The ministers interchanged significant glances.
“I repeat it, Sire, that you and all here present owe your lives to my forbearance.”
“Explain.”
Baranoff drew forth the document containing the signatures of the conspirators, and laid it upon the table before the Czar.
“This paper came into my hands yesterday at three in the afternoon.”
As a matter of fact he had not seen it till eight hours afterwards, but he wanted to make the best of his case.
“Had I shown this to the Czar Paul, what would have been the result?”
“Why did you suppress it if you were so faithful to him?” asked Alexander, toying with the paper.
“Consider, Sire!” returned Baranoff with an air of lofty disinterestedness. “Had I so acted, your life as well as the lives of the other signatories, would have been forfeited. I shrank from filling the city with the noblest blood of the State. And yet, to throw in my lot with your party would have been ingratitude to my Imperial master. Hence I took the only course consistent with honour. I remained neutral.”
“Among the Athenians,” remarked Pahlen, “he who remained neutral received punishment.”