"As an amateur! Into the heart of Siberia! Explain your meaning. But first--Louise--what of her?" "I have just now left her." "Just now? A month ago, you mean?" "Five minutes ago." "Good God! what do you mean?" cried Alexis, growing very pale. "That Louise has accompanied me, and is now here." "Oh woman! woman! Thy heart is ever the same," murmured Alexis, while tear after tear rolled down his cheek. He was then silent for a time, but his lips moved, and I doubt not in thanksgiving to God for such happiness. "Where is she?" he at length exclaimed. "At the governor's house." He rushed towards the door. "I am mad," said he, pausing, "I forget that I cannot leave my cage without permission. My dearest friend, bring her here, I beseech you! Or stay, this man will go." He spoke in Russian to the Cossack, who went out. In a few minutes, and before I could answer a tithe of the numerous questions Alexis asked me, the man returned, but alone. "Well?" said the Count, changing countenance. "The governor says you must be aware that the prisoners are not allowed to receive visits from women." The Count struck his forehead with his clenched hand, and fell back upon a chair. His features were almost convulsed by the violence of his emotions. At last he turned to the Cossack. "Beg the sergeant to come here." The soldier left the room. "Can any thing be more horrible?" cried Alexis. "She has come nine hundred leagues to see me; she is not a hundred yards from me, and we are forbidden to meet!" "There must surely be some blunder," said I; "an order misunderstood, or something of the kind." Alexis shook his head doubtingly. There was a wild look of despair in his large dark eyes that alarmed me. At this moment, the sergeant who had charge of the prisoners entered. "Sir," cried the Count with vehemence, "the woman I love has left St Petersburg to join me, and after a thousand dangers and hardships has arrived here. I am now told that I shall not be allowed to see her. It is doubtless a mistake?" "No, sir," replied the sergeant coolly. "You know very well that the prisoners are not permitted to see women." "But Prince Troubetskoy has that permission. Is it because he is a prince?" "No, sir, it is because the princess is his wife." "And if Louise were my wife, should I be allowed to see her?" "Undoubtedly, sir!" "Ha!" ejaculated the Count, as though a weight were removed from off his heart. "I should like to speak with the priest," said he to the sergeant, after a moment's pause. "He shall be sent for immediately," was the reply. "And now my friend," said Alexis, turning to me, and taking my hands in his, "you have been Louise's guardian and defender, will you for once act as her father?"