Yesterday, when a ship sailed away from its pier in the North
River, you accompanied me to the dock, amazed that I should ask you
to do so, and doubtless wondering all the while why I made no
effort to see, or to speak with any person, there. But when the
ship had swung into the stream, you saw me wave my hand in farewell
to some person among those who thronged her decks. That person was
Zara de Echeveria, the princess to whose presence in New York you
lately called my attention, but respecting which I was already
informed; for at the moment of your communication I had already
seen her, and talked with her, and we had parted as you and I will
do when I place this letter in your hands--forever.
You are going upon a mission, Derrington, although it may be that
you have not decided in your own mind to do so; but the decision is
there, awaiting your recognition of it. Your mission will take you
to Russia, to accomplish the great work I have suggested to you. I
have willed it that you must go, and go you will. You will serve
the czar as faithfully as I have done; but better, because you are
not a Russian, and you have not the inborn awe of title and rank.
And you will have been successful in that mission when you have
read these written words, for I shall instruct you not to break the
seal until you are ready to take your departure from that country,
which you will never do without having attained success. You are to
serve the czar, and for him and in his name, will achieve the
disruption of the nihilist societies of St. Petersburg, and
therefore of the empire. I know your thoroughness, and I anticipate
that very many among the prominent revolutionists will soon be
known to you. Among them you will find the name I have written
here--Zara de Echeveria.
I present her to you, Derrington, by this letter, as if we three
were standing together in the form of formal introduction. I am a
fatalist, and I know that you two will meet, and read your
destinies in each other's souls. If you are already together, there
will be no need of this letter, save to tell you how thoroughly and
how well I love you both. God has written your futures on the same
page of the book of destiny, and I have read the writing. You are
created for one another, and as surely as God's love watches over
us all, just so surely has He put the seal of enduring human love
upon you both. Why it will be so, and how it will come about, I
have not the skill to tell, but my prophetic vision looked into the
futures of you both, when I talked with you, one after another,
yesterday; and I saw you passing down the declining years of life,
hand in hand, and heart with heart, like one.