CHAPTER XIX
PRINCE MICHAEL'S ANGER
Nobody but myself in all Russia was familiar with the secrets and themysteries of the Fraternity of Silence. In organizing it, I hadanticipated just such a moment as the one that faced me now; that is,an emergency where I would have to depend entirely upon the loyalty ofmy men, and my own superior knowledge of who and what they were, for mysafety.
The partial description already given of that organization conveys onlya faint idea of its perfection and completeness. The differentdepartments were thoroughly under the control of their several heads,and those heads were all men whom I could implicitly trust, and I knewthat I might even dare to snap my fingers at the power of the policesystem itself, so great was my own. I had men everywhere; and my giftof remembering names and faces, a gift the Almighty had bestowed uponme, gave me the advantage of knowing nearly all of them by sight,although there was not a score, all told, who knew me; and those wereevery one importations of my own, upon whose devotion I couldthoroughly depend, even in the face of regular police opposition. Morethan that, I had men within the ranks of the police, even within thefold of the mysterious and dreaded Third Section.
I realized fully the danger to my own person in going upon the streetat that hour, when I had within so short a time been condemned to deathby the extremists--the most implacable element among the nihilists.They do not dread death themselves so long as they accomplish the deathof him who has been condemned, and one who has fallen under the ban oftheir disapproval is in as great danger in broad daylight, among ahundred companions, as he is on dark streets and among unfrequentedbyways. I thought it best, therefore, to provide as well as possibleagainst another attempt to assassinate me, and therefore sought my ownapartments before going to the palace. I intended to adopt a disguiseof some kind, and, moreover, I had given orders for several of myleaders to meet me there, and I knew that I would find them waiting.
They were there when I arrived--Coyle, Canfield, Malet, St. Cyr, andwith them several of their lieutenants. There was another one therealso, whose hands were tied behind him, and whose feet were fastenedtogether, while, by way of additional security, he was tied to thechair in which my friends had seated him. That man was Ivan, thebrother of Princess Zara. I did not glance at him as I entered, butnotwithstanding his presence, proceeded at once to business,instructing my men in exactly what they were to do that night. And helistened intently, first with anger and even rage, then with scorn andcontempt, but finally with wonder and genuine fear. I had arranged theaffair for the purpose of teaching Ivan de Echeveria a moral lesson. Ihad determined to save him, even against himself--for Zara's sake.
In order to convey some idea of the moral effect that the meeting hadupon him, I must outline a part of it. One by one my men read off listsof the nihilists under their jurisdiction, accurately describing them,as well as the several disguises that they were in the habit ofwearing, the meeting places of the different branches of the society,and where the members of those branches were to be found at certainhours. Included in the lists were names of many prominent people in thecity, officers in the army, policemen on duty, spies in privatefamilies, in hotels and cafes, in the palace, at the barracks, in theprisons, and, in fact, everywhere. As name after name was read off,until the number amounted to many hundreds the face of Ivan deEcheveria became as pale as death, and when, at last, his own sister'sname was read, and I remarked grimly that she was already a prisoner,and would be on her way to Siberia within the week, he broke out incurses and threats, to which, of course, not one of us paid theslightest attention. When he found that we did not notice him in anyway, but proceeded quietly with our business, he relapsed into a moodysilence, and I knew that my moral lesson was working. I knew that Icould save Zara's brother, for that is what I meant to do. When thelists were completed, and I had given my orders regarding who was to bearrested that night, and who was to be spared, having directed thatcertain of them be told that they could obtain passports out of thecountry under certain conditions, I dismissed my leaders, and at laststood alone in the presence of Ivan.
"Now, sir," I said coldly, "what do you think of it?"
"I think that this night will see the end of our cause, until otherchildren are born who will grow up to know the wrongs to which thepeople of Russia have to submit. You may crush out nihilism to-day, butyou cannot crush it out forever. It will spring up again like----"
"Like the poisonous weed that it is. I expect that, but this presentgrowth will be cut down to-night. You do not ask what is to be donewith you, Ivan."
"Why should I? I know."
"I am afraid that you do not."
"One who would send my beautiful sister to Siberia--Bah! I will nottalk with you."
"Have I been unmerciful except to those who are confessed murderers,and those who are only awaiting a chance to kill?"
"No," he replied, reluctantly.
"Do you not see how impossible it is to accomplish what your peoplewant to do, by the commission of crimes? You, who were one of the menwaiting to kill me as soon as I came out of the house of yoursister--what was your first thought when my men fell upon and arrestedyou? Did you not think that your sister had betrayed you all to me?"
"Yes."
"Did you not say so?"
He hung his face in shame and answered:
"Yes."
"Is that not the thought among your friends at this moment, and wouldthe life of your sister be safe from them if she were in her own houseto-night?"
"It would not."
"And yet, you call such people your friends--those who would withoutquestion put her to death on mere suspicion--to a death to which youhave helped to condemn her by your own foul suspicions and the morefoul utterance of them. Shame on you, Ivan de Echeveria! Shame on you!"Pain contorted his face, and he was silent. "Did you fire the bulletthat so nearly killed me?" I asked.
"No, I did not do that, but I directed that it be done. You would nothave escaped if I had held the pistol."
"Perhaps not. It is unimportant, any way. Have you not wondered why Ibrought you to this house?"
"To torture me; that, at least, is what you are doing."
"I brought you here to save you."
"To save me!"
"Yes; from the folly of your youth. You are a man in years, but a boyin every act you commit. Have you manhood enough left in you to want tosave your sister, who now, thanks to you, has two enemies to face?Russia would send her to Siberia, and the nihilists would murder her.She would have sacrificed herself for you--she offered to do so. Areyou willing to sacrifice yourself for her?"
"God knows that I am."
"Will you prove it?"
"Oh, that I might!"
"You shall have the chance. I cannot quite trust you, Ivan, or, for hersake, I would loosen your bonds and set you free now. But you wouldhasten to your friends and warn them of their danger, and by that act,you would destroy your sister forever--by that act you would kill her.She is safe and will be safe, if they are not warned of what is tohappen to-night. Shall I set you free, and trust to your honor not togo to them?"
"No--no--no! For God's sake, no! Leave me bound! Tie me more tightly!Do not let me go! Kill me if you will, but do nothing to injure her.Oh, are you telling me the truth?"
"The whole truth, Ivan. I will leave you as you are until I return. Ido not think you will escape; I do not think that you will try to doso. But you must understand one thing: This night forever ends yourconnection with nihilism. That is the sacrifice you must make to saveyour sister. Will you make it?"
"If it will save her, I will make it. But will it?"
"If I find you here when I return, and if you are still in the samemood, I will take you to her, and she shall reply to that question forherself."
I left him then, and having altered my appearance sufficiently so thatI would not be recognized in the darkness, and being assured that theorders that I had given respecting the work of my men for that nightwould be carried ou
t, I hastened to the palace. I knew that I had adifficulty to face, for although I had unlimited confidence in thechivalry and generosity of Prince Michael, I also knew that he had anungovernable temper, and I began to fear that my delay in following himmight have led him to say something to the emperor, which wouldencompass me with puzzling conditions. As soon as I arrived at thepalace I was told that the prince was awaiting me in his apartments,and I hurried to him. He rose as I entered the room, and, bowingstiffly, without extending his hand as was his invariable habit, saidcoldly:
"You are late, Mr. Derrington. I expected you an hour earlier, atleast."
"I am very sorry, prince," I replied; "more sorry than I can say, tohave kept you waiting, but I have been unavoidably detained."
"May I ask if it was at my house?"
"I was at my own apartments."
"Ah!"
It was evident that he did not believe me, and that he meant me tounderstand that he did not, but I was determined not to quarrel withhim. Therefore I remained silent.
"May I venture to ask an explanation of the extraordinary proceedingsof the evening?" he asked, icily.
"Yes; I think I owe you that much. But would it not be better if Ifirst offered my respects to the czar? Then I can return here, and wecan enjoy a long chat together."
"His majesty knows that you were to come to me first. After I haveheard you, we will go to him together."
"Am I to understand, prince, that you have told his majesty of theoccurrences of to-night?"
"You are to understand exactly that. I have told him all; at least allthat I could tell."
"Indeed! In that case, we will go to him together. Such explanation asI have to make will be made in his presence. Whatever explanationsthere are to make are entirely in the princess' behalf, and I regretthat I took you at your word and supposed that you would wait for me.She can offer you her own thanks at a more opportune time."
I saw that he was endeavoring with all his strength to control himself,but the veins on his forehead swelled until I thought that they wouldburst. For a full minute we stood facing each other thus, both silent,and then he turned and led the way in the direction of the officialcabinet.
"Prince," I said, just before we entered, "you have no cause to quarrelwith me. Remember that in the interview that is to come."
He stopped short, and turned and faced me before the door of the czar'scabinet.
"Are you quite sure of that?" he demanded.
"I am quite sure. I remember another interview of this kind, when youadvised me what not to do. You have no warmer friend in Russia thanDaniel Derrington, prince."
For a moment he pondered. I saw that he was hesitating, for I knew thathe really liked me. But I also knew that he loved the princess, andthat he was jealous, for I had done an unprecedented thing in takingher to his house under the circumstances. For a woman to commit herselfto the care of a man in the way the princess had trusted herself to me,meant much more in Russia than it does in New York. The prince couldfind no excuse for the act; still less for my delay in following himwhen he left his own house in our possession. Presently he spoke. Hiswords came slowly and with careful deliberation.
"What I say now, Mr. Derrington, you may accept in whatsoever spirityou please, but upon my soul _I do not believe you_!"
I bowed, and we entered the cabinet together.