VII

The good people of Brahin rushed out of their houses as Prince Adam Wisnowiski and his brilliant train clattered through the main street, amidst the tooting of horns and shouting of huntsmen, on its way back to the castle. Proceeding at a smart trot, the cavalcade turned suddenly to the right just outside the village, and in two minutes passed under the archway into the courtyard of an old Lithuanian château.

The Prince leapt off his horse and threw the reins to a page. 'Bem!' he shouted to the chief huntsman, 'look to Matthias, poor beast. That second bear nearly tore him to pieces. I wouldn't lose him for all Courland!' And he ran up the steps, his face wearing the satisfied expression of the fortunate sportsman.

As he hastily crossed the hall, a valet, bowing obsequiously, stopped him. 'My lord, the Reverend Father Sismondi has been waiting these two hours till your lordship returned.

He says his business is of the greatest importance.'

Bring him up, man,' said the Prince, 'at once. I shall be in the Jagello Gallery.'

Five minutes later a domestic ushered the confessor into a long gallery adorned with portraits of the dynasty of Jagello, whence it took its name.

'Well, Father!' exclaimed Wisnowiski,' what is the matter? You seem disturbed.'

'My lord,' said the confessor, taking the seat to which the Prince motioned him,' the news I bring is so extraordinary that I hardly know how to begin. You have lately, I believe, engaged a new groom?'

'Ay, Jablonsky; what of him? He didn't come out to-day. I understood he was ill.'

'Sire, as I said, the matter is so strange that I can scarce find words. Did you observe the young man?'

'I did not see anything particular in him,' said the Prince. 'I left him to Bem, who examined him; and as he reported him well suited for his post, I engaged him without further inquiry.'

'Prince Adam,' said the Jesuit, 'the young man—I am afraid you will think I am raving, but there it is,—the young man has revealed a secret of such importance that, though I am not new to the confessional, I must confess nothing like it has ever come to my ears before. And though, by the rules of my Order, I am bound to bury everything in my breast, I prevailed on the young man to let me tell your lordship all about it at once.'

'Out with it, man; why all this preamble!'

Well, sir, this young fellow claims to be the rightful Tsar of Muscovy.'

'Why, he must be out of his mind!'

That's what I thought, but he seems sane enough. Still, that was my first thought-my first, I say, because I own I'm half inclined to think there's something in what he says.'

What, man! How in the name of all the Saints can he be the Tsar of Russia?'

'Rightful Tsar,' said Sismondi. 'Your lordship knows, of course, that some ten or twelve years ago Prince Dmitri, the third son of the Terrible, was done to death at Uglitch.'

'Ay, so they said; the story was, that Boris

Godunoff made away with a life that stood between him and the throne.'

'The very point. Well, the young man your groom asseverates, very positively, that he is himself that same Prince Dmitri, who was said to have been murdered, but was, on the contrary, by the grace of Heaven, miraculously preserved.' 'A likely story, on my word; why, Sismondi, you, an Italian, do you mean to say you are his dupe?'

My lord, I think I'm as little wont to be gulled as most men, but Heaven's ways are strange ways, and this is a strange affair altogether. Believe me, there's no trick in one way: certain it is, this young fellow is no groom. His manner and bearing would do credit to any court in Christendom. Then he can read and write; speak Latin as well as Russian and Polish; is well informed on Russian history and affairs; and has, he says, certain papers and jewels which will leave no doubt of his identity.'

Violently excited, the Prince bounded from his seat, and ran to the door.

'Here, one of you!' he shouted to the servants waiting outside, 'go and fetch the new groom,

Jablonsky, at once. We'll sift this to the bottom, on the instant, Father. By

if

there was anything in it, it would be no laughing matter for Boris Godunoff. They say the Muscovites hate him worse than the Tartars.'

So they do,' said Sismondi; 'the Muscovites are waiting for a deliverer like the Jews for their Messiah, and news like this would put the whole country in a blaze. The young Prince-if it were indeed the Prince-would be a tremendous weapon in the hands of King Sigismund, and, if properly handled, the thing might be of great service to Holy Church, which sorely needs the help of Providence at this moment.'

'By the white eagle of Poland-why, Father, we should hold the Muscovites in the hollow of our hand! Will the man never come? WhyThe door opened, and Dmitri entered the

room.

VIII

In his eagerness, the Prince made a step towards him; but before he could speak, Dmitri began: