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 horse saddled at once and kept in readiness close to some back way out. I know these Russian dodges."

I adopted the suggestion at once, and, sending for my head groom, Markov, told him to saddle my horse and his, where to station himself, and to be prepared to be away with me for the night; and, lastly, to hold his tongue. After that I changed hurriedly into an undress uniform, got together the one or two things I should need, and joined Zoiloff.

"I don't like this long wait," he said impatiently. "I seem to smell something wrong. Why do they keep Spernow like this? I should go, Count, if I were you."

"I can't go till I know the man's making a show of fighting, at any rate."

"Picket one or two of our fellows, then, to give us warning. The house may be surrounded before we know anything has happened."

"It isn't necessary. The place is like a rabbit warren; there's an underground passage that lets out a hundred yards away, and it's there I've told the man to have the horses. Half a regiment couldn't keep me in if I wanted to get out."

"Some infernal spy or other may have found that out;" and then, to satisfy him, I sent out half a dozen men to keep watch.

A quarter of an hour later Spernow arrived, but not before Zoiloff's patience had long given out. Spernow explained that the delay had been caused at the other house, and not by any fault of his own.

"Did anyone leave before you?"

"Oh, yes; the meeting broke up soon after the Count left."

"Good-night, Count," cried Zoiloff instantly. "Don't lose another moment."