When McShane awoke the next morning he tried to recall what had passed
between him and Dimitri, and did not feel quite convinced that he had
not trusted him too much. "I think," said he, "it was all upon an _if_.
Yes, sure; _if_ O'Donahue was in love, and _if_ she was. Yes, I'm sure
that it was all upon _ifs_. However, I must go and tell O'Donahue what
has taken place."
McShane did so; and O'Donahue, after a little thought, replied, "Well, I
don't know: perhaps it's all for the best; for you see I must have
trusted somebody, and the difficulty would have been to know whom to
trust, for everybody belongs to the police here, I believe: I think,
myself, the fellow is honest; at all events, I can make it worth his
while to be so."
"He would not have told me he belonged to the police if he wished to
trap us," replied McShane.
"That's very true, and on the whole I think we could not do better. But
we are going on too fast; who knows whether she meant anything by what
she said to me when we parted; or, if she did then, whether she may not
have altered her mind since?"
"Such things have been--that's a fact, O'Donahue."
"And will be, as long as the world lasts. However, to-morrow I am to be
presented--perhaps I may see her. I'm glad that I know that I may
chance to meet her, as I shall now be on my guard."
"And what shall I say to Dimitri?"
"Say that you mentioned her name, and where she was, and that I had only
replied, that I should like to see her again."
"Exactly; that will leave it an open question, as the saying is,"
replied McShane.
The next day O'Donahue, in his uniform, drove to the ambassador's hotel,
to accompany him to the Annishkoff palace, where he was to be presented
to the emperor. O'Donahue was most graciously received, the emperor
walking up to him, as he stood in the circle, and inquiring after the
health of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, what service he had
been employed upon, etcetera. He then told O'Donahue that the Empress
would be most glad to make his acquaintance, and hoped that he would
make a long stay at Saint Petersburg.
It was with a quickened pulse that O'Donahue followed the ambassador
into the empress's apartments. He had not waited there more than five
minutes, in conversation with the ambassador when the doors opened, and
the empress, attended by her chamberlain, and followed by her ladies in
waiting and maids of honour, entered the room. O'Donahue had made up
his mind not to take his eyes off the empress until the presentation was
over. As soon as he had kissed hands, and answered the few questions
which were graciously put to him, he retired to make room for others,
and then, for the first time, did he venture to cast his eyes on the
group of ladies attending the empress. The first that met his view were
unknown, but, behind all the rest, he at length perceived the Princess
Czartorinski, talking and laughing with another lady. After a short
time she turned round, and their eyes met. The princess recognised him
with a start, and then turned away and put her hand up to her breast, as
if the shock had taken away her breath. Once more she turned her face
to O'Donahue, and this time he was fully satisfied by her looks that he
was welcome. Ten minutes after, the ambassador summoned O'Donahue, and
they quitted the palace.
"I have seen her, McShane," said O'Donahue; "she is more beautiful, and
I am more in love than ever. And now, what am I to do?"
"That's just the difficulty," replied McShane. "Shall I talk with
Dimitri, or shall I hold my tongue, or shall I think about it while you
go to dinner at the ambassador's?"
"I cannot dine out to-day, McShane. I will write an excuse."
"Well, now, I do believe you're in for it in good earnest. My love
never spoiled my appetite; on the contrary, it was my appetite that made
me fall in love."
"I wish she had not been a princess," said O'Donahue, throwing himself
on the sofa.
"That's nothing at all here," replied McShane. "A _princess_ is to be
had. Now, if she had been a _general_ it would have been all up with
you. Military rank is everything here, as Dimitri says."
"She's an angel," replied O'Donahue, with a sigh.
"That's rank in heaven, but goes for nothing in Petersburg," replied
McShane. "Dimitri tells me they've _civil_ generals here, which I
conceive are improvements on our staff, for devil a civil general I've
had the pleasure of serving under."
"What shall I do," said O'Donahue, getting up and preparing to write his
note to the ambassador.
"Eat your dinner, drink a bottle of champagne, and then I'll come and
talk it over with you, that's all you can do at present. Give me the
note, and I'll send Dimitri off with it at once, and order up your
dinner."
McShane's advice not being very bad, it was followed. O'Donahue had
finished his dinner, and was sitting by the fire with McShane, when
there was a knock at the door. McShane was summoned, and soon returned,
saying, "There's a little fellow that wants to speak with you, and won't
give his message. He's a queer little body, and not so bad-looking
either, with a bolster on the top of his head, and himself not higher
than a pillow; a pigeon could sit upon his shoulder and peck up peas out
of his shoes; he struts like a grenadier, and, by the powers! a
grenadier's cap would serve as an extinguisher for him. Shall I show
him in?"
"Certainly," replied O'Donahue.
The reader may not be aware that there is no part of the globe where
there are so many dwarfs as at Saint Petersburg; there is scarcely an
hotel belonging to a noble family without one or two, if not more; they
are very kindly treated, and are, both in appearance and temper, very
superior to the dwarfs occasionally met with elsewhere. One of this
diminutive race now entered the room, dressed in a Turkish costume; he
was remarkably well made and handsome in person; he spoke sufficient
French to inquire if he addressed himself to Captain O'Donahue; and on
being replied to in the affirmative, he gave him a small billet, and
then seated himself on the sofa with all the freedom of a petted menial.
O'Donahue tore open the note; it was very short:--
"As I know you cannot communicate with me, I write to say that I was
delighted at your having kept your promise. You shall hear from me
again as soon as I know where I can meet you; in the meantime, be
cautious. The bearer is to be trusted; he belongs to me.
"C."
O'Donahue pressed the paper to his lips, and then sat down to reply. We
shall not trouble the reader with what he said; it is quite sufficient
that the lady was content with the communication, and also at the report
from her little messenger of the Captain's behaviour when he had read
her billet.
Two or three days afterwards, O'Donahue received a note from a German
widow lady, a Countess Erhausen, particularly requesting he would call
upon her in the afternoon, at three o'clock. As he had not as yet had
the pleasure of being introduced to the countess, although he had often
heard her spoken of in the first society, O'Donahue did not fail in his
appointment, as he considered that it was possible that the Princess
Czartorinski might be connected with it; nor was he deceived, for on his
entering the saloon, he found the princess sitting on the sofa with
Madame Erhausen, a young and pretty woman, not more than twenty-five
years of age. The princess rose, and greeted Captain O'Donahue, and
then introduced the countess as her first cousin. A few minutes after
his introduction, the countess retired, leaving them alone. O'Donahue
did not lose this opportunity of pouring out the real feelings of his
heart.
"You have come a long way to see me, Captain O'Donahue, and I ought to
be grateful," replied the princess: "indeed, I have much pleasure in
renewing our acquaintance."
O'Donahue, however, did not appear satisfied with this mere admission:
he became eloquent in his own cause, pointed out the cruelty of having
brought him over to see her again if he was not to be rewarded, and
after about an hour's pleading he was sitting on the sofa by her side,
with her fair hand in his, and his arm round her slender waist. They
parted, but through the instrumentality of the little dwarf, they often
met again at the same rendezvous. Occasionally they met in society, but
before others they were obliged to appear constrained and formal; there
was little pleasure in such meetings, and when O'Donahue could not see
the princess his chief pleasure was to call upon Madame Erhausen and
talk about her.
"You are aware, Captain O'Donahue," said the countess one day, "that
there will be a great difficulty to overcome in this affair. The
princess is a sort of ward of the emperor's, and it is said that he has
already, in his own mind, disposed of her hand."
"I am aware of that," replied O'Donahue; "and I know no other means than
running away with her."
"That would never do," replied the countess; "you could not leave
Petersburg without passports; nor could she leave the palace for more
than an hour or two without being missed. You would soon be discovered,
and then you would lose her for ever."
"Then what can I do, my dear madame? Shall I throw myself upon the
indulgence of the emperor?"
"No, that would not answer either; she is too rich a prize to be
permitted to go into foreign hands. I'll tell you what you must first
do."
"I'm all attention."
"You must make love to me," replied the countess. "Nay, understand me.
I mean that you must _appear_ to make love to me, and the report of our
marriage must be spread. The emperor will not interfere in such a case;
you must do so to avoid suspicion. You have been here very often, and
your equipage has been constantly seen at the door. If it is supposed
you do not come on my account, it will be inquired why you do come; and
there is no keeping a secret at Petersburg. After it is supposed that
it is a settled affair between us, we then may consider what next ought
to be done. My regard for my cousin alone induces me to consent to
this; indeed, it is the only way she could avoid future misery."
"But is the emperor so despotic on these points?"
"An emperor is not to be trifled with; a ward of the emperor is
considered sacred--at least, so far, that if a Russian were to wed one
without permission, he probably would be sent to Siberia. With an
Englishman it is different, perhaps; and, once married, you would be
safe, as you could claim the protection of your ambassador. The great
point is, to let it be supposed that you are about to marry some one
else; and then, suspicion not being awakened, you may gain your wish."
"But tell me, madame,--that I may be safe from the emperor's displeasure
is true--but would the princess, after he discovered it? Could he not
take her away from me, and send her to Siberia for disobedience?"
"I hope, by the means I propose, to get you both clear of the emperor--
at least, till his displeasure is softened down. Me he cannot hurt; he
can only order me out of his dominions. As for the princess, I should
think that, if once married to you, she would be safe, for you could
claim the protection of the ambassador for her, as your wife, as well as
for yourself. Do you comprehend me now?"
"I do, madame; and may blessings follow you for your kindness. I shall
in future act but by your directions?"
"That is exactly what I wished you to say; and so now, Captain
O'Donahue, farewell."