Irena named the convent, and then became thoughtful, looking at the cushion worked by the grand-duchess.
“I’ve suffered so much, I’ve waited so long,” she murmured, stifling her tears. “Do not write anything—not one word—but, see, send me, should there be success, a rose; if failure, a myrtle leaf.”
Nelidova kissed Irena.
“I will do everything I can,” she said gently. “I will appeal to the grand-duchess, to the Tzarevitch. There remains nothing more for you to do here. Better leave, my dear one; as soon as I learn anything, I will let you know.”
CHAPTER XXXIII.
PAVEL PETROVITCH AND THE ENCHANTER.
There was still no news. It was the beginning of the year 1781. With the retirement of Prince Gregory Orloff, and the fallen fortunes of the tutor of the Tzarevitch, Pânin, the new counsellors of the Empress Ekaterina, having in view the lessening of the influence of her son, Pavel Petrovitch, advised her to send the Tzarevitch and his wife on a long foreign journey, ostensibly to make the acquaintance of foreign courts.
Irena learnt this with a beating heart from Vâra’s letter. Their Imperial Highnesses left the environs of Petersburg on the 19th of September, 1781. Under the name of Count and Countess “du Nord,” they passed the Russian frontier of Poland, at the little town of Oukraine, Vasilkoff, in the middle of October.
A young person, dressed in the dark vestments of a nun, who arrived the day before by the Kieff track,[54] was waiting here to meet Nelidova. She was taken into the apartment of Ekaterina Ivanovna. Into this room there entered also, from the garden, the Count and Countess du Nord, as if by accident, whilst the horses were being changed. They remained several minutes, and when they came out, the count was fearfully pale, and the countess in tears.