othing, and I could
read her tender pity in her dark eyes. At last she turned to Major
Sergine and said something to him in Russian, on which he frowned and
shook his head impatiently.

She appeared to plead with him, standing there in the flood of light
which shone from the open door of her father's house. My eyes were fixed
upon the two faces, that of the beautiful girl and of the dark, fierce
man, for my instinct told me that it was my own fate which was under
debate. For a long time the soldier shook his head, and then, at last
softening before her pleadings, he appeared to give way. He turned to
where I stood with my guardian sergeant beside me.

"These good people offer you the shelter of their roof for the night,"
said he to me, looking me up and down with vindictive eyes. "I find
it hard to refuse them, but I tell you straight that for my part I had
rather see you on the snow. It would cool your hot blood, you rascal of
a Frenchman!"

I looked at him with the contempt that I felt.

"You were born a savage and you will die one," said I.

My words stung him, for he broke into an oath, raising his whip as if he
would strike me.

"Silence, you crop-eared dog!" he cried. "Had I my way some of the
insolence would be frozen out of you before morning." Mastering his
passion, he turned upon Sophie with what he meant to be a gallant
manner. "If you have a cellar with a good lock," said he, "the fellow
may lie in it for the night, since you have done him the honour to take
an interest in his comfort. I must have his parole that he will not
attempt to play us any tricks, as I am answerable for him until I hand
him over to the Hetman Platoff to-morrow."

His supercilious manner was more than I could endure.

He had evidently spoken French to the lady in order that I might
understand the humiliating way in which he referred to me.

"I will take no favour from you," said I. "You may do what you like, but
I will never give you my parole."

The Russian shrugged his great shoulders, and turned away as if the
matter were ended.

"Very well, my fine fellow, so much the worse for your fingers and toes.
We shall see how you are in the morning after a night in the snow."

"One moment, Major Sergine," cried Sophie. "You must not be so hard upon
this prisoner. There are some special reasons why he has a claim upon
our kindness and mercy."

The Russian looked with suspicion upon his face from her to me.

"What are the s