The recognition was mutual, and in a moment he was wringing Adine’s hand.
Meanwhile the man had stepped forward, and, addressing the Cossack officer, said—
“Captain Yagodkin, we have not met before, my name is Ivan Torsneff, and I am an aide-de-camp of His Majesty, the Tzar.”
“Ah, I remember you, Torsneff!” cried the general, stretching forth his hand. “What brings you here, so far from Petersburg?”
“An unpleasant duty, General Solovieff,” replied the Tzar’s messenger coldly. Taking an official document from the pocket of his greatcoat, he added, “I have here a warrant from His Imperial Majesty, my august master, ordering Captain Yagodkin to release the prisoner Paul Denissoff immediately; and, further, to arrest and detain at hard labour the governor of the Trans-Baikál, General Solovieff.”
“What?” cried His Excellency. “You’re mad!”
“Captain Yagodkin,” continued Count Torsneff, “In the name of the Tzar, I hand the warrant to you. It is in His Majesty’s own handwriting—read for yourself.”
The Cossack officer opened it eagerly, read it through, and glanced at the Imperial signature and seal. Then, addressing the governor, he said—
“General Solovieff, you are under arrest, by order of the Tzar!”
“What for?”