Presently
it stopped abruptly. They had come up perhaps not fifty feet, when their
way was barred by a great nail-studded door.
"Hist!" said Vasili softly, and instantly it was opened from within, and
Dmitry peered anxiously at them.
"Ah, the saints be blessed, the Excellency is safe," he said. But they must
not delay a minute, he added. The Excellency must return to the waiting
boat! A slight but unexpected ill-fortune had befallen them, connected with
the to-be-execrated Troublesome one, and it would not be safe for the
Imperial Highness if the Excellency should land tonight. She had sent him
to say that the Excellency was to keep out at sea for two days, and return
steaming past, and if he saw a white flag flying from the villa roof, then
at night he was to anchor and come ashore at this same time. If not, for
the moment he must go on back to Constantinople, where news and further
instructions would be sent him.
As he spoke Dmitry indicated the return path, and bid the Excellency follow
him, and hasten, hasten. This was a terrible blow to Paul, but the thought
that he might bring danger to his beloved one made him not hesitate a
moment.
They descended the path in silence, and as he stepped into the boat the old
servant whispered, the Imperial Highness had bid him assure the Excellency
that all was well, the meeting was only deferred, when they should have
several days together in safety.
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