The watchers kept their eyes fixed upon the centre of this ring, waiting for Wilfrid’s head to appear. The circle spread outward farther and farther, till it became imperceptible to the sense of sight. The surface of the water grew smooth again; one minute passed, two, three, and still Wilfrid was not to be seen, nor any trace of him. “By God! he’s gone! Caught in the mud at the bottom,” said the Ambassador in awe-struck tones. “Still alive, dear uncle!” said a voice, coming from the direction of the door. So deep was the amazement of the Ambassador and his lackeys at hearing the voice of one whom they had just taken for dead that for the moment they were powerless to do anything except to stare, vacant-eyed and open-mouthed, at Wilfrid’s smiling face, which in the dim light could be seen peeping in at them from the other side of the half-open door. “I knew that crash would fetch ’em from the door. Your attempt to imprison me, dear uncle, has cost you seven hundred roubles, for your marble Diana is lying at the bottom of the Fontanka. Well, good-bye! I’m off to that meeting!” Recovering from their stupor, the five men, mortified at being thus fooled, rushed forward, too late, however, to repair their blunder. During their three minutes’ watch at the window, Wilfrid had quietly removed the key from the inner side of the room to the outer, and before his foes had time to reach him, he shut the door, locked it, put the key in his pocket, walked downstairs, and escaped safely to the street. CHAPTER XXII “THIS DUEL MUST NOT BE” Wilfrid’s statement that he would face the Czar in duel was no boast, but who should be his second? Having no very high opinion of the Czar’s honour, Wilfrid considered it advisable to have a friendly witness to see fair play. But who would care to be his companion in a venture so perilous? He rapidly ran over in his mind the limited circle of friends, or rather of acquaintances, he had made in St. Petersburg, and knew full well there was not one upon whose spirit he could rely. Second the Czar’s adversary! The very idea would take away their breath. Without knowing it he had stopped short before the French Embassy, a fact of which he was made aware by observing a covered carriage whose panels bore the armorial device of the Marquis de Vaucluse. A moment afterwards the French Ambassador appeared, descending the steps of his mansion. “Ah!” murmured Wilfrid, an idea striking him. “Perhaps M. de Vaucluse can recommend a man bold enough to act as my second.” The Marquis, about to step into his carriage, stopped on seeing Wilfrid, and advanced with outstretched hand. “I must apologise,” said Wilfrid, “for returning from the masquerade without the Baroness, but a grave event has called me away. Can you favour me with a word in private?” De Vaucluse led the way into the entrance hall, and thence into a small cabinet.