- der in the morning had at first caused such a panic and
had shaken my confidence in his knowledge, I was ready to believe him now.
"I could drive it blindfolded, your Honour," he said earnestly, when I questioned him. "I know every house, and cottage, and tree, almost every bump in the road—more than that, I could find my way secretly across the country were every road and bridle-path choked with armed men. It is my own country!" he exclaimed vehemently.
"How long will it take you?"
"It is fifty miles from the frontier to the first place where I can get fresh horses, and perhaps fifteen from here to that—at the outside say seventy miles. I can do it in seven hours with such horses as are waiting for me at every stage—probably less."
"You will be ready to start as soon as it is dusk," I told him, and, as the afternoon passed, I went to acquaint the Princess with our plans.
"You have left us long alone, Count," she said with a smile. "And I have needed you sorely. Nathalie here is in distress for news of Lieutenant Spernow."
"You may feel assured on his account," I said to the girl, who was very pale and troubled. "When we saw him last he was gaining rapidly on his pursuers, and was not at all likely to fall into their hands."
"But where is he? Why have you no news of him?" she wailed.
"Probably he knows no more than our enemies where we are. But he is safe. Both Captain Zoiloff and I are convinced of that." Her fears were not to be stayed by words, however, and in truth I myself had more than a misgiving on his account.
The Princess was eager for the moment to come when
