"Ah yes. You are right. The third funeral awaits me!" With that she hastened into her gondola, and within its closed curtains sang, in a low voice: "By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept; For they that led us away captive required of us a song, Saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning." CHAPTER XXXV SPARKS AND ASHES Zeneida's gondola glided quickly past the funeral barge back to Kreskowsky Island. Her guests were entertaining themselves without her. They were used to do so. The conspirators were largely represented; even Pestel, from far-off Nikolajevsk, was there. To-night the conflicting parties were to measure themselves; the decision was to be made which plan should be the accepted one: the one which should give freedom by means of the Czar; or that which, regardless of him, living or dead, should carry the work to its completion. As the fireworks commenced, the Bojars withdrew from the gay scene to the roulette chamber. There were three-and-twenty men and Zeneida. Prince Ghedimin alone was still expected; he was to come direct from the Czar. He came. He had a long envelope, sealed with five seals, in his hand. In extreme agitation all awaited the opening of the document. The Prince cut the seals with a pair of scissors, opened the envelope, and there fell from it the ashes of some burned sheets of paper, as they had been reclaimed from the fire. It was the anxiously awaited _charta_--reduced to ashes. "I said so!" exclaimed Pestel, with triumphant countenance. "The whole thing was a comedy. Scarce three months has it lasted. There's an end of fine words. Now to dark deeds!" Nothing was left but to decide if _the deed_ should be consummated. They voted openly and by name. There were twelve ayes and twelve noes. "There is still one to give the casting vote," said Pestel. "Here is the 'Votum Minervæ.' Here is Zeneida. Her vote shall decide it." Zeneida saw the deadly pallor which had overspread Ghedimin's face. With calm voice she said, "Aye." Thirteen to twelve the majority for the deed. But when? That was the next question. Pestel said, "At once." Ryleieff moved that in September would be their best opportunity, at the concentration of the army. "To-day," growled Jakuskin. "Not to-morrow!" Fresh votes had to be taken. "At once, or in September?" Once more the votes were twelve to twelve. Once more Zeneida was called upon to give the casting vote. Upon her breath hung the decision whether the world at that very hour should be shattered to its foundations. "In September," she said; and Ghedimin gave a deep breath of relief. Pestel shrugged his shoulders wrathfully. "Then it were better to put it off until May, to try the success of the concentration of the army in Kiew. There in the South we are the masters."