to wait for his host. He was on the
point of dozing off, when the door opened, and Peter Michaeloff
entered. Charlie sprang to his feet.

"Well, Captain Carstairs," the Russian said, holding out his hand,
"so it seems you had bad luck again. You must have quite an
affection for our prisons."

"I shall have, at least, a pleasant remembrance of the kindness
shown to me as a prisoner," Charlie said; "and I am sure it is you
that I have to thank for my transfer here, and for the pleasant
journey I have had. I could not have travelled more comfortably, if
I had been a Russian grandee."

"Well, I am glad to meet you again," the doctor said heartily. "Let
me see, it is some twenty months since we supped together last at
Kelly's quarters. Poor fellow! I shall miss him greatly. You have
heard of his death?"

"The governor of Bercov told me of it, a fortnight ago. I was
indeed sorry to hear it. I shall never forget his kindness to me."

"Yes, he was a good man, skilful in his profession, and full of
zeal and energy. The blood runs faster somehow, in the veins of you
islanders, than of us sluggish Muscovites. If we could but at one
sweep banish every Russian official, from the highest to the
lowest, and fill their places with men from your islands, what
progress we should make, what work could we get done, what reforms
could be carried out!

"However, at present," he went on, changing the subject abruptly,
"the point is supper. I am as hungry as a bear, for I have been at
work since daylight, and have eaten nothing since I broke my fast."

He rang a handbell placed on the table. Two Cossacks entered
bearing dishes, and the doctor and his guest at once fell to on the
supper, which was excellent.

"Hard work deserves good food," the Russian said, in reply to a
remark of Charlie's as to the excellence both of the food and wine.
"Your Charles does not think so, I hear, and lives on the roughest
of food. What will be the consequence? He will wear himself out.
His restless activity will exhaust his powers, and weaken his
judgment. I can eat rough food if I can get no better, but I take
the best, when opportunity offers.

"What have you been doing ever since you left Plescow? I inquired
after you the other day, when our troops broke up Schlippenbach's
force on the Embach. I found you were not among the prisoners, and
I wondered if you were among the killed."

"I was not in Livonia at the time. I was with the king's army at