Ivan resumed: "The thought of vengeance may have been dear to him—dear as was your hand to you—still at the command of his King, and for his sake, it was surrendered, and that joyfully. You see?"
"I see." Michael relapsed into silence, and stood gazing thoughtfully upon the city spread out beneath their feet, and growing every moment clearer in the dawning light. At last he said, turning once again to Ivan, "Barrinka, it is true I gave my hand for the Czar. But I never thought he would care—or even hear of it. He did though; he spoke to me with his own lips. He thanked me, and said I had been found faithful. Not one hand, but two, would have been well lost for that. But will his King speak to the Czar and thank him?"
"Yes," Ivan answered, "he will, though I cannot tell how. God has many ways of speaking to his servants."
In due time the day broke, and the sun arose over Paris. Then came relief and refreshment for the troops, and surgical help and care for the wounded. Then came also the tidings, flashing from rank to rank, "The capitulation is signed. The city has surrendered without conditions. At half-past three o'clock this morning, the keys of Paris were placed in the hands of Alexander."
