little old man with the blue ribbon now said, in his turn. "There would
be no harm in hanging Chvabrine, neither would there be any harm in
cross-examining this officer. Why has he deigned to pay us a visit? If
he do not recognize you as Tzar, he needs not to ask justice of you; if,
on the other hand, he do recognize you, wherefore, then, has he stayed
in Orenburg until now, in the midst of your enemies. Will you order that
he be tried by fire?[64] It would appear that his lordship is sent to us
by the Generals in Orenburg."
The logic of the old rascal appeared plausible even to me. An
involuntary shudder thrilled through me as I remembered in whose hands I
was.
Pugatchef saw my disquiet.
"Eh, eh! your lordship," said he, winking, "it appears to me my
field-marshal is right. What do you think of it?"
The banter of Pugatchef in some measure restored me to myself.
I quietly replied that I was in his power, and that he could do with me
as he listed.
"Very well," said Pugatchef; "now tell me in what state is your town?"
"Thank God," replied I, "all is in good order."
"In good order!" repeated Pugatchef, "and the people are dying of hunger
there."
The usurper spoke truth; but, according to the duty imposed on me by my
oath, I assured him it was a false report, and that Orenburg was amply
victualled.