Such a price as this had never been in contemplation. He knew this as well as I. And at that point my memory played me a curious trick. My thoughts flashed back to the moment of cold despair when death lay gaping just below me on that mountain slide; to the dazzling change to hope at the sound of Ladislas’ cheery call of encouragement. I saw him again working his way toward me, death the certain penalty of a single unskilful step; and once again the warm glow of gratitude for the dauntless courage and devotion which had prompted my pledge then, came back in all its force now.
It ended the struggle. I would pay the price, let the cost be what it might.
I sighed heavily and turned to find him leaning forward watching me intently and waiting, as though he divined the struggle that was rending me.
I smiled. “I won’t pretend that it hasn’t cost me a struggle, Ladislas; but it’s over: and we can still be friends.”
“How strong you are!” he exclaimed.
“You wouldn’t think there was much strength in me if you knew the bitter things I was thinking just now of you.”
“You love her, then?”
“I can’t help that—but I can trust myself for the rest. Would to Heaven I had known before this had happened at Bratinsk! So little did I suspect, I came to-day to ask you the meaning of her betrothal to Colonel Bremenhof.”
“It is an awful mess!” he exclaimed, and began pacing the room again. “Count Peter arranged that. It was a blind to keep the Drakonas from being suspected. Volna consented for her mother’s sake; but she was candid, telling the man she did not care for him. She is as true as a crystal. Her sister and brother—do you know them? No?—they fed him with lies and blinded him; all at the Count’s instigation.”
“Well?”