The Princess fixed her eyes on the image of the Saviour crowned with thorns hung up in the corner of the room, and she remained motionless for several minutes, as though breathing a silent and fervent prayer. “The brave alone live!” said she, rising and drawing herself up to her full height. “Once his wife, he cannot betray me.… I shall go.… But, remember, I’ll not give up either liberty or heart without a struggle.… What is to happen will happen soon.…” I again heartily congratulated the Princess. “Ah! another thing, Konsov,” she said, stopping me. “Tell me truly, in all conscience, as before God, is it this same Orloff who helped your empress to obtain the throne?” “The very same.” “How brave! how gallant! what a hero!” said the Princess, with animation. “Fearless Cid! Bayard! A spark of God’s Spirit gives such men their bravery and their fearlessness.” I went away full of joy at the successful issue of our plan. Still I had certain misgivings. “Does the Princess know of his other feat? Why did I not tell her of that other dark, unpardonable sin?” I was only faithful to my duty, obeyed the orders of my superior, but could not help pitying the woman. Heavy doubts overwhelmed me, and all night I could not shut my eyes. “Duty is duty, but, if--? Should I go to-morrow morning,” whispered my conscience, “and warn her? There’s time; let her think well, weigh everything, and then decide.” When dawn broke, I got up, dressed, and hastened to the house of the count. Before the house quite a crowd of people had collected. Carriages were driving to and fro. I made my way through the throng. The count and Princess had already taken their seats in a carriage. Christianok was seated in another. Some of the servants occupied a third. “Make haste, Konsov! Take your place. We were only waiting for you!” Unconsciously almost I took my place by Christianok. The train started. After the heavy rain, the morning had emerged into a beautiful calm. “What do you see in all this?” Christianok asked me, when we had fairly started. “In what?” “Well, in this little _voyage_?” “I really do not know, and dare not guess,” I answered. “Well, to-morrow there will be a bridal couple,” he said, and smiled. “They’ll be married.” “But where’s the church?” “What is the Fleet church for? They’ll get on the Admiralty ship, and there be spliced in a trice. But of course it was only for that she consented to go.…” “Then it _is_ true?” “Well! don’t you see it yourself? The count seems to be on wings; it seemed too good to be true. So, you see, the fairy tale will soon become a true event.”