He raised his voice and called in English: "Lord Hastings!" The three figures stopped in their tracks and gazed quickly about. Frank repeated the cry: "Lord Hastings!" By this time guards had rushed toward Frank and seized him. Apparently they believed he was attempting to create a disturbance, for they could not understand his words. This commotion attracted the eyes of the Czar and Lord Hastings, who moved close to see what was going on. Lord Hastings uttered a sudden exclamation of surprise and turned to the Czar. "It is Frank Chadwick, my second officer," he exclaimed. "So," said the Czar. "Then I shall have him brought here." He gave a command to one of his officers and the latter approached the spot where Frank was struggling in the grasp of half-a-dozen guards. The officer thrust the men right and left, saying: "I shall take command of this man. His Majesty desires to question him." Immediately the guards fell back, as did the crowd, which had pushed forward to see what was going on and to lend a hand if it became necessary to quiet a man who had dared to raise his voice in the presence of the Czar. Frank breathed a sigh of relief as the Russian officer took charge of him. He knew that he had been successful. He approached the Russian Emperor and his own commander with a smile on his face. Lord Hastings was about to speak, but the Czar forestalled him. "So!" he exclaimed. "This is the manner in which you perform a mission for the Emperor. I send you to Moscow and I find you in Klaw. How do you account for that, sir?" "I have come to warn you, your Majesty," said Frank quietly. "Warn me? Warn me of what? I had expected word from you before this." "We have known nothing definite before," was Frank's reply, "nor have we had the opportunity of warning you. The plot against your Majesty has come to a head and the coup is to be sprung to-day by Count Blowinski." "So?" said the Czar again. "And what kind of a plot, pray?" "You are to be seized by Count Blowinski's troops, your Majesty, as you address them on the palace drill grounds." "But what if I am surrounded by my own personal body guard, with twenty thousand of my own troops within call?" asked the Czar. "Then your Majesty will be perfectly safe," returned Frank quietly. The Czar suddenly laughed aloud and turning to Lord Hastings slapped him heartily on the back. "Ha, my lord," he said. "Your young friend here feared that I would venture into the lion's den without weapons. He has come to warn me." "I have done the best I can, your Majesty," said Frank, with offended dignity. The Czar was quick to notice the change in the lad's tone and he at once felt the reason. "Come, my lad, I didn't mean to offend you," he exclaimed. "It is just my way, as Lord Hastings here, who knows me well, will tell you. I am deeply your debtor, and your friend's. By the way, where is he?"