There were honest lines in it which he knew could not belie the owner’s nature.
So Nicolas Nafetodi was led to the airship and Pomp procured food for him.
He ate ravenously, and then being much refreshed told his story. It was indeed a pitiful one.
“My father,” he said, “was a well-to-do merchant in St. Petersburg. I was favored with plenty of money from an inheritance and formed the acquaintance of many wealthy youths of my own age.
“I will not make the story long, but suffice it to say that I had trouble with one who belong to the nobility.
“We loved Olga Nanarovitch, the daughter of Prince Nanarovitch. She favored my suit and from that hour Count Pietro Valdstedt was my sworn foe.
“In an unwary moment I was decoyed into the house of a Nihilist. Before I could take my departure the police descended upon the place and I was taken with the rest.
“I was thrown into prison. Valdstedt hired villains to swear to forged evidence against me. My trial was in secret, and I was not allowed the assistance of friends.
“I was banished for conspiracy against the Czar. It was the vilest wrong ever done any living man.
“But I had no redress. For eight long years I have been a slave at convict labor, with chains to bind me, and almost starvation as my reward.