[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
lay before them. Do you feel all right, Jean? Helena looked at him
anxiously. Maybe we should not have come.
Nonsense. I ve never felt better. And he did not lie. True, the bullet had
gone through him, and there was a stiffness in his chest muscles and his
side. But he had suffered much more from slighter wounds, and weak though he
might be, his enormous vitality and the strength built into him by years of
outdoor living made the wound of little moment. He smiled a little, thinking
of Hugh Glass crawling his miles upon miles across the plains of Nebraska
after being clawed by a grizzly, and of a trapper he knew who had survived two
weeks in the wilds when unable to walk from wounds and a broken leg he had set
himself. Count Novikoff crossed the terrace to them, clad in a blue and gold
uniform, accompanied by a tall young Hussar in white and gold with a scarlet
dolman flung over his shoulder.
Captain LaBarge? I should like to present my friend, Prince Wolkonski. A
remarkably handsome young man, the Prince was scarcely more than a boy, with
smooth blond hair and the face of a Greek god, and he was excited. I am
honored, sir! All St. Petersburg is talking of your duel with Colonel
Kovalski, and how you allowed him to empty his pistol before you fired a shot!
And while walking toward him! Remarkable, sir! Remarkable! Thank you.
Embarrassed, Jean took Helena and slipped away as quickly as possible. When
alone for a moment, he turned to her. They believe I did it because of
honor, he said dryly, that I deliberately gave him every chance. I don t
like to appear under false banners. I took my time because I wanted to fire
one shot and kill him when I fired. Nevertheless, you gave him every
chance.
Helena, he smiled gently, I don t want you to misunderstand me. I didn t
give him any chance I could withhold. These boys, they make a hero of me
because they believe I acted the way I did as a matter of honor. Actually,
from the minute of the challenge every move I made was calculated to put him
at a psychological disadvantage. His trouble was that his marksmanship was
better than his strategy.
Even among the two thousand guests present, eyes turned again and again to
Jean LaBarge. His height, the great breadth of his shoulders, the dark,
piratical face with its scar, all were calculated to draw attention to the man
who had killed the noted duelist.
Page 120
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
The Emperor and the Empress opened the ball with a formal polonaise, and
soon, despite his wound, Jean was dancing also. He felt good ... shaky in the
legs, but good. Yet soon at a tug from Helena s fingers, he followed her from
the floor and into the great park.
The shaded walks were silent except for the distant music and the play of the
waters in the fountains. They walked, arm in arm, under the dark trees. Jean,
we shall be seeing His Majesty in just a few minutes. When we were changing
partners during the last dance I was told to be ready. We are to meet him in a
little pavilion built by Peter the Great. The park was empty of people. Jean
moved carefully, not liking the shadows, suspecting danger everywhere.
As they walked up the path to the pavilion a man came down the steps to greet
them. He was tall, bearded, and in uniform. He glanced quickly, sharply, at
La-Barge. Follow me, please.
They followed him through a small door and Jean found himself in a long room
with a large fireplace and several pictures at which he merely glanced. Before
him stood Alexander II, Czar of all the Russias. So, Captain LaBarge, you
celebrate your arrival in my capital by killing one of my officers!
Jean LaBarge bowed slightly. Only, Your Majesty, because he would have
prevented my audience with you!
32
Alexander s tone was ironic as he said to Helena, We must keep this
gentleman with us, Princess. He talks as well as he shoots. The Czar, a tall
man with keen gray eyes, studied Jean thoughtfully for a moment, then said,
You have visited our Pacific colonies, sir. What do you think of them?
I think they are too far from St. Petersburg, Your Majesty.
In other words, you agree with the report forwarded to me by Count
Rotcheff? I haven t seen the report, Your Majesty, only Russian America. And
I believe that when a private company runs a territory for its exclusive
profit it will give more thought to the profit than to the welfare of the
territory. Alexander seated himself abruptly. Sit down, Captain. He
gestured to a chair, Helena? When they were seated, he said, Now, sir, tell
us of your experiences in Alaska.
LaBarge thought quickly. He could lie, and paint Alaska as a territory no one
would want; he knew this was the opinion of many of those in important
positions in Russia as well as in the United States. Or he could tell the
truth, relying upon the Czar s own intelligence to realize that a rich colony
in an exposed position invited seizure. He decided that frankness was the best
policy. It was likely, anyway, that the Czar knew a great deal about
Alaska. He began with his first awareness of Alaska, led his listeners quickly
through the buying of furs, his first information in regard to fisheries,
lumber and coal. He also mentioned the costs of exploitation, the distance
from markets, and his own ventures into the area. The only thing he did not
mention was gold. You traded in Russia against the orders of the Russian
American Company? demanded the Czar. His features were cold, revealing
nothing. Yes, Sire.
Alexander raised an eyebrow and glanced at Helena, who restrained a smile.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]