“Perhaps you will kindly tell me what is wrong there, Excellency?”
“Nothing—now,” responded Cyril; “but something very wrong was there last night.” There was a sudden movement of the footman’s arm, but Cyril was too quick for him. The right hand which had been hidden in the drawer came up suddenly, holding a revolver. “Throw up your hands this moment, and stand where you are, or you are a dead man!” were the words which smote upon the ear of the astonished Sergeivics, as he found himself covered by the weapon.
“You will not murder me, Excellency?” he faltered.
“Not on any account; but I shall have no compunction in killing you in self-defence. Peter Sergeivics, you came to Tatarjé under the orders of a revolutionary committee, charged to help them in carrying out their schemes. By an ingenious device, you obtained an opportunity for receiving orders from the Scythian agent here and furnishing him with information. Last night you attended a meeting at which the final plans for the outbreak were agreed upon, and the parts to be played by the various conspirators assigned to them.”
“What does your Excellency want with me?” whined the luckless man.
“I want nothing, as you see. If you care to offer any information, the fact will be taken into account in deciding your sentence. If you do not, you will merely be dismissed from the royal household, and it will become known that you have retired with a pension, awarded in consideration of the loyal assistance furnished by you to the Government, which has led to the detection of the plot.”
Sergeivics writhed. “You know that I should be dead within an hour, Excellency,” he whimpered. “If I tell you all I know, will you guarantee that I shall be saved from the vengeance of the rest?”
“Stay where you are, if you please,” as the wretched man made a movement as though to throw himself at Cyril’s feet. “It will be just as uncomfortable for you to be shot by me as by your fellow-conspirators. I have said that I do not ask you for information; but if yours should prove to be of any value, I will guarantee that you shall be sent to Bellaviste under a sufficient escort to protect you from the vengeance of your friends. This is showing quite undeserved mercy to one who has deliberately plotted to murder the Queen and the young King——”
“Never, Excellency! There was no thought of murder. We merely——”
“Ah, your information differs from mine, then?”