The Daughter of an Empress

At about the same time Cecil was hastening through the streets of Rome,

often looking back to see if any one was following him, and viewing with

suspicious eyes every one he met. He finally stopped before the backdoor

of a palace, and, after having satisfied himself that he had not been

followed, he lightly knocked three times at the door. Upon its being

opened, a grim, bearded Russian face presented itself.

Cecil drew a ring from his bosom and showed it to the porter.

"Quick! conduct me to his excellency," said he.

The Russian nodded his recognition of the token, and beckoned Cecil to

follow him. After a short reflection, Cecil entered and the door was

closed.

Guided by his conductor through a labyrinth of rooms and corridors,

Cecil finally succeeded in reaching a little boudoir, whose

heavily-curtained windows hardly admitted a ray of dim twilight.

The conductor, bidding Cecil to wait here, left him alone.

In a few moments a concealed door was opened, and a man of a tall, proud

form entered.

"At length!" he said, on perceiving Cecil. "I had begun to doubt your

coming."

"I waited until I could bring you decisive intelligence, your

excellency," said Cecil.

"And you bring it today?" quickly asked the unknown.

"In an hour we leave Rome for St. Petersburg!"

Uttering a loud cry of joy, the stranger walked the room in visible

commotion. Cecil followed him with timid, anxious glances, and, as he

still kept silence, Cecil said: "Your excellency, I have truly performed what you required of me. I have

persuaded the count to make the journey, notwithstanding his opposition

to it, and, as you commanded, his ward remains behind in Rome, alone and

unprotected."

"Ah, you praise your acts because you desire your reward," said his

excellency, contemptuously opening his writing-desk, and drawing forth a

well-filled purse. "You there have your pay, good man!"

Cecil indignantly rejected the money. "I am no Judas, who betrays his

master for money," said he. "Please remember, your excellency, for what

I promised to fulfil your excellency's commands, and what reward you

promised me!"

"Ah, I now remember! You required my promise that no harm should befall

the count!"

"Only on that condition did I promise my assistance," said Cecil. "When

your emissary sought me and called me to you, I only followed him, as

you well know, most noble count, because you gave me to understand that

my master's life and safety were concerned. I came to you. Allow me,

your excellency to repeat your own words. You said: 'Cecil, you have

been represented to me as a true friend of your master. Fidelity is so

rare a virtue, that it deserves reward. I will reward you by saving your

life. Quickly leave this traitorous count, and break off all connection

with him, else you are lost. I am secretly sent here in order to capture

the count and his criminal ward, and take them to St. Petersburg. What

there awaits the count may easily be imagined.' Thus speaking, your

excellency then showed me the command for the count's arrest, signed

by the empress. Upon which I asked: 'Is there no means of saving

the count?' 'There is one,' said you. 'Persuade the count to return

immediately to St. Petersburg, leaving his ward behind him here, and

I swear to you, in the name of the empress, that no harm shall come to

him.'"