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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
〃There； Major Sergine；〃 cried Sophie； in triumph；
〃that is surely sufficient。 You have heard him say that he gives me
his parole。 I will be answerable for his safety 。〃
In an ungracious fashion my Russian bear grunted his consent； and so I
was led into the house； followed by the scowling father and by the big；
black…bearded Dragoon。 In the basement there was a large and roomy
chamber； where the winter logs were stored。 Thither it was that I was led；
and I was given to understand that this was to be my lodging for the night。
One side of this bleak apartment was heaped up to the ceiling with fagots
of firewood。 The rest of the room was stone… flagged and bare…walled；
with a single； deep…set window upon one side； which was safely guarded
with iron bars。 For light I had a large stable lantern； which swung from a
beam of the low ceiling。 Major Sergine smiled as he took this down； and
swung it round so as to throw its light into every corner of that dreary
chamber。
〃How do you like our Russian hotels； monsieur？〃 he asked； with his
hateful sneer。 〃They are not very grand； but they are the best that we can
give you。 Perhaps the next time that you Frenchmen take a fancy to
travel you will choose some other country where they will make you more
comfortable。〃 He stood laughing at me； his white teeth gleaming through
his beard。 Then he left me； and I heard the great key creak in the lock。
For an hour of utter misery； chilled in body and soul； I sat upon a pile
of fagots； my face sunk upon my hands and my mind full of the saddest
thoughts。 It was cold enough within those four walls； but I thought of the
sufferings of my poor troopers outside； and I sorrowed with their sorrow。
Then。 I paced up and down； and I clapped my hands together and kicked
my feet against the walls to keep them from being frozen。 The lamp gave
out some warmth； but still it was bitterly cold； and I had had no food since
morning。 It seemed to me that everyone had forgotten me； but at last I
heard the key turn in the lock； and who should enter but my prisoner of the
morning； Captain Alexis Barakoff。 A bottle of wine projected from under
his arm； and he carried a great plate of hot stew in front of him。
〃Hush！〃 said he； 〃not a word！ Keep up your heart！
I cannot stop to explain； for Sergine is still with us。
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Keep awake and ready！〃 With these hurried words he laid down the
welcome food and ran out of the room。
〃Keep awake and ready！〃 The words rang in my ears。 I ate my
food and I drank my wine； but it was neither food nor wine which had
warmed the heart within me。 What could those words of Barakoff mean？
Why was I to remain awake？ For what was I to be ready？ Was it
possible that there was a chance yet of escape？ I have never respected
the man who neglects his prayers at all other times and yet prays when he
is in peril。 It is like a bad soldier who pays no respect to the colonel save
when he would demand a favour of him。 And yet when I thought of the
salt…mines of Siberia on the one side and of my mother in France upon the
other； I could not help a prayer rising； not from my lips； but from my heart；
that the words of Barakoff might mean all that I hoped。 But hour after
hour struck upon the village clock； and still I heard nothing save the call of
the Russian sentries in the street outside。
Then at last my heart leaped within me； for I heard a light step in the
passage。 An instant later the key turned； the door opened； and Sophie
was in the room。
〃Monsieur〃 she cried。
〃Etienne；〃 said I。
〃Nothing will change you；〃 said she。 〃But is it possible that you do
not hate me？ Have you forgiven me the trick which I played you？〃
〃What trick？〃 I asked。
〃Good heavens！ Is it possible that even now you have not understood
it？ You have asked me to translate the despatch。 I have told you that it
meant； 'If the French come to Minsk all is lost。' 〃
〃What did it mean； then？〃
〃It means； 'Let the French come to Minsk。 We are awaiting them。〃'
I sprang back from her。
〃You betrayed me！〃 I cried。 〃You lured me into this trap。 It is to
you that I owe the death and capture of my men。 Fool that I was to trust
a woman！〃
〃Do not be unjust； Colonel Gerard。 I am a Russian woman； and my
first duty is to my country。 Would you not wish a French girl to have
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acted as I have done？
Had I translated the message correctly you would not have gone to
Minsk and your squadron would have escaped。
Tell me that you forgive me！〃
She looked bewitching as she stood pleading her cause in front of me。
And yet； as I thought of my dead men； I could not take the hand which she
held out to me。
〃Very good；〃 said she； as she dropped it by her side。
〃You feel for your own people and I feel for mine； and so we are equal。
But you have said one wise and kindly thing within these walls； Colonel
Gerard。 You have said； 'One man more or less can make no difference in
a struggle between two great armies。' Your lesson of nobility is not
wasted。 Behind those fagots is an unguarded door。 Here is the key to it。
Go forth； Colonel Gerard； and I trust that we may never look upon each
other's faces again。〃
I stood for an instant with the key in my hand and my head in a whirl。
Then I handed it back to her。
〃I cannot do it；〃 I said。
〃Why not？〃
〃I have given my parole。〃
〃To whom？〃 she asked。
〃Why； to you。〃
〃And I release you from it。〃
My heart bounded with joy。 Of course； it was true what she said。 I
had refused to give my parole to Sergine。 I owed him no duty。 If she
relieved me from my promise my honour was clear。 I took the key from
her hand。
〃You will find Captain Barakoff at the end of the village street；〃 said
she。 〃We of the North never forget either an injury or a kindness。 He
has your mare and your sword waiting for you。 D