“The Prince Paul,” he assented stolidly. “He consented. The Prince looked kindly upon it; the Princess would not give a definite answer. When the Prince arrived, she said, she would give him her answer personally.” “This is your arrangement?” I asked. “It was a diplomatic stroke,” he said. “You took an unwarrantable liberty,” I cried warmly. “Why was I not told of this before?” “Because you would not have come.” “And now?” “Now it is different. You are caught in the toils.” “It is an unwarrantable liberty! You have engaged me matrimonially without any reference to my feelings.” “I have engaged Prince Paul.” “Who am I?” “Who you are for the present. My dear Havensea, you do not consider my position.” “You have had precious little consideration for mine!” “It is not yours. You are an actor playing a role. In a short while you will make a graceful bow and exit.” “I am not at all sure that it will be graceful.” “As you will. That does not matter at all. You play a part for a little while. They will not dare to keep the real Prince a prisoner for long.” “I am to cheat this girl?” “What does it matter? It is a royal alliance—there are no considerations but that of policy. I do not propose to marry you to her.” “Thanks. That is considerate.” “My dear Havensea, you are perturbed. The Princess is to marry the Crown. She is piqued at the long delay of the Prince. There is no question of sentiment.” “Suppose there were?” He looked at me curiously for a moment. “That is a proposition I will not entertain,” he answered. “I will not do it!” I cried angrily. “You will,” he replied quietly. “You have already impersonated the King. Have you considered the consequences? I say nothing about you. You are a brave man. But you have already compromised many honest men—and one dishonest old man. We are only half civilized. That is part of our charm—at least to you. The people would be very angry. You would be killed!” “By Jove, you are a pleasant philosopher!” “To a brave man that may mean little—life is a mere stake. But the honest men and the dishonest old man would die also. You could not have my death upon your conscience!” “You deserve it, my General; you deserve it, on my honor!” “Possibly.” He waved it aside resolutely as a matter of small consequence. “There is also Ertaria. Shall we grant that the Princess may not be happy? Then there is one woman unhappy and a nation free. Havensea, you do not understand the stake for which we play. It is not a crown, nor a woman’s heart, but a nation’s freedom. The heel of Russia bruises the very souls of men. Russia knouts a man’s soul. Where is Poland today? It is a great game to save a nation from that curse.”