He sprang up frantically. “We must do something—at once!”
“Yes—but what?” said Sabatoff.
What indeed? What could their scattered forces do against those mighty walls, in the bare dozen hours that remained? The two men gazed at each other in silence.
After a moment Drexel gave a start. “There is only one chance!” he breathed quickly.
“And that?”
“I am certain General Valenko does not know whom he condemned. If he is told, he may do something.”
“And then again he may not. You know what a stern old Roman he is.”
“But he loves his daughter!”
“And even if he wants to save them he may be able to do little,” continued Sabatoff. “In the eyes of the Government Sonya and Borodin are flagrantly guilty. The Government may be inclined to treat them with especial harshness as examples to warn the rest of the nobility from the same course.”
“But he may be able to postpone the execution,” Drexel cried desperately. “Or have it changed to exile to Siberia for life. This is better, at least, than death in a few hours. It is worth trying!”