I again heartily congratulated the Princess.
“Ah! another thing, Konsov,” she said, stopping me. “Tell me truly, in all conscience, as before God, is it this same Orloff who helped your empress to obtain the throne?”
“The very same.”
“How brave! how gallant! what a hero!” said the Princess, with animation. “Fearless Cid! Bayard! A spark of God’s Spirit gives such men their bravery and their fearlessness.”
I went away full of joy at the successful issue of our plan. Still I had certain misgivings. “Does the Princess know of his other feat? Why did I not tell her of that other dark, unpardonable sin?” I was only faithful to my duty, obeyed the orders of my superior, but could not help pitying the woman.
Heavy doubts overwhelmed me, and all night I could not shut my eyes. “Duty is duty, but, if—? Should I go to-morrow morning,” whispered my conscience, “and warn her? There’s time; let her think well, weigh everything, and then decide.”
When dawn broke, I got up, dressed, and hastened to the house of the count. Before the house quite a crowd of people had collected. Carriages were driving to and fro. I made my way through the throng. The count and Princess had already taken their seats in a carriage. Christianok was seated in another. Some of the servants occupied a third.
“Make haste, Konsov! Take your place. We were only waiting for you!” Unconsciously almost I took my place by Christianok.
The train started. After the heavy rain, the morning had emerged into a beautiful calm.
“What do you see in all this?” Christianok asked me, when we had fairly started.