"They dare not harm you," said Ostrova, "and you will command more interest, more sympathy, more power as a prisoner in the Citadel than as a hanger-on at the Czar's court."
This argument seemed to decide the duke, for he immediately crossed to the Czernovese side.
"Since you make a voluntary surrender of yourself," said the princess, "declare it aloud that the Russian sentry may hear you."
"Of my own free will I enter the Czernovese territory," said Bora, addressing the Cossack.
"Your sword," said Zabern.
Though not as yet deposed from his command of the army, Bora did not doubt that this would follow, and that Zabern would be his successor. Very bitter, indeed, then, was his smile as he handed the sabre over to the marshal.
"I am curious to learn, fair cousin," he sneered, "the punishment you reserve for my opponent, equally guilty with myself of breaking the law."
"There is your escort to Slavowitz," said Barbara haughtily, pointing to the posse of uhlans.
And Bora, with a dark glance at Paul, walked in the direction indicated.
"For my part," observed Baron Ostrova airily, "I prefer liberty. I shake the dust of Czernova from my feet."