"Understand me rightly. For an act of friendship or devotion he would have applied to _you_, but for money to his mother. I tell you again, either I do not know Count W----'s character, or this letter is not written by him." "But what will become of me? I have given every thing I possessed." "How did the Count usually sign his letters?" "Alexis always." "You see this one is signed W----. It is evidently a forgery and we must immediately inform the police." "And if we are mistaken? If it is not a forgery, by doing so I shall prevent his escape. Oh, no! Better lose the money. I can manage without. All that I am anxious to know is, whether he is at Perm." It occurred to me, that I might easily ascertain this latter point through a lieutenant of gendarmerie to whom I gave lessons; and begging Louise to wait my return, I hastened to his quarters. I told him I had particular reasons for wishing to know whether my friend W---- had reached Tobolsk, and asked him if it were possible to ascertain. He immediately sent an orderly for the non-commissioned officer who had commanded the Count's division. Ten minutes afterwards, Corporal Ivan entered the room; and, although I was not then aware of the service he had rendered the Countess and her daughters, I was immediately prepossessed in his favour, by his frank open countenance and soldierly bearing. "You commanded the sixth division of the prisoners lately sent to Siberia?" enquired I. "I did so, your excellency." "Count W---- was in your division?" The corporal hesitated, and did not seem much to like the question. "Fear nothing," said I, "you are speaking to a friend, who would sacrifice his own life for him. Tell me the truth, I beseech you. Was Count W---- ill on the road?" "Not the least." "Did he stop at Perm?" "Not even to change horses. I left him at Koslowo, a pretty little village on the Irtich, twenty leagues from Tobolsk." "You are sure of what you say?" "Quite sure. I had a receipt from the authorities, which I delivered over to his excellency the grand-master of police." I now hastened to Monsieur de Gorgoli, and related all that had passed. When I had finished-- "Is this young girl decided to go penniless, as she now is, to join her lover in Siberia?" "Quite decided, your excellency; and I am persuaded nothing will alter her resolution." "Then go, and tell her from me, that she shall have the permission." I hurried back to Louise, and informed her of the result of my two interviews. She appeared indifferent to the loss of her little fortune, but overjoyed to learn that she would be allowed to join her lover. Her only anxiety now was to obtain the requisite permission as soon as possible. Before leaving her, I placed at her disposal what money I had, which, unfortunately, was only two or three thousand rubles; for I had, a short time previously, remitted to France all that I had laid by during my residence at St Petersburg.