sure of efficient help, and I calculated that his vacillation would cause him to turn now and claim the help of our party in his defence. A worse than useless effort, as I knew, owing to the impossibility of rallying to his cause the men who had been turned from him by his weakness. Not only could we do no good for him, but we should imperil the great patriotic rising for no purpose.
I was therefore driven back upon the distasteful course of duping the woman who had thus threatened us.
"Would to heaven she were a man!" And each time the thought broke from me in involuntary utterance, I pictured how easy it would then be to act.
As I was riding back, moody and thoughtful, I met the carriage of the Princess. She caught sight of me when I was still at a distance, and her lovely face was wreathed with a radiant smile as she checked her horses and greeted me. Mademoiselle Broumoff was by her side, and her keen, sharp eyes were quick to read trouble in my face.
"You look very thoughtful, Count," said the Princess, "as if heavy military affairs were weighing upon you."
"I have been thinking out the answer to a very ingenious problem set me this morning," I said, trying to speak lightly.
"It has been a trying problem for your horse, I should think," she said, glancing at his flanks, which were covered with foam, for I had ridden hard.
"Not more so than for his rider, I assure you."
"I hope it has not distressed you as much."
"The Count carries the sign of that in his face," said the little Broumoff, earnestly. "I hope it is no more than a military problem."
