- tired for the night wondering what the morrow would
bring forth, when my household were roused by a loud summons at the door. My first thought was that the General had again sent his men to arrest me; and I was for resisting to the utmost, when it was discovered that the summons came from Zoiloff and Spernow, who had come in hot haste to bring me the great news and to confer with me as to our actions.
The perilous nature of the crisis was obvious, and my first thought was naturally for the Princess, with a deep and bitter regret that she had not done what I had urged so strongly—used the means we had to make a dash for the frontier.
Choosing half a dozen of my servants on whom I knew I could rely implicitly, we armed them fully and set out on foot for the Princess's house. The sounds of firing from the direction of the Palace reached us as we made our way through the streets, in which the people were beginning to cluster in groups drawn by curiosity and alarm, discussing in high and excited tones the meaning of the disturbance.
No one stayed or questioned us on the way to the Princess's house, but when we reached it we halted in amazement. Every window was dark, not a light showing anywhere, while the gates and doors and fore-*court were thronged with armed men.
"They've captured her!" exclaimed Zoiloff, instantly. "And we are helpless against such a crowd."
"We must know the truth," I said, my heart misgiving me. "You are best known, Spernow; go forward and try to ascertain the truth, whether the Princess has been carried away, and if so, where."
He went at once; and then Markov stepped up to me.
