“Come now, M. de Lambert,” I said lightly, “let me have my jest. Have I not sat opposite a disconsolate lover long enough to dull my spirit? But I will not try you longer; I did see Mademoiselle Zotof to-day and spoke with her, so I am a fortunate man.”
His face flushed, and his honest brown eyes lighted up so pleasantly that I forgave him many short-comings.
“Was madame with her?” he asked quickly.
“She was attended only by her woman,” I replied, “and had been to the cathedral. I spoke to her, and I think that she was glad to see me. I did not forget you, monsieur. I pleaded your cause—in short, she will go to the cathedral to-morrow at the same hour.”
He caught my hand and shook it warmly. There was no need for words, for I understood him, and knew too that I had gained a hold upon his heart. After a little I told him of Prince Dolgoruky and of Tikhon.
“Be warned, M. de Lambert,” I said; “there is danger ahead. You are unfortunate enough to be the object of one party’s hopes and the other’s anxiety,—in either case a dangerous position; even more so than mademoiselle’s, whose place in the czar’s favor intimidates while it excites the schemers. You, on the other hand, have no shelter but the majesty of the King of France, not so potent here in Moscow; your own wit and your own sword must be your chief reliance.”
“The danger to myself concerns me not at all,” he replied, “but for mademoiselle I am deeply disturbed. Mentchikof will leave no stone unturned to advance this Livonian woman; and while his success would insure my chances of happiness, his defeat would increase mademoiselle’s peril. Prince Dolgoruky’s conduct shows how deep the intrigue runs, and it seems to me only to add another complication.”
“The prince represents the other faction at court,” I assented, “and I do not doubt their determination to defeat Mentchikof. But you may take this comfort, monsieur: the favorite is a power with the czar, and Mademoiselle Shavronsky has beauty, wit, and ambition; therefore there is hope that the autocrat may prefer the coarser charms of Catherine to mademoiselle’s delicate beauty.”
He listened to me courteously, but I saw that he had a lover’s conviction that no woman could bear comparison with mademoiselle. He was too elated by the prospect of seeing his divinity to bear serious remonstrance, but I prevailed upon him not to go alone to meet her. I had seen enough to fear foul play, and determined to constitute myself his guardian. I felt responsible for the young hot-head, and then too he had won my regard. He was so brave a soldier, so true a gentleman, so good a lover that he rejoiced my heart. The foibles of the court had failed to spoil him, and I could forgive the fastidious elegance of the courtier when I saw it side by side with conspicuous courage.
The appointed hour on the following day found us in the Kremlin; M. de Lambert was all impatience, and I confess that my own interest was keen. Touchet attended us; for many reasons, I preferred a man who understood but little Russ and would comprehend less of the situation than did Pierrot. We took up our position near the Tower of Ivan Veliki, and M. de Lambert had time to become thoroughly impatient before mademoiselle arrived. Whether her heart failed her at the last moment or madame detained her I know not, but we had waited a full half-hour before M. de Lambert uttered an exclamation and hurried forward to meet two closely veiled women who were coming towards us. Mademoiselle saw me, so I advanced also to greet her. She lifted her veil and showed a charming face, suffused with a rosy hue that increased the luster of her eyes. She evidently felt that she had taken a decided step, and was doubtful of the propriety of her course, M. de Lambert’s ardent greeting increasing her natural confusion. A flushed and handsome young pair they looked, as they stood there before me, shamefaced but manifestly happy at meeting each other.