"Well," answered Alcide, laughing, "my cousin is a very discreet person,
who does not like to be talked about, and who would be in despair if she
troubled the sleep of which you are in need."
"I don't wish to sleep," replied the Englishman. "What will your cousin
think of the affairs of Russia?"
"That they seem for the time in a bad way. But, bah! the
Muscovite government is powerful; it cannot be really uneasy
at an invasion of barbarians."
"Too much ambition has lost the greatest empires," answered Blount,
who was not exempt from a certain English jealousy with regard
to Russian pretensions in Central Asia.
"Oh, do not let us talk politics," cried Jolivet. "It is forbidden
by the faculty. Nothing can be worse for wounds in the shoulder--
unless it was to put you to sleep."
"Let us, then, talk of what we ought to do," replied Blount.
"M. Jolivet, I have no intention at all of remaining a prisoner
to these Tartars for an indefinite time."
"Nor I, either, by Jove!"
"We will escape on the first opportunity?"
"Yes, if there is no other way of regaining our liberty."
"Do you know of any other?" asked Blount, looking at his companion.
"Certainly. We are not belligerents; we are neutral, and we
will claim our freedom."
"From that brute of a Feofar-Khan?"
"No; he would not understand," answered Jolivet; "but from
his lieutenant, Ivan Ogareff."
"He is a villain."
" No doubt; but the villain is a Russian.
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