“How came you to be there as the Emperor?” he asked after a pause.
“For reasons that don’t in the least concern you or your comrades; so you needn’t ask for them.”
Another pause followed.
“I happen to have a good deal of influence with very high authorities. It would be a mistake to drive me to use it.”
Angered by this, he thrust his hand to the pocket where I had seen him stow his revolver.
“You’d better not,” I said coolly. “The same authorities who will help me living would avenge me dead. You are all known. Besides, there are the three men at Brabinsk; and Ivan will keep his word.”
He growled out something, an oath, I think, but he drew his hand back and rode on, presently asking abruptly—
“What is it you want?”
“A truce to the whole thing—for all concerned on both sides. Let it end right here. The thing, as you said, has been a terrible mistake. Let it stop at that.”
“That is not in my power to say.” He appeared to speak with some regret, and after thinking a while added: “No, it is impossible. If M. Vastic had not been shot, it might have been.”