“It is not a man, Colonel, it is a woman.”
“In that case the adventure promises to be interesting. I do not know any of the women on board except the Princess Y——.”
“You know her!” I allowed a note of surprise to appear in my voice.
“The Princess is related to me,” the Czar’s messenger declared, with a rebuking frown. “I presume she is not the object of your suspicions?”
“And if she were?”
“If she were, I should tell you that you had made a very absurd mistake, my good fellow. The Princess is in the confidence of the Dowager Empress; she is perfectly aware of the object of my mission, and she has just promised me that if I carry it out successfully she will become my wife.”