More than once before I had spoken of her to him as the woman we both loved; but now the other words seemed fittest; for not half an hour back I had learned the truth, that, I think, I had known all along,--that she who lay in her coffin in the great drawing-room yonder was, if her rights had been acknowledged, the Grand Duchess Loris of Russia. It was Vassilitzi who told me.
"They were married months ago, in Paris,--before she went to England," he had said, and for a moment a bitter wave of memory swept over me, though I fought against it. Hadn't I decided long since that the queen could do no wrong, and therefore the deception she had practised counted for nothing? All that really mattered was that I loved her in spite of all; asked nothing more than to be allowed to serve her.
"You served her under a delusion," he rejoined with stern sadness. "And now it is no longer possible for you to serve her even so. I cannot discuss the matter with you; I cannot explain it,--I would not if I could. Only this I repeat. I request--command you, to make your way out of this country as soon as possible, and rejoin your friends in England, or America,--where you will. It may mean more to you than you dare hope or imagine. You will have some difficulty probably, though some of the trains are running again now. I think your safest plan will be to ride to Kutno--or if necessary even to Alexandrovo. Here is a passport, permitting you to leave Russia; it is made out in the name you assumed when you returned as 'William Pennington Gould,' and is quite in order. And I must ask you, for the sake of our friendship, to accept these"--he took a roll of notes out of the drawer of the writing-table--"and, as a memento,--this. It is the only decoration I am able to confer on a most chivalrous gentleman."
He held out a little case, open, and I took it with an unsteady hand. It contained a miniature of Anne, set in a rim of diamonds. I looked at it,--and at him,--but I could not speak; my heart was too full.
"There is no need of words, my friend; we understand each other well, you and I," he continued, rising and placing his hands on my shoulders. "You will do as I wish,--as I entreat--insist--?"