The Price of Power Part 38

So, with sudden resolve, I took the Nord Express once more back across Europe, and four days later found myself again in my old room at the Emba.s.sy, where Stoyanovitch brought me a command to audience from the Emperor.

How can I adequately describe the interview, which took place in a s.p.a.cious room in the Palace of Tzarskoie-Selo.

"So your friend Madame de Rosen was unfortunately dead before you reached Yakutsk," remarked His Majesty gravely, standing near the window in a brilliant uniform covered with glittering decorations, for he had just returned from an official function. "I heard of it," he added.

"The Governor-General Vorontzoff reported to me by telegraph. Indeed, Trewinnard, I had frequent reports of your progress. I am sorry you undertook such a journey all in vain."

"I beg of Your Majesty's clemency towards the dead woman's daughter Luba," I asked.

But he only made a gesture of impatience, saying:

"I have already demanded a report on the whole case. Until that comes, I regret I cannot act. Vorontzoff will see that the girl is not sent farther north, and no doubt she will be well treated."

In a few brief words I described some of the scenes I had witnessed on the Great Post Road, but the Emperor only sighed heavily and replied:

"I regret it, I tell you. But how can I control the loyal Cossacks sent to escort those who have made attempts upon my life? I admit most freely that the exile system is wrong, cruel--perhaps inhuman. Yet how can it be altered?"

"If Your Majesty makes searching inquiry, he will find some terrible injustices committed in the name of the law."

"In confidence, I tell you, I am having secret inquiry made in certain quarters," he replied. "And, Trewinnard, I wish you, if you will, to make out for me a full and confidential report on your journey, and I will then have all your allegations investigated."

I thanked him. Though an autocrat, he was yet a humane and just ruler-- when he was allowed to exercise justice, which, unfortunately, was but seldom.

"My journey had a tragic sequel in Yakutsk, Sire," I said presently, "and upon my return to England I was met with still another misfortune-- a misfortune upon which I desire to consult Your Imperial Majesty."

"What?" he asked, opening his eyes widely. "A further misfortune?"

"I regret to be compelled to report that her Imperial Highness the Grand d.u.c.h.ess Natalia has disappeared," I said in a low voice.

His dark, heavy brows narrowed, his cheeks went pale, and his lips compressed.

"Disappeared!" he gasped. "What do you mean? Describe this latest escapade of hers--for I suppose it is some ridiculous freak or other?"

"I fear not, Sire," was my reply. Then, having described to him the facts as I have related them here to you, my reader, omitting, of course, all reference to Richard Drury, I added: "What I fear is that Her Highness has fallen victim to some revolutionary plot."

"Why? What motive can the revolutionary party have in making an attempt upon her--a mere giddy girl?"

"The fame motive which incited the attempt in Petersburg, in which her lamented father lost his life," was my quiet reply.

His Majesty touched a bell, and in answer Stoyanovitch appeared upon the threshold and saluted.

"If General Markoff is still here I desire to see him immediately."

The Captain saluted, backed out and withdrew.

I held my breath. This was, indeed, a misfortune. I had no wish that Markoff should know of the inquiries I was inst.i.tuting.

"May I venture to make a request of Your Majesty?" I asked in a low, uncertain voice.

"What is it?" he asked with quick irritation.

"That General Markoff shall be allowed to remain in ignorance of Her Highness's disappearance?"

"Why?" asked the Emperor, looking across at me in surprise.

"Because--well, because, for certain reasons, I believe secrecy at present to be the best course," I replied somewhat lamely.

"Nonsense!" was his abrupt response. "Natalia is missing. You suspect that she has fallen victim to some conspiracy. Therefore Markoff must know, and our Secret Police must investigate. Markoff knows of every plot as soon as it is conceived. His organisation is marvellous. He will probably know something. Fortunately, he had only just left me on your arrival."

His Excellency probably left the Emperor's presence because he did not wish to meet me face to face.

Again I tried to impress upon His Majesty that, as Hartwig had commenced an investigation in England, the matter might be left to him. But he only replied:

"Hartwig is head of the criminal police. He therefore has little, if any, knowledge of the revolutionaries. No, Trewinnard. This is essentially a matter for Markoff."

I bit my lips, for next second the white-enamelled steel door of that bomb-proof room in which we were standing was thrown open, and a chamberlain announced:

"His Excellency General Serge Markoff!"

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

THE EMPEROR'S FAVOURITE.

For a second the famous chief of Secret Police turned his cunning, steel-blue eyes upon mine and bowed slightly, after making obeisance to His Majesty.

"Why, I believed, Mr Trewinnard, that you were still in Siberia!" he said with a crafty smile. Though my bitterest enemy, he always feigned the greatest friendliness.

"Trewinnard has just revealed a very painful and serious fact, Markoff,"

exclaimed the Emperor, in a deep, earnest voice. "Her Highness the Grand d.u.c.h.ess Natalia has disappeared."

The General gave no sign of surprise.

"It has already been reported to us," was his calm answer. "I have not reported it, in turn, to Your Majesty, fearing to cause undue alarm.

Both here and in England we are inst.i.tuting every possible inquiry."

"Another plot," I remarked, with considerable sarcasm, I fear.

"Probably," was His Excellency's reply, as he turned to His Imperial Master, and in that fawning voice of his, added: "Your Majesty may rest a.s.sured that if Her Highness be alive she will be found, wherever she may be."

Hatred--hatred most intense--arose within my heart as I glanced at the sinister face of the favourite before me, the man who had deliberately ordered the commission of that crime which had resulted in the death of the Emperor's brother, the Grand Duke Nicholas. To his orders had been due that exciting episode in which I had so nearly lost my life in Siberia; at his orders, too, poor Marya de Rosen had been deliberately sent to her grave; and at his orders had been planned the conspiracy against the Grand d.u.c.h.ess which Danilo Danilovitch had intended to carry into execution, and would no doubt have done, had he not been prevented by Hartwig's boldness.

I longed to turn and denounce him before his Imperial Master. Indeed, hot, angry words were upon my lips, but I suppressed them. No! The time was not yet ripe. Natalia herself had promised to make the revelations, and to her I must leave them.

I must find her--and then.

"Ah!" exclaimed His Majesty, well pleased. "I knew that you would be already informed, Markoff. You know everything. Nothing which affects my family ever escapes you."

"I hope not, Sire. I trust I may ever be permitted to display my loyalty and grat.i.tude for the confidence which Your Majesty sees fit to repose in me."

"To your astuteness, Markoff, I have owed my life a score of times," the Emperor declared. "I have already acknowledged your devoted services.