"First, my honour; secondly, your betrothal to my sister; and thirdly, her feeling for yourself."
"And if I refuse, Siberia, I suppose?"
"No, not so far as that," he replied, lightly.
"But what if I feign to consent and carry the story to the man you threaten?"
"There is that chance of course. But in the first place he would not believe you, Lieutenant; and in the second, if he did, neither you nor he could do any harm; and in the third, you would have me for an enemy. And I am pleasanter and safer as a friend. I have discounted that risk, and it is nothing."
"How long will you give me to decide?"
"A week. We can then announce the betrothal just before the Emperor's visit here, and gain the Imperial blessing on so righteous a marriage between a brave man and a beautiful woman, each motived by the highest patriotic feelings for Russia."
With this half sneer ringing in my ears, he sent me away.