Piotr accompanied Mr. Neville. He had no idea that the English lord was his King.
My old tutor told me, when he came to announce his arrival, that Piotr had been in the middle of some farm work, but upon catching sight of the broken coin had run to his house, seized his revolver and a few necessaries, and fairly tired his companion with the haste of his movements. Mr. Neville had not explained anything, but had given him the token, and told him that I was in need of him.
He chuckled as he told me that Piotr was all impatience to kill some one for my sake.
Asking Mr. Neville to fetch him, I also sent word for Colonel von Quarovitch to be admitted in half an hour's time. Then I slipped behind a curtain and waited.
I saw Piotr enter the room with a puzzled expression on his face, which grew more intense when he discovered it to be apparently empty. He toyed with his revolver and the hilt of his dagger, stood first on one leg, then on the other, and looked generally uncomfortable. So, to end it, I stepped out into view.
"Well, Piotr, you see I have not forgotten your promise to help me out of a difficulty." I held out my hand.
"I am grateful to your Excellency for remembering, and am truly pleased to see you again."
"You are astonished, perhaps, to see me here?"
"I am, Excellency, but His Majesty was brought up in your country, they say."
"So you think I have been favoured on that account, perhaps."