"Good day, Maxim. How long since you left Belogorsk?"
"Not long, Peter. I came yesterday. I have a letter for you."
"Where is it?" I cried, delighted.
"Here," replied Maxim, putting his hand in his bosom. "I promised Polacca to try and give it to you." He gave me a folded paper, and set off on a gallop. I read with agitation the following lines: "By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter, I know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my late father. He so terrified Father Garasim that I was obliged to go and live at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will force me to become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying the trick of passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die than be his wife. I have three days to accept his offer; after that I need expect no mercy from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send us help, and if possible, come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF."
This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing the spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind to rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General's and ran into his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum. Seeing me he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance.
"Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me; the happiness of my life depends upon it."
"But what is it?" said the General; "what can I do for you?"
"Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a hundred Cossacks, to go and storm the fortress of Belogorsk."
"Storm the fortress?" said the General.
"I answer for the success of the attack, only let me go."
"No, young man," said he; "at so great a distance the enemy would easily cut off all communication with the principal strategic point."
I was frightened by his military wisdom, and hastened to interrupt him: "Captain Mironoff's daughter has written me, begging for relief. Alexis threatens to compel her to be his wife!"
"Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try him in twenty-four hours, and he shall be shot on the glacis of the fortress! meantime patience."
"Patience!" I cried; "in the interval Marie will be compelled to obey him."
"Oh," said the General, "that would not be a misfortune--it is better that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her. When we shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband."