Page:The Czar, A Tale of the Time of the First Napleon.djvu/274

264 have heard, even in France, of exiles in Siberia. We have pitied their sufferings."

Ivan's white face flushed. "No one is sent to Siberia now, he said eagerly, "who would not in any other country than ours be far more severely punished. It was the Czarina who exiled my father," he continued with some excitement—"not my Czar."

"Do not think me unkind or discourteous," Madame de Talmont said gently, "if I venture to inquire what was the offence laid to his charge. I have a reason."

"I can answer without pain or reluctance," said Ivan. "My father's disgrace and banishment, and my mother's death, which quickly followed, took place in my infancy; and the kind but simple people who cared for me and brought me up could tell me very little. But from that little I have gathered that my father, being in Paris at the outbreak of the Revolution, became involved in the crimes of the Jacobins, rather from youthful thoughtlessness than from any deliberate evil intention."

"Ah!" said Madame de Talmont.

Something in her tone made Ivan raise himself to look at her. "Madame," he asked quickly, "did you know my father?"

"That is a question I shall be better able to answer if you on your part will tell me—was your mother a French woman?"

"Yes, madame," said Ivan, looking greatly agitated.

"Have you ever heard her name?"

"Not her family name, madame. Her Christian name I know—Victoire."

Madame de Talmont wrestled in silence with some emotion, and conquered it. Then taking Ivan's hand in hers, she said kindly, even with tenderness, "My dear boy, you must accept us as your cousins."