“Hardly. She was with another man, and—one can scarcely refrain from smiling—the pair were in the act of kissing each other as the Czar came upon them.”
“How did you learn this?”
“It was witnessed by Panine.”
“By Panine!” repeated Wilfrid.
“He was meditatively walking amid a grove of trees when he happened to see the lady bestow a kiss upon a gentleman, no unusual occurrence at a masquerade, but this affair began to assume a serious aspect when there stepped forth into the moonlight a figure whom Panine recognised to be that of the Emperor. At sight of him the lady instantly fled as if in fear, leaving the Emperor and the man together.
“An animated conversation followed, inaudible to Panine, who, out of respect, kept his distance, nor did he venture forward till the man had left the Czar’s presence.
“‘Count,’ began Alexander—I repeat Panine’s words to me as nearly as I can remember them—‘Count, you know that in the abstract I am opposed to duelling; but occasionally it may happen that a gentleman has no other way of defending his honour. Now there is a certain man who wishes to fight a duel to-morrow. As his cause is just, will you do him the favour of acting as his second?’
“Panine, naturally concluding that the Czar’s recent interlocutor was the man referred to, made reply:—
“‘Your Majesty’s command is my pleasure.’