“I am not afraid,” he said quietly.
“No,” returned the Czar. “To your credit, I am glad to say that for you. You have been my friend, and in spite of the manner in which you have betrayed me, I am glad to know that you are not a coward. I hope you shall bear up bravely under the ordeal.”
“You need have no fear,” said the count with a bow.
“Good,” said the Czar.
He signaled the officer of the guard in charge of the prisoner. “Take him away!” he exclaimed. “Guard him carefully and at daybreak to-morrow—I should say this morning—take a squad, of soldiers, stand the count against the wall and shoot him. It is time he was put out of the way.”
Then Count Blowinski did a sudden and audacious thing. At the Czar’s last words, and before any man present could raise a hand to stop him, the count leaped forward; and as he did so his hand dropped to his belt.
“And it is time you were put out of the way, too!” he cried.
CHAPTER XXIX.
DEATH OF THE TRAITOR—OLD ENGLAND AGAIN.
Czar Nicholas shrank back.
In the hand of Count Blowinski, which flashed aloft above his head, a knife gleamed in the light. A cry of horror went up from those in that part of the room who were so far back as to preclude a possibility of their being able to interfere in time to save the Emperor.