“Then you think that I was taken as hostage?”
The Russian nodded.
“This is mere supposition on my part,” he said.
“The right one, I feel sure, and my liberty was to be at the price of that of these ruffians.”
“That is why, no doubt, your Imperial Highness, that the eyes and hands of the Russian police remained tied——” Then he added between his teeth, “For the present.”
“And Lavrovski?”
The old Russian shrugged his shoulders.
“I will not have a hair of old Lavrovski’s head touched,” said the Tsarevitch impetuously; “he did enough to prevent my running after this mad adventure. He could do no more.”
“He should have communicated with us at once,” said the chief of the police resentfully; “we might have caught the villains.”
“And probably found me a dead man; no, no, my good Krapotkine, he acted for the best; he believed I had gone on a young man’s escapade, and wished to save my reputation. Lavrovski is not to blame.”