Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/261

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When she turned her face to me, it was so full of anguish and pain that it made my heart ache.

"How can I save those whom I have involved in this?"

"We are thinking of you, Princess," I answered.

"Oh no, no, not of me!" she exclaimed vehemently. "For myself I care nothing. Heaven knows, my motives have not been inspired by mere personal ambition. I do not crave a throne, but I have longed with a passion I cannot perhaps make you feel, to spread the blessing of freedom among the people. For this end I have striven; and now it seems I have failed. Do not think of me. I will not think of myself. But to bring others to ruin is more than I can endure. Tell me—what do you advise? What can I do?"

"There seem but two courses open," I said, and told her what Zoiloff and I had agreed together.

"You did not think that I would fly and leave those who have rallied to my cause to bear the brunt while I was seeking the coward's refuge of safety?" she asked, half indignant that I should even have suggested it.

"No, I did not," I answered quietly; "I knew you;" and her eyes thanked me for the words. "I should remind you, too, that this check has come so suddenly and prematurely for our plans that there are very few who are really involved in any danger. We have barely had time to throw off the veil of Russia's sanction of our efforts, so that there are scarcely more than a handful of us who know the real object of the scheme; and General Kolfort would be unable to bring home even to them any acts against Russia. It is he who has encouraged the plans laid "In the name of a Woman," and his own writing was in evidence to prove it. You will remember my early insistence upon the