More and more abashed, the Captain summoned one of his officers, and gave him some instructions.
“Follow me, sir,” said the lieutenant. I walked after him with perfect self-possession.
“I do not wish to make a fuss to-night, as Captain Vassileffsky is not himself,” I said haughtily, as we drew out of hearing. “But you will understand that unless I receive an apology in the morning, I shall complain to his majesty the Czar, by whose orders I am here.”
The lieutenant looked badly frightened.
“It is not my fault, as you can see, sir. I am only obeying orders. Will you accept my own berth for the night, sir?”
I thanked him and entered a small, comfortably-fitted state-room. With profuse apologies, he turned the key and left me to my own reflections.
I slept soundly, rocked by the tide of the Finland Gulf.
In the morning my jailer came to wake me.
“Captain Vassileffsky presents his compliments, and asks you to breakfast with him in his cabin, in half an hour.”