Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/272

 He was off like the wind, and Zoiloff and I waited on in silence for Markov to return.

He seemed an age in coming, and I strained my eyes in trying to catch some trace of him in the crowd of moving figures that thronged the place. I gave a deep sigh of relief when at length I saw him come out of the gate, stand idly a moment glancing up and down the street, and then, as if sauntering away in obedience to the merest curiosity, cross the road to us.

"Well?" I asked eagerly.

"I have news. We had better not stay longer here, your honour," he whispered, and walked away, speaking rapidly as we walked. "The Princess Christina left here some two hours ago. She is a prisoner in the hands of General Kolfort's men. She was roused by them just before midnight and compelled to enter a carriage that was in waiting, and was driven off under a strong guard, with a considerable escort of mounted men."

"Where have they taken her?" cried Zoiloff and I, in a breath together, when he paused.

"The actual destination is not known, but the carriage started for the south road, that leading to Liublian; and one suggestion is that they will carry her to Ichtman or on to Samakovo, where there is a strong Russian detachment."

"Do you know who was with her? Was anyone?" I asked.

"Yes; Mademoiselle Broumoff was taken from home at the same time, and I believe was in the carriage with the Princess."

"Did you hear anything concerning the Count?" asked Zoiloff.

"I was asked if your honour was still at liberty, and