There was something here which he did not understand, but nothing was further from his thoughts than the actual fact. He had looked for triumphant jubilation at the success of his exploit. Instead, he found sober faces and quiet acquiescence, and nothing more. But he put it all down to the effects of Kara, and it was not till they drew up at the first post-house for change of horses that Paul found his opportunity. "I must speak with you, Palma," he said, as they dismounted. "Nu! We will go along the road," said Serge, with a look of surprise, but just then the teléga came lumbering up and its occupants jumped out and came towards them. "Tea for the barina," shouted Serge to the post-master, and turned to meet the others. They were bright-faced young fellows, clad in green Cossack uniforms, with bandoliers and Berdan rifles. They saluted gravely, each with one eye closed in a solemn wink, as they approached. "Don't give yourselves away, my children!" said Palma. "Drivers have eyes, and these return to Kara. Pavlof, this is Loris Blok, and this Alex Rimof. They are from Moscow. Good boys both, and longing for a fight before we get through. We are going to walk on. You two see that Madame is attended to. Now, my friend!" and he and Paul turned and walked along the road. They walked in silence for a time. Never had Paul faced a more difficult situation, and he scarcely knew how to begin. "Well!" said Serge at last. "What is it?" "I am going to bruise your heart, Serge Petrovitch. But you must hear the whole truth, and you must not judge us harshly." Palma looked sharply round at him. His face crumpled perplexedly and the jovial light had fled from it. He was beginning to fear, if not to understand. "For two whole years we had no news of you, except news of your death----" "Ah!" "Mikhail Barenin brought the first report. That was fourteen months ago. Then one, Felix Ostrog, came saying you were shot while trying to escape in his company near Tomsk. That was nearly twelve months ago." "Go on!" said Palma grimly. He began to understand. "Hope Ivanovna waited for news of you with a breaking heart----" "I sent you word."