"Do not say such things," cried Pushkin. "When I hear you speak so, you seem to me as if you had smeared your face with hideous colors."
Was it not her calling to do so?
Zeneida drew her wrap about her shoulders.
"You will not see me such as I am. I am sorry for it; but I cannot deceive. Have you no eyes for the magnificence which surrounds me? Do you know whence it all comes? Would you have me forsake it all--for what?"
"For another world before whose splendor all you see around you must fall into dust. The world into which I would lead you is filled with more magnificent palaces than even yours, Zeneida. It is Paradise!"
"Find yourself another Eve. Did I love you, I should kill you with _my_ jealousy; did I not love you, with _yours_. To-day with one, to-morrow with another, for my caprices are boundless. I know no law, no oath, no shame. Go; save yourself from me! Now you are but ice, do not wait until you are aflame. I can be his only who loves me not!"
"Your words are mere falsehoods from beginning to end. You wish to drive me from you that I may not take part in the conspiracy! I am not worthy, in your eyes, to share the dangers my more distinguished friends are running. Let me go back to them!"
"What conspiracy?" exclaimed Zeneida, feigning astonishment. "Our friends are now debating how to introduce the American form of "Temperance a.s.sociations" into Russia in order to put an end to the enormous consumption of brandy now going on. There is no talk of upsetting dynasties in my house. Do you suppose that the "court singer"
of the Czar, the court favorite, did she hear of any conspiracy against his Majesty, would not at once hasten to smooth her own way to a coronet by its disclosure?"
"A way marked out by the skulls of her best friends?"
"Well, yes."
"No. You would not do it."
"Who knows? I have no soul, and do not believe in the souls of others. I have no faith in a future world, therefore I use this world so that things may go well with me in it."
"And supposing it were to happen for a change that things did not go well with you?"
"Then I would give back to earth what is earth"s. The fable of the Phnix has a deep-set meaning. When he feels that his plumage is worn out, he changes into ashes. Of all creatures man has the greatest right to decide the term of his life."
Pushkin sought in the face which knew so well how to keep its secrets what there was of truth in all this.
A sound of laughter and oaths behind the jasmine bush betokened the approach of some noisy revellers. Zeneida sprang up from Pushkin"s side.
Laying her hand upon his shoulder, she whispered to him, in a voice made tender by deep feeling:
"Avoid me, and seek her who is worthy of you and truly loves you, your Muse, and be faithful to her!"
And, like a phantom, she disappeared.
Jakuskin came forcing his way through the jasmine bower, Diabolka with him.
"Come, let"s be off to the Bear"s Paw."
Pushkin sprang defiantly to his feet, and said, with a laugh.
"By Jove! here is my Muse! Come along; we"ll go where we are understood."
And the three made their noisy way through the still thronged ballroom.
It was Zeneida whose reappearance the whirling roulette-ball had announced. A look from her told that the two had taken their departure.
Krizsanowski, removing the pipe from his mouth, put it in his pocket.
"Now we are among ourselves. Let us continue."
Pestel asked permission to speak.
"In order to disperse friend Krizsanowski"s fears, let me first of all state that we look upon Jakuskin as a fool; and that not a man of us endorses his mad views of a _Caesaricidium_; in fact, there is not a man among us who would not prevent it. Our plan is this: In the coming spring there is to be a great concentration of troops in the Government of Minsk. The Ninth Army Corps will march to the fortress of Bobrinszk on the Beresina; the Czar and the Grand Dukes will themselves lead the manuvres, returning at night to the fortress, which fortress will be guarded by the Saratoff regiment of infantry, the colonel of which, Bojar Sveikofsky, is a member of the "Szojusz Blagadenztoiga." All the officers of the Saratoff regiment belong to our Union. At night a patrol of officers, disguised as privates, commanded by Apostol Muravieff and Corporal Bestuseff, will relieve the guard outside the Czar"s pavilion.
They will promptly take the Czar, the Grand Dukes, and Commandant Diebitsch prisoners, proclaim a const.i.tution, inst.i.tute a provisionary government, and proceed straightway, at the head of the whole army corps, on the road to Moscow. On their way they will gain over all the troops they come across. At news of their success Moscow will yield; and from thence St. Petersburg can be compelled to surrender. The men and officers of the fleet, anch.o.r.ed off Cronstadt, are fully informed of our plan. A man-of-war is in waiting to convey the entire imperial family to England. The revolution will be accomplished without the shedding of one drop of blood. What do you say to it, friend Krizsanowski?"
"That your plan is too complicated; has too much romance about it; and that the miscarriage of any minor detail would throw your whole reckoning into confusion. However, I do not look upon a successful issue as wholly impossible. The thing has already been achieved in Russia.
Now, I will tell you what I bring, and which will serve to perfect your plan. Do you not agree with me that its success were highly problematical if, after the kidnapping of the Czar, a Czarevitch were remaining, who, by right of succession to the throne, could at the head of a whole army enter Russia to test the power of a republican government by the loyalty of the people to throne and army?"
"That, in truth, is the rock on which we may be wrecked."
"Then, you may set yourselves at ease in that particular. I can promise you my head in pledge of my words that the Czarevitch will very shortly resign his rights of succession; and resign after a fashion which will make it impossible for him to recall the step, even did he himself desire to do so. Ay, even were he the sole remaining member of the Romanoff dynasty; and were the whole nation, senate, and peerage to press him to ascend the throne, it would be an impossibility to him."
"And is this no romancing?" cried Ryleieff.
"No. Positive knowledge; psychological necessity; logical sequence."
"Devil take me! If that is not a greater riddle than the Sphinx!"
growled Pestel.
"I have said what I know. Whether you like to believe it or not, is your affair."
So saying the Polish magnate rose, and thrust his pipe between his teeth, which was as much as to say that he had said his say, and was intent on seeing that his pipe drew well.
But Zeneida, approaching him, whispered:
"Is not the key to this riddle called "Johanna"?"
A nervous contraction pa.s.sed over his set face at the mention of the name.
"If you have guessed it, tell it no further," he muttered under his mustache.
"I?"
"True. You are the "tongueless lioness!"" returned the Pole, with a smile.
At that period lanterns were a luxury known but in few streets of the imperial city; and where a lantern did exist was posted a guard to watch that it was not stolen. Therefore, in the courtyards of great palaces huge fires were blazing, in order to give light to the guests" sledges, and that the jemsiks might protect themselves against the bitter night cold. These fires gave out warmth and light at one and the same time.
With some difficulty Jakuskin found his sledge among the lines of others. Placing Diabolka between them, the two men wrapped her in their furs. She was too heedless ever to think of bringing her own. The jemsik, made loquacious by oft recurrence to his brandy bottle, told them that the distinguished gentleman who had driven the eight-in-hand into the courtyard had but just gone off in his sledge, and had given his man orders to drive to Araktseieff Palace.
That was a piece of intelligence worth having.
Jakuskin told his jemsik to drive to the Bear"s Paw.
"Never fear, children," returned the man; "I"ll drive you safely through side streets, that you may not be robbed."