This decision from one whom he had been accustomed to regard as his affianced bride completely confounded his grace of Bora. His first surprise over, he proceeded to take counsel with his second. Though they spoke in low tones, Paul nevertheless caught a few words.
"They dare not harm you," said Ostrova, "and you will command more interest, more sympathy, more power as a prisoner in the Citadel than as a hanger-on at the Czar's court."
This argument seemed to decide the duke, for he immediately crossed to the Czernovese side.
"Since you make a voluntary surrender of yourself," said the princess, "declare it aloud that the Russian sentry may hear you."
"Of my own free will I enter the Czernovese territory," said Bora, addressing the Cossack.
Though not as yet deposed from his command of the army, Bora did not doubt that this would follow, and that Zabern would be his successor. Very bitter, indeed, then, was his smile as he handed the sabre over to the marshal.
"I am curious to learn, fair cousin," he sneered, "the punishment you reserve for my opponent, equally guilty with myself of breaking the law."
"There is your escort to Slavowitz," said Barbara haughtily, pointing to the posse of uhlans.
And Bora, with a dark glance at Paul, walked in the direction indicated.
"For my part," observed Baron Ostrova airily, "I prefer liberty. I shake the dust of Czernova from my feet."
"Oh, your Highness, your reign will not last so long as that," replied the other, with a peculiar smile, adding to himself, "Your reign, my lady, is but a question of a few weeks."
Taking off his hat, he dropped it to the ground, and bowed so low over it as almost to touch the turf with his fingers, herein imitating an old custom of the Polish serf when addressing his lord.
"I kiss the feet of the dainty Lady Natalie," he said.
Then, picking up his hat, the Baron walked off to a little distance, where he stood watching the sequel.
Paul longed to thrash the fellow for his insolence, but prudently refrained from creating a disturbance in Russian territory.
"Trevisa," said the princess, "in remembrance of your many services I remit the penalty due by law, but," and there was genuine sorrow in her tone, "you lose your secretaryship."