Before morning he had decided that Mikhail Barenin must be told of Hope's presence there, and how it came about. For an unlikely, but still possible, chance encounter between them, even at a distance, might otherwise lead to trouble. As to telling Hope of the report of Serge's death, he could not make up his mind. He debated it with and against himself, and tried to look at it in every possible light. If he could have been absolutely assured of its truth he would not have hesitated. But he could not be sure. It might be true. It might very likely be true. It was just as likely to be true as not. Nay, he said to himself at last, it was more likely to be true than not. And thereupon brought himself to with a round turn and took himself soberly to task. For after all, looked at coldly, calmly, judicially--points of view only to be arrived at after severest condemnation of the self-confessed prisoner at the bar--it might not be true, and, above all thought of himself, was his thought for her, and--ay--of her. For, do what he would, now that the door of possibility, of probability--must he with shame confess it,--of hope, was unlatched by Mikhail Barenin's news, his thoughts refused the leash and ran freely. They leaped barriers, and climbed ladders whose end might rest in Kara snows, but whose summits touched rosy heavens. For a man may control his judgment, his words, his looks, but his thoughts have a will of their own and a way of their own, and when they take the bit it is time for him to pray that he may be delivered from evil. He saw Barenin again next day, and under cover of a careful examination of his patient, while the sentry looked on suspiciously from a distance, he managed to tell him what he wished. "Put out your tongue, Barenin," he said, "and listen to me before the watchdog barks. Hope Palma is here--keep your tongue out, man--she came expecting to find her husband, of course. We have been waiting news. I have not told her yet lest it should not be true. I am supposed to be Palma. She is supposed to be my wife. She lives in my house since it is not safe for a woman to live here alone. But she lives only in hope of word from Palma so that she may join him. Now you understand the situation." "I understand." There was a twinkle in his eye as he added, "For your sake I hope the news is true." "I wish only her happiness." "We know that who know you. It was a surprise to us all when she married Palma. Every one thought----" "Here comes the sentry. Your wrist---- So! You must remain here a day or two still. I will see you to-morrow." At home he imposed so strict a guard upon himself, lest the tumult which Barenin's news had excited in him should escape in look or tone, that to Hope it seemed that he had suddenly become cold and distant as never before.