Princess Zara

The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be

especially applicable in the present instance. In one breath I was told

that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying

(?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia. It was certainly

paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking

questions. Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed

the conversation.

"What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not

unkind.

"The desire to obtain an interview with you," I replied, remembering

his caution for me to ignore his rank.

"For what purpose?"

"To enter your service."

"In what capacity?"

"In any capacity for which I seem most fitted."

His majesty smiled broadly as if my replies suited the humor he was in.

I knew that I had made an impression that was not detrimental to me in

his eyes, and thought that I began to see through the puzzle. The

succeeding few moments convinced me that I was not mistaken.

"Whose was the suggestion that determined your visit to Russia?" he

continued.

"The suggestion came to me a long time ago--more than a year," I

responded. "Since then it has been constantly in my mind, and at last I

decided to act upon it."

"That does not answer my question, Mr. Derrington."

"The idea first came to me through an old friend; one whom I used to

know here, in this country; one who afforded me very great assistance

when I was here three years ago on a secret mission for my government."

"What is his name?"

"I have forgotten it."

"You are troubled with a poor memory, sir."

"Yes; concerning the names of friends who have assisted me when they

have been compelled to place their own interests in jeopardy in order

to do so."

"Do you know Alexis Saberevski?"

"I do."

"Can you tell me where he is now?"

"In New York, I think."

"Did you not have a definite proposition to make to me, in case you

were successful in securing an audience?"

"I did."

"Very well, you have secured the audience. I will hear the

proposition."

I hesitated. Here before me ready at my hand was the very opportunity I

had so eagerly sought and which I had determined to go to many lengths

to obtain. Already I had undertaken great expense to arrive at this

moment and to encounter a circumstance very like the one by which I was

now confronted; and yet I hesitated to take his majesty at his word and

to render up the proposition he required of me, and which I had

travelled so far and gone to such pains to submit. But you will admit

that the circumstance was an unusual one, and that the very manner of

my introduction to the Czar of all the Russias was calculated to be

confounding to me and to place at naught my customary determined poise,

and unswerving self-reliance. The abrupt mention of Alexis Saberevski,

coupled with other insinuations already brought forward in our

conversation, confirmed me in the idea already half formed, that my

apparent arrest at the hotel, my strange and mysterious journey through

the night, and the threat of Siberia, were all in the nature of what we

Americans call a "bluff"; were only intended to conceal the real

purpose of this enforced interview. During that moment of hesitation,

which was so short that it would not have been noticeable to a

disinterested party, I decided that the perfectly frank and open course

would be the best one to adopt with this giant of a man who confronted

me; a giant not only in physique and stature, and in strength of

purpose as well as in muscle, but in the wonderful power he swayed by

the mere exertion of his will.