"Oh, my God, General, do not say that. I shall go mad. You must save her!" I cried in anguish.
"The King is fighting hard for you, Dr. Wharton—for you and your Solonika. He has surprised me at the concessions already won. You must appreciate this. The odds are great. Our Patriarch has been in communication with the Patriarch of all the Russias, the man who stands next to the Tzar. Nicholas had him wire this man, after sending his own representative in the Secret Order to state the case and plead for you. What little concessions he won came from this more enlightened Patriarch. But he, too, demands that the woman be given to the church she has wronged."
Solonika’s fate seemed sealed. After our bitter fight upon the stairs, and all the heartburnings, she was lost.
"Tell Nick how much I thank him," I faltered.
"I will bear your message to the King," replied the General. "Acting under his instructions, I am here to ask you to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Your steamer trunk and suit case at Castle Framkor have been packed, and are now aboard my yacht at Bizzett. In a few hours it will be dark. We can smuggle you out very easily without being seen."
"Why all this secrecy?" I asked, aghast at the thought of leaving Solonika to her fate.
"The peasantry will tear you limb from limb if they see you."
"The priests have that much hold over them?"
"Aye. Do not underrate the power of the Church. It is the one thing I fear."
"They are taking you away from her," was all I heard my heart say.
"Once safe on the yacht nothing can harm you. You will reach Naples and take passage to your home."
"Is that the best the King can offer?" I asked, my resolve taking form.
"Then this is my answer. Tell that King that I cannot live without Solonika. Tell him, though he banish me from Bharbazonia, I shall return when she is dead and betray myself to the populace. If the church must take her life they can have mine also. Tell him that I thank him for all he has done for me and that I do not hold him guilty for that wherein he has failed."
Palmora looked at me in amazement. "Was this man sane?" He shook his head sadly.
"Furthermore, General, I give you fair warning I shall not leave this country willingly. If the King insists that I shall go, send your strongest men to the task."