On the lower deck a
passage ran down the center of the ship, and along this the conductor
guided his prisoner, opened the door of a stateroom in which candles
were burning, and a comfortable bed turned down for occupancy.
"I think your Highness will find everything here that you need. If
anything further is required, the electric bell will summon an
attendant, who will get it for you."
"Am I not to be confronted with whoever is responsible for my arrest?"
"I know nothing of that, your Highness. My duty ends by escorting you
here. I must ask if you have any other weapon upon you?"
"No, I have not."
"Will you give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape?"
"I shall escape if I can, of course."
"Thank you, Excellency," replied the officer, as suavely as if
Lermontoff had given his parole. Out of the darkness he called a tall,
rough-looking soldier, who carried a musket with a bayonet at the end
of it. The soldier took his stand beside the door of the cabin.
"Anything else?" asked the Prince.
"Nothing else, your Highness, except good-night."
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to pay my cabman. Of course it isn't his
fault that he brought me here."
"I shall have pleasure in sending him to you, and again, good-night."
"Good-night," said the Prince.
He closed the door of his cabin, pulled out his note-book, and rapidly
wrote two letters, one of which he addressed to Drummond and the other
to the Czar.
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