“No weakness, or I slay you.”
The figure spoke.
“By whose authority do you come here thus?”
“By the authority of the Czar Alexander.”
Paul’s eye flashed.
“Alexander is not Czar.”
“He will be when—you have signed this,” said Benningsen, holding forth a paper. “’Tis your act of abdication.”
“I will never abdicate!”
“Sign!” said Benningsen, menacing the Czar with his sabre.
Paul defied them. As often as they repeated their demand so often did he refuse. At last he seemed to yield.