“I have your hat yet,” were her last words, as she left the house, pulling Chance with her.
He didn’t want to go, and only my peremptory command started him at last. When he was gone, and I heard the thud of his feet on the walk, I sat down and cried again, partly for Chance, partly for Nicol, whom I had no hope now of seeing, and partly because I was nervous and sick at heart with excitement and fear lest Ivan would get me into trouble. He had no fear, and sometimes whistled softly to himself as he made his few preparations, tying up his belongings in two handkerchiefs. He was out nearly all night before we started, but he seemed fresh as ever in the morning, and I think he wanted to tell Mrs. Browne who he was when, in response to his good-by, she replied she had no good-bys for ingrates!
I got him away safely to the station, where, to my delight, M. Seguin was waiting for us.
CHAPTER XIX.
NICOL PATOFF.
I had half hoped Nicol might be with Michel, but he was alone, and came eagerly forward to meet us, seeing to our tickets and passports and comfort generally, and taking particular care of the supposed Alex, at whom the officials looked suspiciously.
“Madame’s maid,” he explained, and then they looked more surprised, as if questioning my taste; but my “serving woman” was not molested, and my heart beat more freely when at last the train moved off, and we were leaving St Petersburg. Altogether, it was a big farce, and a risky one, for the police were eagle-eyed, and I was glad when we crossed the frontier and were on German soil. With Mrs. Whitney present, I could not question Michel of Nicol until we stood for a moment alone on the platform; then I said to him: “What of Nicol? Where is he? I hoped I might see him.”
“Wait till we get to Paris, and you shall hear the whole story. Be content to know that he is safe and well,” he replied.
After this there was nothing to do but wait until Paris was reached, where I went to the Bellevue, after depositing Ivan with his sister, where he was to stay until we decided in what guise he was to cross the ocean, as he was resolved to go with us, if he went as steerage. The second evening after our arrival Mrs. Whitney, who retired early, had gone to her room, when Michel, who was stopping at the Grand, was announced. He had seen a famous oculist, and been assured there was help for his eyes, and was very cheerful and happy.
“I have seen Ivan, too,” he said, “and he has come out quite a swell from his tailor’s hands. He couldn’t wait to throw off that disguise, which had made him feel so humiliated. I assure you, there is no danger,” he continued, as he saw the pallor on my face.
“Ivan!” I exclaimed. “How did you know it was he?”