When the cabman came he took him within the cabin and
closed the door.
"Here," he said in a loud voice that the sentry could overhear if he
liked, "how much do I owe you?"
The driver told him.
"That's too much, you scoundrel," he cried aloud, but as he did so he
placed three gold pieces in the palm of the driver's hand together
with the two letters, and whispered:
"Get these delivered safely, and I'll give you ten times this money if
you call on Prince Lermontoff at the address on that note."
The man saluted, thanked him, and retired; a moment later he heard the
jingle of a bell, and then the steady throb of an engine. There was no
window to the stateroom, and he could not tell whether the steamer was
going up or down the river. Up, he surmised, and he suspected his
destination was Schlusselburg, the fortress-prison on an island at the
source of the Neva. He determined to go on deck and solve the question
of direction, but the soldier at the door brought down his gun and
barred the passage.
"I am surely allowed to go on deck?"
"You cannot pass without an order from the captain."
"Well, send the captain to me, then."
"I dare not leave the door," said the soldier.
Lermontoff pressed the button, and presently an attendant came to
learn what was wanted.
"Will you ask the captain to come here?"
The steward departed, and shortly after returned with a big, bronzed,
bearded man, whose bulk made the stateroom seem small.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158