He signaled to Frank and the boy stepped forward. Approaching close to Count Blowinski, Frank gazed at him quietly. "Have you anything more to say, Count?" asked the Czar, with a cold smile. "Nothing," was the sullen response, "except this." Before any one could realize what he was up to, the count leaped forward, and, throwing his left arm around Frank's neck, struck him heavily in the face three times. In vain the lad struggled to release the grasp. The count's hold was like a grip of iron. The Russian troopers sprang forward at a word from their officer and laid hold of the count, who struggled viciously and clung to Frank's neck tenaciously. But the grip of the soldiers told at last and the count was dragged away, muttering fierce imprecations to himself. "You see, my dear Count," said the Czar softly, "it is no use. You have played right into my hands; and now that you have played, you must pay the piper." "I assure your Majesty----" began the count, straightening himself up and maintaining an air of ruffled dignity. "Tut, tut, Count!" protested the Czar, with a wave of his hand. "Why deny what is so plainly apparent. You are guilty and I know it. Why, I have had proof for days. I just laid this little trap to catch you as you were about to strike. But, my dear Count, I assure you that after this, your claws will not be sharp enough to scratch. What do you say, Count, shall it be death or Siberia?" "You do not leave me much choice," replied the count, having regained his composure and facing the ruler calmly. "Let it be death." "In that event," said the Czar, "it shall be Siberia." "Your Majesty----" again began the count. The Czar silenced him with a wave of his hand. "Take him away," he commanded the officer in charge of the squad. Struggling and kicking frantically, Count Blowinski was dragged from the room. "Now," said the Czar to Lord Hastings, "I can breathe easier. His very presence had polluted the air. Come. We shall return to my suite." He arose and the others followed him from the room. Alone with the Czar, and Lord Hastings, Frank was moved to ask: "And what do you suppose has become of Jack, sir?" "By Jove! I don't know," said Lord Hastings. "He should have turned up by this time." "Well, he hasn't, sir," replied Frank quietly. "No. Suppose you take a run over to your rooms and have a look for him," instructed Lord Hastings. Frank disappeared, but returned a few moments later announcing that he could find no trace of his chum. "Strange!" said the Czar. "But wait. Perhaps he was wounded in the fighting. I shall summon General Burgoff. By this time he will have a list of the injured. He may know something of him." The Czar immediately despatched an orderly for the general, but it was half an hour later before the officer arrived. In that time Frank's uneasiness had increased to a certainty that his chum was in danger of some kind.