, and either leapt into doorways or squeezed themselves
against the wall. He was surprised, however, to see that not only
did the townspeople show no resentment, at the reckless pace at
which the carriage was driven, but that the soldiers, officers as
well as men, cleared out as quickly, and without any expression of
indignation or anger.

Indeed, most of them, as soon as they gained a place of safety,
saluted his companion.

"These Russians have evidently a higher respect for their doctors
than have the Swedes," he said to himself. "I am sure that not even
the chief surgeon of the army would be treated with anything like
the same respect, and, indeed, no one would recognize him at all,
if he were not in uniform."

The doctor seemed to pay no attention to what was passing round
him, but was muttering angrily to himself. It was not until they
dashed out into the open country that he seemed to remember
Charlie's presence at his side.

"These people are enough to vex one of the saints, by their
stupidity," he said. "Unless they have some one standing behind
them with a whip, they cannot be trusted to do what they are told.
It is not that they are not willing, but that they are stupid. No
one would believe that people could be so stupid. They drive me
well nigh to madness sometimes, and it is the more irritating
because, against stupidity, one is powerless. Beating a man or
knocking him down may do him good if he is obstinate, or if he is
careless, but when he is simply stupid it only makes him more
stupid than before. You might as well batter a stone wall.

"You slept well and breakfasted well, Captain Carstairs?"

"Excellently well, thank you. What superb horses you have, doctor."

"Yes. I like travelling fast. Life is too short to throw away time
in travelling. A busy man should always keep good horses."

"If he can afford to do so," Charlie said with a laugh. "I should
say that every one, busy or not, would like to sit behind such
horses as these, and, as you say, it would save a good deal of time
to one who travelled much. But three such horses as these would
only be in the reach of one with a very long purse."

"They were bred here. Their sire was one of three given by the king
of England to the czar. The dams were from the imperial stables at
Vienna. So they ought to be good."

Charlie guessed that the team must have been a present from the
czar, and, remembering what Doctor Kelly had said of the czar's