The Red Symbol

by John Ironside

  CHAPTER XXXVII

  THE PRISONER OF ZOSTROV

  The castle stood within a great quadrangle, which we entered through amassive stone gateway guarded by two sentries. Two more were stationedat the top of a steep and wide marble stairway that led up to theentrance hall, and the whole place seemed swarming with soldiers, andservants in handsome liveries. A couple of grooms came to hold ourhorses, and a third took possession of my valise, containing chiefly adress suit and some shirts. My other belongings were coming on in thewagon.

  Mishka's manner underwent a decided change from the moment we enteredthe castle precincts. The bluff and often grumpy air of familiarity wasgone, and in its place was the surly deference with which he had treatedme at first. As we neared the end of our journey, he had once morewarned me to be on my guard, and remember that I must appear as an utterstranger to the Duke and all about him, except Mishka himself.

  "You have never been in Russia before," he repeated. "And you speak onlya few words of Russian, which I have taught you on our way. That willmatter little, since most here speak French and German."

  He parted from me with a deferential salute, after handing me over tothe care of a gorgeously attired functionary, whom I found to be a kindof majordomo or house steward. This imposing person welcomed me verycourteously; and I gathered that I was supposed to be a new addition tothe Grand Duke's suite. I had rather wondered on what footing I shouldbe received here, especially since Mishka's remark, a while back, aboutthe "prisoner." But some one--Loris himself or Mishka, or both ofthem--had planned things perfectly, and I am sure that no one beyondourselves and the elder Pavloff, who was also in the secret, had theslightest suspicion that I was other than I appeared to be.

  My new acquaintance himself conducted me to the rooms prepared forme,--a spacious bedroom and sitting-room, with plain, massive furniture,including a big bookcase that occupied the whole of an alcove betweenthe great Russian stove and the outer wall. Facing this was a doorleading to a smaller dressing and bath room, where the lackey who hadcarried up my valise was in waiting.

  "This Nicolai will be in attendance on you; he speaks German," mycourteous guide informed me in French. "He will bring you all you need;you have only to give him orders. You will dine at the officers' mess,and after dinner his Highness will give you audience."

  "Does Monsieur Pavloff--the land steward--live in the castle?" I asked,thinking it wise to emphasize my assumed role. "I understand that I'llhave to work with him."

  "No; his house is some two versts distant. But he is often in attendancehere, naturally. Perhaps you will see him to-night; if not, withoutdoubt, you will meet him to-morrow. Nicolai awaits your orders, and yourkeys."

  He bowed ceremoniously, and took himself off.

  That Nicolai was a smart fellow. He already had the bath prepared,--Imust have looked as if I wanted one,--and when I gave him the key of mybag, he laid out my clothes with the quick deftness of a well-trainedvalet.

  I told him I shouldn't want him any more at present, but when I hadbathed and changed, I found him still hovering around in the next room.He had set a tea-table, on which the silver samovar was hissinginvitingly. He wanted to stay and wait on me, but I wouldn't have that.Smart and attentive as he was, he got on my nerves, and I felt I'drather be alone. So I dismissed him, and, in obedience to some instinctI didn't try to analyze, crossed the room softly, and locked the doorthrough which he had passed.

  I had scarcely seated myself, and poured out a glass of deliciousRussian tea,--which is as wine to water compared with the crudebeverage, diluted with cream, which Americans and western Europeans calltea,--when I heard a queer little sound behind me. I glanced back, andsaw that one section of the big bookcase had moved forward slightly.With my right hand gripping the revolver that I had transferred from mytravelling suit to the hip pocket of my evening clothes, I crossedswiftly to the alcove, just as some three feet of the shelves swungbodily inwards, revealing a doorway behind, in which stood none otherthan Mishka.

  "The fool has gone; but is the outer door locked?" he asked in acautious undertone.

  "Yes," I answered, noticing as I spoke that he stood at the top of anarrow spiral staircase.

  "That is well. Approach, Highness; all is safe," he whispered down thedarkness behind him, and flattened himself against the narrow wallspace, as a second figure came into sight,--the Grand Duke Lorishimself, who greeted me with outstretched hand.

  "I do not care for this sort of thing,--this elaborate secrecy, Mr.Wynn," he said softly in English. "But unfortunately it is necessary.Let us go through to your dressing-room. There it is less likely that wecan be overheard."

  I followed him in silence. He sat himself down on the wide marble edgeof the bath, and looked at me, as I stood before him, as though hisbrilliant blue eyes would read my very soul.

  "So you have come; as I thought you would. And you are very welcome. Butwhy have you come?"

  "Because I hope to serve your Highness, and--she whom we both love," Ianswered promptly.

  "Yes, I was sure of that, although we have met only twice or thrice. Iam seldom mistaken in a man whom I have once looked in the eyes; and Iknow I can trust you, as I dare trust few others,--none within thesewalls save the good Mishka. He has told you that I am virtually aprisoner here?"

  I bowed assent.

  "I am closely guarded, my every word, my every gesture noted; thoughwhen the time is ripe, or when she sends word that she needs me, I shallslip away! There is a great game, a stern one, preparing; and there willbe a part for us both to play. I will give you the outline to-night,when I shall come to you again. That staircase yonder leads down to myapartments. I had it made years ago by foreign workmen, and none savemyself and the Pavloffs--and you now--know of its existence, so far.In public we must be strangers; after the formal audience I give youto-night I shall probably ignore you altogether. But as Gould, theAmerican farming expert, you will be able to come and go, riding theestates with Pavloff--or without him--and yet rouse no suspicion.To-night I shall return as I said; and now _au revoir_."

  He left just in time, for a minute or two after I had unlocked thedoor, Nicolai reappeared, and conducted me to an ante-room where I foundquite a throng of officers, one of whom introduced himself as ColonelGrodwitz, and presented me to several of the others. They all treatedme with the easy courtesy which well-bred Russians assume--anddiscard--with such facility; but then, and later, I had to be constantlyon guard against innumerable questions, which, though asked in whatappeared to be a perfectly frank and spontaneous manner, were, I wasconvinced, sprung on me for the purpose of ascertaining how much I knewof Russia and its complicated affairs.

  But I was quite ready for them, and if they had any suspicions I hopethey abandoned them for the present.

  After dinner a resplendent footman brought a message to Grodwitz, whothereupon told me that he was to conduct me to his Highness, who wouldreceive me now.

  "Say, what shall I have to do?" I asked confidentially as we passedalong a magnificent corridor. "I've been to a levee held by the King ofEngland, but I don't know anything of Russian Court etiquette."

  He laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

  "There is no need for you to observe etiquette, _mon ami_. Are you notan American and a Republican? Therefore none will blame you if you areunceremonious,--least of all our puissant Grand Duke! Have you not heardthat he himself is a kind of '_Jacques bonhomme_'?"

  "That means just a peasant, doesn't it?" I asked obtusely. "No, I hadn'theard that."

  He laughed again.

  "Did the good Mishka tell you nothing?"

  "Why, no; he's the surliest and most silent fellow I've ever travelledwith."

  "He is discreet, that Mishka," said Grodwitz, and drew himself upstiffly as the footman, who had preceded us, threw open a door, andushered us into the Duke's presence.

  He was standing before a great open fireplace in which a log firecrackled cheerily, and beside him was the little fat officer I hadseen him w
ith before; while there were several others present, allceremoniously standing, and looking more or less bored.

  Our interview was brief and formal; but I noted that the fat officerand Grodwitz were keenly observant of all that passed.

  "Well, that's all right," I said with a sigh of relief, when Grodwitzand I were back in the corridor again. "But there doesn't seem to bemuch of the peasant about him!"

  "I was but jesting, _mon ami_," Grodwitz assured me. "But now yourordeal is over. You will take a hand at bridge, _hein_?"