A nihilistic bomb exploded in the cabinet of the czar would scarcely
have created more consternation than did my statement. The emperor
himself started back in amazement, and then turned his face which was
white with rage and terror, upon Prince Michael.
The prince, instead of shrugging his shoulders and laughing at the
charge I had made, committed the mistake of turning deathly pale, and
at once protesting his innocence. It was that protest which decided the
battle of wits in my favor. Always ready to doubt those who were
nearest to him, the czar remembered instantly that I could gain nothing
by playing the traitor. He recalled also many instances, small in
themselves but sufficiently prominent now, when the prince had deceived
him. That, he knew I had never done. I had always possessed the courage
to tell him the truth even when it was unpleasant. The habit of
truthfulness told, then. He believed me, and he doubted the prince.
More than that, I seemed to him to know everything, for it proved to be
true that the prince had persuaded him to sign an order for my
temporary arrest--or rather, my detention in the palace. It had been
done when they were alone in the cabinet together, and how I could have
learned of it was a puzzle which he could not fathom. The more the
prince protested, the more certain the czar became that I had spoken
the truth, and while he glowered upon the unhappy man who became paler
and more uncertain in his speech with every effort, I stood calmly by
with my arms folded, not enjoying the situation, but determined to win
the fight.
"Michael," said his majesty at last, "give me the order to which Mr.
Derrington refers." I knew then that I had won, and while the prince
tremblingly produced it, I waited. The czar passed it to me with the
words, "You may destroy it, Mr. Derrington," and then added: "Prince
Michael, you will retire to your apartments and remain there until I
send for you. I will spare you the indignity of an arrest until I know
more. Go!"
I did not look at the prince as he left the room, and I have always
regretted it, for if I had done so and had I seen the agony that must
have been written on his face I might have saved him. I did not believe
the charge against him when I made it, and there was no such thing as a
direction to any of my men to arrest him. I charged him with complicity
with the nihilists solely to get rid of him, and by that means to save
myself and Zara, knowing that later I could save him, also; that he
would ultimately forgive me, and that I could bring the emperor to
regard it as a most excellent joke, for the czar dearly loved a joke if
it were at the expense of some other person. Indeed I intended before I
left the emperor's presence, partially to allay his fears concerning
the prince by assuring him that my information amounted to nothing more
than a mere suspicion which had been strengthened by his effort to
detain me in the palace. But events demonstrated the fact that in
making the charge I had builded better than I knew. I loved the prince,
and that episode is one of the greatest regrets of my life. If ever a
man was guilty without crime, he was. But I anticipate.