"All I've told you is the real truth," she assured me. "I've only
amused myself. Every girl likes men to make love to her. Why should I
be so bitterly condemned?"
"Because you are not a commoner."
"That's just it. But if I went to England and lived again as Miss
Natalia Gottorp, nobody would know who I am, and I could have a really
splendid time. Here," she cried, "all the glitter and etiquette of
Court life stifle me. I've been bored to death on the tour round the
Empire, but couldn't you try and induce the Emperor to let me go back to
England? Do, Uncle Colin, there's a dear. A word from the Emperor, and
father would let me go in a moment. I wish poor mother were alive. She
would soon let me go, I know."
"And what would you do in England if you went back?"
"Why, I'd have my old governess, Miss West--the one I had at Strelna--to
live with me, and I'd be ever so happy. I'd take a house on the
sea-front at Eastbourne, so as to be near the old college, and see the
girls. Try what you can do with Uncle Alexander, won't you? there's a
dear old uncle," she added, in her most persuasive tones.
"Well," I said, with some show of reluctance, "if I succeed, you will be
responsible to me, remember. No flirtations."
"I promise," she said. "Here's my hand," and she put her tiny
white-gloved hand into mine.
"And if I heard of any affectionate meetings I should put down my foot
at once."
"Yes, that's agreed," she exclaimed, with enthusiasm. "At once."
"And I should, perhaps, want you to help me in England," I added slowly,
looking into her pretty face the while.
"Help you, in what way?" she asked.
"At present, I hardly know. But if I wanted assistance might I count on
you?"
"Count on me, Uncle Colin!" she echoed. "Why, of course, you can! Look
at my indebtedness to you, and it will be increased if you can secure me
permission to go back to England."
"Well," I said, "I'll do what I can. But you have told me no untruths
to-night, not one--?" I asked very seriously. "If so, admit it."
"Not one. I swear I haven't."
"Very well," I said. "Then I'll do my best."
"Ah! you are a real dear!" cried the girl enthusiastically. "I almost
feel as though I could hug and kiss you!"
"Better not," I laughed. "There are some people sitting over there, and
they would talk--"
"Yes," she said slowly. "I suppose really one ought to be a bit
careful, after all. When will you see the Emperor?"
"Perhaps to-morrow--if he gives me audience." Then I related to her the
story of the attempt in the Nevski on the previous morning, and the
intention of assassinating the Emperor as he drove from the Nicholas
station to the Palace.
"Ah, yes!" she cried. "It is all too dreadful. For seven weeks we have
lived in constant terror of explosions. I could not go through it again
for all the world. Those days in that stuffy armoured train were simply
awful. His Majesty only undertook the journey in order to defy those
who declared that some terrible catastrophe would happen. The Empress
knew nothing of the danger until we had started."
"And yet the only danger lay within half a mile of the Palace on your
return," I said. "There have, I hear, been thirty-three arrested
to-day, including my friends Madame de Rosen and Luba. You knew them."
"Marya de Rosen!" gasped the Grand Duchess, staring at me. "She is not
under arrest?"
"Alas! she is already on her way, with her daughter, to Eastern
Siberia."
"But that is impossible. She was no revolutionist. I knew them both
very intimately."
"General Markoff was her enemy," I said in a whisper. "Ah, yes! I hate
that man!" cried Her Highness. "He is a clever liar who has wormed
himself completely into the Emperor's confidence, and now, in order to
sustain a reputation as a discoverer of plots, he is compelled to first
manufacture them. Hundreds of innocent men and women have been exiled
by administrative order during the past twelve months for complicity in
conspiracies which have never had any existence save in the wicked
imagination of that brutal official. I know it--_I can prove it_!"
"Hush!" I said. "You may be overheard. You surely do not wish the man
to become your enemy. Remember, he is all-powerful here--in Russia."
"I will speak the truth when the time comes," she said vehemently. "I
will show the Emperor certain papers which have come into my own hands
which will prove how His Majesty has been misled, tricked and terrorised
by this Markoff, and certain of his bosom friends in the Cabinet."
"It is really most unwise to speak so loudly," I declared. "Somebody
may overhear."
"Let them overhear!" cried the girl angrily. "I do not fear Markoff in
the least. I will, before long, open the Emperor's eyes, never fear--
and justice shall be done. These poor wretches shall not be sent to the
dungeons beneath the lake at Schusselburg, or to the frozen wastes of
Yakutsk, in order that Markoff shall remain in power. Ah! he little
dreams how much I know!" she laughed harshly.
"It would hardly be wise of you to take any such action. You might
fail--and--then--"
"I cannot fail to establish at least the innocence of Madame de Rosen
and of Luba. The reason why they have been sent to Siberia is simple.
Into Madame de Rosen's possession there recently came certain
compromising letters concerning General Markoff. He discovered this,
and hence her swift exile without trial. But, Uncle Colin," she added,
"those letters are in my possession! Madame de Rosen gave them to me
the night before I went south with the Emperor, because she feared they
might be stolen by some police-spy. And I have kept them in a place of
safety until such convenient time when I can place them before His
Majesty. The latter will surely see that justice is done, and then the
disgraceful career of this arch-enemy of Russian peace and liberty will
be at an end."
"Hush!" I cried anxiously, for at that moment a tall man, in the bright
green uniform of the Lithuanian Hussars, whose face I could not see,
passed close by us, with a handsome middle-aged woman upon his arm.
"Hush! Do, for heaven's sake, be careful, I beg of you!" I exclaimed.
"Such intention should not even be whispered. These Palace walls have
ears, for spies are everywhere!"