"Has Colonel von Quarovitch arrived yet?"
"He awaits your Majesty."
"Tell him I wish to see him now."
Almost before the door had closed, Piotr was on his knees before me.
"Your Majesty, how could I be so blind! I did not think--and yet I
should have known. Forgive me my want of respect. My life, everything
I have is yours."
"Thank you, Piotr. I am your King, but I would have your devotion,
nothing more."
"Your Majesty has that, God knows, and not only mine, but that of every
man and woman that I know."
I believe that he would have liked to spend quite a considerable time
expatiating on my various merits, had not Quarovitch entered.
"Ah, Colonel," I said, as he saluted, "I wish you to become acquainted
with a man you may have heard of. You may even have sought his company.
His name is Piotr, and under Ivan's beneficent rule he lived in a way
that might have incurred your displeasure. He is now, however, one of
my friends."
"I know him by sight, your Majesty, also by reputation. I believe we
once exchanged slight courtesies with one another."
Here Piotr grinned.
"I trust neither of you were hurt," I said.
"I don't know about Piotr, your Majesty, but I had an inch of skin taken
off my arm."
"And you, Piotr?" I asked.
For answer he lifted the thick hair from the side of his face--part of
an ear was missing.
"That I consider highly satisfactory, you both need bear no grudge;
neither of you owes the other anything, and you must both have made
excellent shooting."