“Konsov, you are now no longer a boy!” said Alexis Gregorevitch, turning his keen eagle eyes upon me. “This is a most important State affair. Be careful, not only of your actions and your words, but even of your very thoughts. Can you swear to be silent on everything?” “Your Grace, I give you my oath.” “Well, then, listen, and--remember--you answer me with your head.”[27] The count stopped, and his thoughtful gaze seemed to pierce my very soul; then he added, “Don’t forget; you know me of old--your head!…” We crossed the garden, and sat on an isolated bench. “Of course it will not be very difficult to catch this calumniated person,” said the count; “you’re obliged to do a great deal sometimes, when you are ordered to do it. But would it be honest now? What do you think about it?--Mysteriously--deceitfully? Ah! and especially with a woman.--It would be a pity now, wouldn’t it?” “Of course it would,” answered I, in my simplicity; “of course we must conquer our enemies; but then openly--otherwise everybody will have the right to call us traitors, soul-killers.” At this minute the eyes of the count twinkled very curiously. He closed them quickly, as though something had blown into them. “Of course, of course, old man, it would be mean.… You and I are not executioners,” said he. “Of course they wouldn’t write from Petersburg for nothing; and then, who knows what they think about us there? But there now, I’ll be open. I received two secret envoys from over there, tempting and inducing me to turn traitor.… Could I expect such a thing? Isn’t it an insult, after all my long years of faithful devotion? Ah! what think you of that?” The frankness of the count struck me with astonishment, and flattered my vanity. “What a lot falls to the great of this earth!” thought I and from the bottom of my heart I pitied the count, whose fallen greatness I knew already. Alexis Gregorevitch put several questions to me about the Princess and her _entourage_, told me he would employ me as adjutant, and dismissed me with the order to go to Bologna and await his commands. I thanked him for his attention, and took my leave. The next day the count left for Livorno[28] to visit his squadron, and remained away a whole week. As I was without any money and in great want of everything, it was not very pleasant for me. I had no one to write to in Russia. Several more days passed. At last I was summoned. The count received me in his study. “Can you guess, Konsov, what I’ve to tell you?” he asked me, arranging some papers. “How can I guess the thoughts of Your Grace?” “Here’s a note. Go to the purser, get some money, pay your debts. Send the money to those French creditors. You’ve ruined yourself in the service. To-morrow you go to Rome.” I bowed, and awaited further orders. “Do you know why?” asked the count. “I cannot guess.”