第110章

"For a week I lay between life and death.Then my iron constitution triumphed.You can imagine, my dearest friend, how great my desire was to see Georgi again.But she was no longer in the camp, and no one could tell me where she was.She disappeared again as suddenly as she had appeared on that day.This time Imust make up my mind to the conviction that I have lost her for ever.While on my sick bed I received a command to repair to St.

Petersburg.At the same time I was highly flattered to learn that I had been promoted, and as soon as my condition permitted it, Istarted on my journey.

"Pardon me, dear friend, for lingering so long over a personal matter, which, after all, can have very little interest for you.

"You are as well informed as myself of the manifold changes of this war, which has already destroyed the value of untold millions, and has cost hundreds of thousands of promising human lives.I could almost envy you for being still spared to be an eyewitness of the great events, while I am condemned to the role of an inactive spectator.But I do not believe the struggle will last much longer.The sacrifices which it imposes on the people are too great to be endured many months longer.Everything is pressing to a speedy and decisive result, and I have no doubt what that result will be.For although the defeats and losses sustained by the English are partly compensated by occasional successes, one great naval victory of the allies would finally decide the issue against Great Britain.Hitherto, both sides have hesitated to bring about this decisive result, but all here are convinced that the next few weeks will at last bring those great events on the water, so long and so eagerly expected.

"To my surprise, I see that our treaty of peace with Japan is still the subject of hostile criticism in the foreign Press.Certainly, in the second phase of the campaign, the fortune of war had turned in our favour, but the struggle for India was so important for Russia that she was unwilling to divide her forces any longer.

Hence we were able to build a golden bridge for Japan, and hence the peace of Nagasaki.The German Imperial Chancellor is highly popular in Russia also, owing to the part he took in the conclusion of the peace.

"Have you had the opportunity of approaching the Imperial Chancellor? This Baron Grubenhagen must be a man of strong personality.

"I am sending this letter to you by way of Berlin, for I do not know where you are at this moment.I hope it will reach you, and that you will occasionally find time to gladden your old friend Tchajawadse by letting him know that you are still alive."Heideck had glanced rapidly through the Prince's letter, written in French, which he had found waiting for him after his return from Antwerp.Not even the news of the honourable distinction conferred by the bestowal of the Russian order had been able to evoke a sign of joy on his grave countenance.The amiable Russian Prince and his beautiful page were to him like figures belonging to a remote past, that lay an endless distance behind him.The events of the last twenty-four hours had shaken him so violently that what might perhaps a few days before have aroused his keenest interest now seemed a matter of indifference and no concern of his.

At this moment the orderly announced a man in sailor's dress, and Heideck knew that it could only be Brandelaar.The skipper had already given the information which he had brought from Dover to the officer on duty who had taken Heideck's place.If they were not exactly military secrets which by that means became known to the German military authorities, some items of the various information might prove of importance as affecting the Prince-Admiral's arrangements.

Heideck assumed that Brandelaar had now come for his promised reward.But as the skipper, after receiving the money, kept turning his hat between his fingers, like a man who does not like to perform a painful errand or make a disagreeable request, Heideck asked in astonishment: "Have you anything else to say to me, Brandelaar?"Only after considerable hesitation he replied, "Yes, Herr major, Iwas to bring you a greeting--you will know who sent it.""I think I can guess.You have seen the lady again since yesterday evening?""The lady came to me last night at the inn and demanded to be taken back to Dover at once.But I thought you would not like it.""So then you refused?"

Brandelaar continued to stare in front of him at the floor.

"The lady would go--in spite of the bad weather.And she would not be satisfied till I had persuaded my friend Van dem Bosch to take her in his cutter to Dover?""This was last night?"

"Yes--last night."

"And what more?" persisted Heideck.

"He came back at noon to-day.They had a misfortune on the way."Heideck's frame shook convulsively.A fearful suspicion occurred to him.He needed all his strength of will to control himself.

"And the lady?"

"Herr major, it was the lady who met with an accident.She fell overboard on the journey."Heideck clasped the back of the chair before him with both hands.

Every drop of blood had left his face.

"Fell--overboard? Good God, man--and she was not saved?"Brandelaar shook his hand.

"No, Herr major! She would stay on deck in spite of the storm, though Van dem Bosch kept asking her to go below.When a violent squall broke the halyard, she was knocked overboard by the gaff.

As the sea was running high, there was no chance of saving her."Heideck had covered his face with his hand.A dull groan burst from his violently heaving breast and a voice within him exclaimed--"The guilt is yours.She sought death of her own accord, and it was you who drove her to it!"His voice sounded dry and harsh when he turned to the skipper and said--"I thank you for your information, Brandelaar.Now leave me alone."