Mr. Neville took a broken coin to Piotr.
Quarovitch was commanded to Karena.
Carruthers answered immediately, in a manner at once laconic and wanting
in proper respect:
"Coming, good old Splosh."
Quarovitch was to hand.
Piotr accompanied Mr. Neville. He had no idea that the English lord was
his King.
My old tutor told me, when he came to announce his arrival, that Piotr
had been in the middle of some farm work, but upon catching sight of the
broken coin had run to his house, seized his revolver and a few
necessaries, and fairly tired his companion with the haste of his
movements. Mr. Neville had not explained anything, but had given him
the token, and told him that I was in need of him.
He chuckled as he told me that Piotr was all impatience to kill some one
for my sake.
Asking Mr. Neville to fetch him, I also sent word for Colonel von
Quarovitch to be admitted in half an hour's time. Then I slipped behind
a curtain and waited.
I saw Piotr enter the room with a puzzled expression on his face, which
grew more intense when he discovered it to be apparently empty. He
toyed with his revolver and the hilt of his dagger, stood first on one
leg, then on the other, and looked generally uncomfortable. So, to end
it, I stepped out into view.
"Well, Piotr, you see I have not forgotten your promise to help me out
of a difficulty." I held out my hand.
"I am grateful to your Excellency for remembering, and am truly pleased
to see you again."
"You are astonished, perhaps, to see me here?"
"I am, Excellency, but His Majesty was brought up in your country, they
say."
"So you think I have been favoured on that account, perhaps."
"Indeed, no; only it may have made His Majesty think of you."
"I am afraid that is not the case, indeed, cannot be the case, for I am
a Rudarlian as you are."
"No!"
"Indeed I am, Piotr, and I trust a good one."
"God bless your Excellency, that is good news indeed."
"Tell me, Piotr, are you glad that things have changed in Rudarlia?"
"As is every honest man. I own my farm again now, and am not afraid of
the days when the taxes are paid."
"That is good, and those around you, your family, your friends, are they
as contented as yourself?"
"Yes, Excellency."
"And what has become of the other members of your band?"
"They live around my neighbourhood; most of them have small farms, and
the others who have not, earn good wages now, and they will soon save
enough to buy a piece of land for themselves."
"Splendid! I suppose you still keep the secret of your hiding-place;
the other men would not have told of its position?"
"Not a word. They took an oath never to do so, unless I gave them
permission, for the place was mine by right of discovery."
"Supposing it was needed for the sake of Rudarlia and that His Majesty
said, 'Send for Piotr that I may ask him for permission to use his
hiding-place for his country's good.'"
This appeared to tickle him immensely and he roared with laughter.
"If His Majesty asked for it, he should have it for his own sake,
Excellency, and my life with it if he wished."