Then Katy, who still held Sophie’s hand, stood up, and, though she could not speak the gendarme’s language, nothing could have been more eloquent than her upturned face, on which the moonlight fell, bringing out all its outlines of beauty, while her blue eyes were full of tears and entreaty, as she looked steadily at the gendarme. She knew he could not understand her, but her lips framed the words, “Be merciful!”
She could not speak loud, and was obliged to whisper; but I heard it distinctly, and so did Sophie, who smiled upon the excited girl pleading for her. I was on my feet by this time, and felt Zaidee’s strong arm around me as I stood. I recognized the man whom I had encountered twice before, and I knew he recognized me.
There was a sneer on his face, as he said:
“Madame has brought with her two fine advocates for her friends. I wish I could do their bidding, but I cannot. The law must take its course, and Ivan Scholaskie has baffled us a long time.”
“Of what is he accused?” I asked; and Paul replied:
“A nihilist, steeped to the dregs, and plotting for the assassination of the present czar, just as the last one was assassinated.”
“Paul Strigoff,” and Sophie’s voice rang out with all the force of a strong, insulted man, “it is a lie! I am not a murderer! I know of no plot against the czar. If I did, I should try to stop it, even by giving information. I sympathize with the nihilists, but I did not come from Paris to meet them. I came to see my mother, and very foolishly went twice to one of the old haunts, in my proper guise as a man.”
This last she said to me, and continued:
“Tell my mother, please. Comfort her, if you can, and don’t feel too anxious about me. The fortress cannot hold me, nor Siberia keep me always. I shall escape—not at once, perhaps, but later on. They can prove nothing against me except sympathy. And now, one word of warning: Leave St. Petersburg! This is the second time you have been mixed up with the Scholaskies. A third time might be fatal. We are dangerous acquaintances. I am glad I have met you. I shall never forget it. Something tells me I shall see you again. Good-by!”
She still held Katy’s hand, and now she stooped and kissed her, just as she had done once before. It was a long, passionate kiss, which told me the truth, and made me shudder a little.