As to the killing of Stanislaus, who could blame the czar for that? The
man had endeavored to kill him; had twice snapped a pistol in his face
and still held it in his hand when the emperor tore it from his grasp
and struck him on the head with it. Who would not do the same? I repeat
all this as my excuse for still feeling that affection for him which
our intercourse had taught me. The real criminal in the case of the
story of Yvonne was Durnief. Him I hated, and his name was on one of
the lists that had been read off to me before going to the palace that
night. There were special orders concerning him, too--but that will be
dealt with later.
Now, as I entered the cabinet with the prince, I confess that I had
some doubts concerning my reception for I had no idea what the prince
had said to his majesty, and I knew only too well the inclination of
the czar to listen to anything that had a suspicious side to it,
particularly if that suspicion concerned one of his closest and most
intimate associates. I could at any time, within five minutes, have
poisoned the mind of the czar against the prince; and I did not doubt
that he could accomplish the same delicate attention for me. The prince
preceded me; the czar rose as we entered.
His majesty was alone, and I advanced at once with extended hand, as he
had often requested me to do when I discovered him thus; but he bowed
coldly, feigning not to see it. I halted, drew myself up, and returned
his bow in the same manner that he had given it. Then I waited for him
to speak.
"You are late, sir," he said. "You have kept me waiting."
"I was not aware that your majesty expected me," I replied. "Otherwise
I should have been here sooner."
"The prince expected you and led me to do the same."
"Had the prince done me the honor to tell me he intended to receive me
in your cabinet, I should have understood. The prince--perhaps
unintentionally--deceived me."
Prince Michael flushed hotly, but said nothing. The czar smiled grimly.
"What detained you?" he demanded.
"The same business which detains me in Russia, your majesty."
"Ah; you were concerned in the work of our fraternity?"
"I was."
"I understood that you were much more pleasurably employed."
"Whoever gave you so to understand that either did not know, or lied."
I turned so that I half faced the prince, and I saw that he made a
motion as if to spring upon and strike me; but he did not dare to
commit such an act in the czar's presence, and long training got the
better of his temper.