Princess Zara

"I stood for a long time, with the sword pressed against his back,

where it would have pierced his heart," she murmured in my ear, while

she clung to me. "I wanted to kill him, but I could not do it. Then I

found the yemschik's whip, but I had not the strength to strike. Do

you wonder why I left the house? The yemschik came to get me. He

brought a note, signed by you. It said that my brother had been

wounded, and was at my house; that it was safe for me to go there now.

I hastened. I ran to the droshka, and sprang inside before I knew

that it was occupied. Durnief was there. He seized me. Something was

wrapped around my head, and I lost consciousness, I think. Then I heard

sounds, as if men were fighting, and I crawled from the overturned

droshka, and saw you two struggling together, in the snow. I was

dazed, frightened, and very weak. I did not remember what had happened;

I did not recognize you. I thought, at first, that it was Durnief whom

I should assist, and I stood there, watching the struggle for a long

time, trying to remember. Then recollection came, for I heard your

voice. It recalled to me my senses. I remembered who Dubravnik was. Is

it not strange that I should have forgotten? Even for a moment, is it

not strange that I should have forgotten?"

"No, dear, no," I replied.

"Then I found the sword, in the snow. I remembered that I wanted to

kill Durnief, and I put the point against his back. But I could not

press upon it. I tried, but I could not do it. It was horrible,

Dubravnik, horrible. I tried a second time, and the point of the sword

was actually piercing his clothing, when my eyes fell upon the whip. I

secured it. There! See! He is reviving. Seize him, for he must not

escape."