"When
your emissary sought me and called me to you, I only followed him, as
you well know, most noble count, because you gave me to understand that
my master's life and safety were concerned. I came to you. Allow me,
your excellency to repeat your own words. You said: 'Cecil, you have
been represented to me as a true friend of your master. Fidelity is so
rare a virtue, that it deserves reward. I will reward you by saving your
life. Quickly leave this traitorous count, and break off all connection
with him, else you are lost. I am secretly sent here in order to capture
the count and his criminal ward, and take them to St. Petersburg. What
there awaits the count may easily be imagined.' Thus speaking, your
excellency then showed me the command for the count's arrest, signed
by the empress. Upon which I asked: 'Is there no means of saving
the count?' 'There is one,' said you. 'Persuade the count to return
immediately to St. Petersburg, leaving his ward behind him here, and
I swear to you, in the name of the empress, that no harm shall come to
him.'"
"Well," impatiently cried the count, "what is the use of repeating all
that, as I know it already?"
"Only because your excellency seems to forget that what I did was not
done for your miserable gold, but for a totally different reward--the
safety of a man whom I love as my own son.
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