“I should scarcely refer to M. de Lambert in that language,” I replied, smiling; “but I do mean that he left Moscow in obedience to the czar’s wishes.”
The young man looked thoroughly nonplussed and badly frightened. He saw that they had been outwitted, and saw too, probably, the inevitable consequences. Knowing so well Peter’s violent nature, I remarked Shein’s open consternation with extreme amusement.
“He must come back immediately,” he exclaimed, assuming an air of tremendous importance; “he can be overtaken. By which road did he travel, monsieur? It behooves me to know, that I may obey the czar’s orders, which are absolutely imperative and permit no evasion.”
I shrugged my shoulders, aware that my unshaken composure was exasperating the boy beyond endurance.
“M. de Lambert is on the road to Versailles,” I replied, telling him half the truth, and suppressing the other half with keen enjoyment of the probable bewilderment of the pursuers. “You had best return to the czar, M. Shein,” I added calmly, “for fuller instructions. Pursuit at this late hour would be fruitless and foolish; I do not believe that his Majesty would authorize it.”
The boy bit his lip, and frowned at me with a perplexed countenance. He was not entirely convinced that I spoke the truth, and scarcely knew what course to pursue. It was evident that he scarcely dared to return to the czar with empty hands, and he fretted under my cool and smiling glance. I was amused even while I felt it cruel to torment an inexperienced youth; he stood in the middle of the room, fingering the hilt of his sword and moving uneasily.
“Take my advice, M. Shein,” I said gravely: “return to his Majesty for instructions. The loss of an hour can harm you but little, and many a wiser man has met with disaster by running too wildly upon a thankless errand. The royal mind is large, and grasps so many schemes that there is constant shifting; the wind may set in another quarter by the time that you return from a fruitless errand, and you will earn no thanks. A wise man trims his sails to the breeze; take the advice of one who has piloted through many a stormy sea at court: neither neglect your instructions nor exceed them,—either course is dangerous. You are a young man, M. Shein, be warned.”
He shot a glance at me of mingled anger and doubt, and it was manifest that he began to waver in his original determination. There was no one more uncertain in temper than Peter, and the young man saw evil results on either hand. However, after a little hesitation he evidently decided that nothing was gained by delay and turned to leave the room, but on reaching the door, paused suddenly and addressed me.
“I was also instructed, M. l’Ambassadeur,” he said, “to inquire if Najine Zotof was still under Madame de Brousson’s protection.”
I shook my head, smiling at the thought of my late interview with Madame Zotof.