He grasped it warmly, and with a ring of true stalwart friendship he said: “If they shut you up it’ll go hard with me if I don’t find you. And if they kill you you have my oath on it you sha’n’t go unavenged, if I have to shoot that infernal old ruffian with my own hand. It shall be life for life.” And without another word, as though he did not wish me to see how much he was moved, he clapped his heels into his horse’s flanks and cantered off.
I avoided my own house purposely, lest some of the General’s agents should be waiting there for me, for I wished it to be unmistakably clear that my interview with the General was by my own choice; and I did not draw rein till I had reached the courtyard of his house. Then, telling Markov to wait for me with the horses in the street, I entered the house and asked for General Kolfort.
I could see that my visit caused surprise, and observed that one or two of the soldiers present made haste to post themselves so that my retreat would be impossible. I was shown upstairs into the room where I had first seen the General, and where, as usual, one or two officers were lounging. I was kept there about half an hour—quite long enough to irritate me—and then a messenger ushered me into the General’s room.
He looked even harder and grimmer and sterner than ever as he glanced up from his desk and fixed his eyes on me.
“What is your business with me?” he asked curtly.
“That is the question I have come to put to you,” I retorted, quite as shortly.
“Why to me?”
“Because I have heard, not quite incidentally, that you have been sending to my house to inquire for me.”
“You appear to have been called away suddenly.”
“Driven away, I should say rather,” I retorted. “May I ask why you have dared to make such an attempt?”