Von Gaden shook his head. However, his interests were with the Naryshkins, and it was natural for him to overestimate their strength. At least I was assured of Zénaïde’s immediate safety; and after a little consultation, Von Gaden went to his wife, and she received mademoiselle and Zénaïde, carrying them away to her portion of the house. It was then that Dr. von Gaden puzzled me by advising me to take no action in the matter for the present.
“Let affairs drift with the tide for a day or so,” he said. “There is scarcely a chance of their presence here being discovered; meanwhile, the crisis is approaching, and we shall know which side will hold the balance of power. The old boyar has chosen his time cleverly, to force Zénaïde’s marriage just when interference from the Kremlin was unlikely; but he counted without his host,” he added with a peculiar smile, “and she has shown her father’s spirit in her resistance. I always felt that there was good mettle in her, and that she would fight when the hour came.”
I rose to go. “I will leave Pierrot here,” I said, “as an additional safeguard in case of need.”
“It is unnecessary,” the doctor replied; “I have a sufficient number of servants to watch over the household, and the presence of your man will only attract notice, and mayhap arouse suspicion. Leave Mademoiselle Zénaïde to me, and only hold yourself in readiness for any call.”
I was reluctant enough to do this, and yet recognized the wisdom of his advice, and could not ask permission to stay on guard myself, although I longed to do so, and fancied that Von Gaden had already divined my secret. Whether that was the case or not, he was evidently anxious to get me out of the house, and I was compelled to submit to fate, and withdraw with what grace I could command.
As I went out, I saw Lykof still sitting in the doctor’s study, and wondered a little at his errand. On the doorstep I found Pierrot, faithful to his duty. He reported that all was quiet, and he had seen nothing to arouse any suspicion that we had been traced to Von Gaden’s house; so I went to my quarters with a comparatively quiet mind.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE AUDIENCE-CHAMBER.
The following day I went to the Kremlin, mainly for the purpose of learning, if possible, the result of Zénaïde’s flight, for I was sure that the disappointment of Viatscheslav Naryshkin would soon be known.
I reached the palace at the hour when the Czarina Natalia received various petitions, and the anterooms of the audience-chamber were crowded with courtiers and public personages. The etiquette of the Russian court was rigid, and on such occasions no one could sit in the presence of the sovereign; and it was not unusual to see boyars and officials go out into the courtyard to sit down and rest.
As I entered the anteroom, Prince Basil Galitsyn was coming out, and he passed me with a smile.