But he was arrested and taken before the tribunal, where in the most defiant manner, he demanded to know why a person of his distinguished title and record as a servant of the czar was now a prisoner.
"Prince Mastowix," said the president of the tribunal, "it ill becomes a traitor to the State to exhibit such arrogance."
"Who dare say I am a traitor–who dare say it lies in his throat!" hissed Mastowix, although he felt in his heart that something dreadful was impending.
"Silence! Here is a document addressed to you from New York, by Paul Zobriskie, in which he addresses you in unmistakable terms of fraternity, and refers to other correspondence, together with certain other information which he had received, and which could never have reached him save through you. What have you to say?"
It required all the nerve the traitor had to prevent him from falling to the floor. The members of the tribunal watched him narrowly, and saw that he grew very pale.
But finally he found strength to speak.
"It is false both in matter and spirit," he said; but the next uppermost question in his thoughts was–what spy could have obtained possession of the document?
"And you plead?"
"Not guilty!" he replied, aggressively.
"Call Tobasco," said the president, and a guard soon produced the police spy, and he was sworn.